Parents of three or more children have a "round-the-clock full-time job", often in addition to their professional activities. Never-ending to-do lists and new surprises every day leave little room for relaxation or personal wishes. Multi-child families often demand a lot from parents, sometimes too much. Many parents don't realize that they run the risk of burning out. Find out how you can recognize warning signs and protect your mental health.

You have the feeling that you are running out of energy, nothing works as it used to and you hardly feel any joy anymore.

Typical signs of burnout syndrome can include

• Persistent tiredness
• Deep exhaustion
• Inner emptiness
• Insomnia due to circling thoughts about everyday issues
• Tormenting self-doubt or feelings of guilt
• Decreasing performance
• Breaks do not bring any rest
• The joy, with the children disappears, instead an emotional distance is created
• Nerves are frayed: Irritability, tears, tantrums, psychological or physical violence can occur.

If you notice some of these signs and they persist over a longer period of time, they could be signs of burnout. It is then important to think about relieving stress and taking measures to avoid health and psychological risks - if possible with medical and, if necessary, psychological support.

Protecting yourself from stress: taking stock

It is not unusual for parents to feel overwhelmed at times. After all, there are new challenges every day, which are often associated with special time requirements. The more children there are in a family, the more often unplanned surprises occur. It is important to recognize the stumbling blocks to permanent overload and clear them out of the way.

To track down overload, it's worth taking stock of everyday family life:

• What needs to be considered and done in a week or a month?
• Who in the family does which tasks?
• Are the children involved, for example in the housework or the older children in looking after the younger siblings?
• Are the tasks distributed fairly?
• What extra-family support is available?

Even if it takes time, it's best to write down the requirements. It's amazing how many tasks are done "on the side" every day. Taking stock helps to initiate the necessary changes.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution. But perhaps the following tips will give you some ideas on how you can bring more peace and contentment back into your everyday family life:

These tips can help to increase your resilience and resistance and prevent burnout. If you still recognize signs of burnout, don't be afraid to seek professional help.