You Don’t Need to Be Rihanna: Simplifying Life and Avoiding Burnout as a Millennial Parent

Picture this: You’ve just finished an exhausting day. After juggling work meetings, rushing the kids to after-school activities, and trying to grab a snack, you finally get the kids to bed. Just as you’re about to collapse on the couch, your phone dings—it’s an email from your boss. You feel the weight of another request before you’ve even had a chance to breathe. Sound familiar?

For millennial parents, this pressure is all too common. We’re expected to excel at work, be fully present for our children, maintain our relationships, and somehow still find time for ourselves. After all, not all of us are Rihanna, flawlessly performing at the Super Bowl while 7 months pregnant. Yet, the pressures of modern life sometimes make us feel like we’re expected to be.

The result? Burnout. But what if there’s a better way? By embracing the “less is more” philosophy, we can simplify our lives, restore balance, and avoid the exhaustion that comes with trying to do it all.

The Reality of Burnout for Millennial Parents

Burnout is an increasingly common issue for millennial parents. 46% of millennial parents report feeling constantly exhausted​(Lurie Children’s). Several factors contribute to this:

1. Dual-income households: Today, 68% of millennial families have both parents working full-time​(Pew Research Center). This leaves little room for self-care and personal time, contributing to high stress levels.
2. Increased expectations: Despite working more, modern parents are spending more time with their children than previous generations. Working mothers today spend an average of 12.9 hours per week on child-related activities, compared to 10.6 hours in 1965​(Bright Horizons Global Homepage)​(Bright Horizons Global Homepage). This additional time is admirable but also contributes to the overwhelming sense of being stretched too thin.
3. Capitalism and productivity culture: Our society glorifies productivity, creating a constant pressure to “do more.” Parents are often caught in a cycle of trying to excel at work, care for their families, and meet societal standards, all of which leaves little room for rest.

Less Is More: The Benefits of Simplifying Life

Millennial parents are increasingly recognizing that the key to avoiding burnout lies in simplifying their lives and focusing on quality time. In fact, research shows that millennial fathers are far more involved in their children’s lives than previous generations, with many families adopting a co-parenting approach to better balance work and family duties​(KinderCare). This trend demonstrates that millennial parents are actively choosing to cut back on non-essential commitments and embrace a more flexible, shared responsibility in parenting.

Moreover, even though many parents face demanding work schedules, they are finding ways to prioritize family time in more spontaneous ways, such as weekends or flexible moments throughout the week. This shift away from rigid routines, like the traditional family dinner, reflects a broader adoption of the “less is more” philosophy​(

The Well). Millennial parents are making deliberate choices to focus on what truly matters—quality time, mental health, and personal well-being.

Here are some of the key benefits of simplifying life:

1. Improved Mental Health: Simplifying your life reduces stress by allowing you to focus on what truly matters. By letting go of the pressure to “do it all,” you’ll find more peace and mental clarity​(Pew Research Center).
2. More Time for What Matters: When you strip away non-essential tasks, you create more time for activities that bring joy—whether it’s spending quality time with your family, resting, or pursuing a personal hobby.
3. Stronger Boundaries: Setting boundaries at work and in your personal life allows you to protect your time and energy. Clear communication with your employer about your limits helps ensure that work doesn’t take over your time.
4. Increased Productivity at Work: When you focus on what’s essential, you’ll find that your productivity at work increases. Clear priorities help you work smarter, not harder.
5. Better Relationships: Simplifying your schedule allows for a more meaningful connection with loved ones. Quality time—whether with your children or partner—builds stronger emotional bonds and reduces stress.

Practical Ways to Simplify Your Life

Here are a few concrete steps to help you simplify your life and reduce burnout:

1. Set Boundaries at Work: Don’t be afraid to say no to extra work that doesn’t align with your capacity. Discuss your limits with your manager and create non-negotiable times for personal or family life.
   • Resource: For guidance on setting workplace boundaries, check out this helpful Forbes article on creating a healthy work-life balance.
2. Limit Social Media: Social media often fuels unrealistic expectations of what parenting and success should look like. By limiting your time on these platforms, you’ll reduce the pressure to keep up with curated lives and focus on your own reality.
3. Outsource Non-Essential Tasks: If possible, outsource tasks like cleaning or grocery shopping to free up your time. Consider this investment as part of your mental health care.
   • Resource: Research from the Harvard Business Review suggests that outsourcing tasks can increase your happiness by giving you back precious time.
4. Prioritize Rest: Scheduling regular rest is essential to avoid burnout. Whether it’s a quiet evening at home or a walk in the park, rest should be non-negotiable.
5. Practice Saying No: Saying no to social obligations or work requests that don’t align with your priorities can be freeing. It’s a way to protect your energy and focus on what truly matters.
6. Choose Experiences Over Things: Spend time and money on experiences that foster connection and happiness, rather than accumulating material possessions.
   • Example: Consider a simpler weekend spent hiking or having a family game night. Experiences like these often bring more joy than high-pressure, expensive trips.
7. Avoid Products for Problems That Don’t Exist: The attention economy constantly bombards us with products claiming to solve problems we didn’t even know we had. Falling for these advertisements drains our energy, attention, and wallets. Studies show that 68% of millennial parents have been influenced by social media ads to make purchases​(Pew Research Center). Cutting back on impulse buys not only saves money but also reduces clutter and decision fatigue.

Pushing Back Against Capitalism and Perfectionism

We live in a society that glorifies productivity and equates busyness with success. But this constant need to achieve more isn’t sustainable, especially for parents balancing multiple responsibilities. Capitalism’s drive for endless productivity has conditioned us to believe our worth is tied to how much we accomplish—but it’s time to push back against this mindset.

• Workplace Policies: Advocate for flexible working arrangements, mental health days, and boundaries that respect personal time. This can reduce the pressure to always be available and help prevent burnout.
• Reframe Success: Success doesn’t have to be about how busy you are—it should be about feeling fulfilled, balanced, and connected. It’s time to redefine success in a way that prioritizes well-being over productivity.