Too Tired to Parent? How to Keep Your Energy Up (Without Living on Toast Crusts)

The Forgetful Mum Era

If you’ve ever turned up at school without your child’s PE kit again or realised you forgot to pack the after-school snack (because you also forgot there was after-school club), then welcome — you’re officially in the ‘too tired to parent’ era.

My mum friends and I joke about it all the time — the brain fog, the exhaustion, the “I swear it was Friday five minutes ago” feeling. Someone’s always shattered, someone’s kids have another cold, and someone’s already counting down to bedtime.

But here’s the thing: when I say I’m too tired to parent, I don’t actually mean the parenting bit. That’s the part I love. It’s everything around parenting that’s completely draining — the endless housework, the life admin, the “what’s for dinner tonight?” Groundhog Day that I am so over. Trying to think up new meals for my children to tell me they don’t like, before asking for fish fingers instead, can be pretty soul-destroying. But I will not give up the fight.

Add to that the school emails, the clubs, the laundry (oh, the endless laundry), trying to nurture your marriage, and maybe squeeze in a social life — it’s no wonder we all feel like our brains are running on a permanent go-slow.

And now, with winter creeping in and the first round of colds already making their way around the house, I’m on a bit of a mission to keep my energy up and my body healthy — without needing to do anything drastic. Because who has the time (or brainpower) for a full lifestyle overhaul right now?

Why Are We All So Tired?

It’s almost become a badge of honour, hasn’t it? We swap stories about our exhaustion like trading cards at the school gates — who slept the least, who forgot the most, who’s had to rewash the same load of laundry three times because it went musty.

But the truth is, we’re not tired because we’re doing something wrong. We’re tired because we’re doing everything. Parenting, work, housework, relationships, admin, and trying to hold onto some version of ourselves in between.

Even when we finally sit down, our minds don’t switch off. We’re planning tomorrow, running through mental to-do lists, or quietly panicking that we’ve forgotten something (we probably have). No wonder we’re running on fumes.

I’ve come to realise that tiredness isn’t just about sleep. It’s the combination of mental load, physical exhaustion, emotional juggling, and that constant background buzz of responsibility that never stops. It’s a lot — and pretending otherwise doesn’t help anyone.

That’s why I’ve been making a few gentle changes lately — tiny things that actually make me feel more human. Because I might not be able to magic away the laundry pile, but I can make a few tweaks that help me feel more energised and a little less “toast crusts and coffee for lunch.”

The Small Habits That Actually Help

When I think about what genuinely makes a difference to my energy levels, it’s not the big, life-changing habits you see on Pinterest. It’s the small, doable things that don’t require me to become an entirely new person overnight.

1. Moving my body (even when I really don’t want to)
For me, it’s the post-school-run dog walk. It’s not exactly yoga by the sea, but that twenty minutes of fresh air and movement always makes me feel more awake. If I skip it, my brain never quite boots up properly and I feel sluggish for the rest of the day. Even if it’s raining (which, let’s face it, is most of the time), that short walk gives me the mental reset I didn’t know I needed.

2. Hydration – progress, not perfection
I’m not about to pretend I’ve given up Pepsi Max altogether, but I am trying to be more mindful about how much water I actually drink. I’ve noticed that on the days I drink more water, I snack less and feel less foggy-headed. It’s not glamorous, but it’s one of those little things that makes a bigger difference than you expect.

3. Rethinking my eating patterns
I’ve been experimenting with intermittent fasting lately, and I’ve actually found it surprisingly doable. Having a clear window for eating stops me from constant grazing (especially the “kids are finally quiet, time for a snack” kind of grazing). When I do eat, I keep it simple — crumpets with Marmite or an apple are my go-tos when I need a quick pick-me-up that isn’t entirely made of chocolate.

4. Choosing energy that lasts
I’m slowly learning that energy doesn’t just come from caffeine and carbs. I’ve started reaching for more protein-rich snacks, like cashews, hazelnuts, or almonds, instead of biscuits — not because I’ve suddenly become a health guru, but because I genuinely feel better when I do. It’s still very much progress over perfection, but that’s the goal.

The Nutrition Boost That Surprised Me

Now, I’ll be honest — for most of my adult life, I thought protein shakes were strictly reserved for people who lived at the gym. The idea of me blending up a whey protein powder after the school run felt a bit ridiculous. I wasn’t trying to build muscle — I was just trying to survive the afternoon slump without reaching for another Dairy Milk.

But over the past year or so, I’ve seen more and more people talking about how important protein actually is for everyone — not just athletes. Especially for busy parents who are often skipping meals, eating cold leftovers, or just generally not fuelling themselves properly. That really made me stop and think.

When Naked Nutrition reached out to share their products, I started reading more about what they offer — and it actually made sense. Their grass-fed whey protein is made with minimal ingredients and designed to help keep your energy steady throughout the day. It’s not about “bulking up” — it’s about giving your body clean, simple fuel that supports recovery and focus, even when you’re running on minimal sleep.

As someone who’s always in my “research era” — from vitamins for my skin and hormones to the latest parenting hacks — this really caught my attention. It’s nice to know that adding a good-quality whey protein could be one of those small tweaks that actually helps. No intense gym sessions required, just a little extra support for the tired parents out there trying to get through the day without living on toast crusts.

Tiny Tweaks That Make a Big Difference

The more I pay attention to my energy levels, the more I realise it’s not one big fix that makes a difference — it’s a handful of small, realistic changes that all add up.

For me, it starts first thing in the morning. Getting outside for a walk — even just ten minutes — completely resets my day. There’s something about that bit of movement and daylight that wakes me up far more effectively than a second coffee ever could. If I skip it, I notice it straight away.

Food and fluid play a big part too. I’ve learned (the hard way) that what I eat first thing really sets the tone for the day. My absolute favourite granola may look healthy, but it’s basically sugar in disguise — and once I’ve started that rollercoaster, it’s hard to get off. Choosing something a little more balanced makes a huge difference to how steady my energy feels, and how likely I am to reach for another “quick fix” later on.

But the biggest thing? Realising that small steps really do matter — and that trying something new, even if it’s tiny, is worth it. Maybe adding more protein into your meals will help you feel more balanced. Maybe an early morning walk will make the day feel lighter. Maybe it’s just about drinking more water and saying no to that extra late-night scroll.

We don’t need to overhaul our lives to feel better. We just need to find a few things that make us feel a little more us — a little less “toast crusts for lunch” and a little more steady, awake, and ready to handle whatever the day throws at us.