Every month, we keep you informed on the latest studies and research in our “Not My Teen” blog series. Today, we’re looking at a recent article from Parent Herald that highlighted a survey for parents who overwhelmingly agreed that raising kids now is harder than it has ever been.

Raising children can be difficult – there is always something going on that is out of balance or needs reinforcement. The truth of the matter is, whether parenting a toddler or teenager managing life simultaneously can be difficult. A recent survey by the Business Performance Innovation Network polled 2,000 participants from the United States and Canada to find out who is experiencing “parental burnout,” referring to the stress and extraneous exhaustion that comes alongside being a parent.

Parental burnout can come from a range of factors including:

• Lack of cooperation from teenagers, especially when they are being influenced by social media and digital devices
• Work exhaustion in one’s professional life
• Financial concerns
• Behavioral, emotional, and mental problems in children

It’s important to note that parental burnout is not necessarily something that comes and stays. While it can be consistent, many parents reported it as chronic and reoccurring. This highlights the reality that, for many, parenthood is not an issue every day. Some days are great and equally balanced, and others come with more struggle. It’s important to listen to your body and pay attention to the signs that could be telling you to regroup or seek help.

The reasons for parental burnout can be endless and the effects of its pressure can be highly troublesome. However, the most important thing to focus on is working to relieve the stress and create as much balance for yourself as possible. Some parents in the survey found activities such as exercise, personal time, and speaking with fellow parents and friends as common ways to relieve the stress and reduce the feeling of parental burnout. Additionally, some sought assistance from self-help books, professional counseling, and their physician. Whichever path you may choose, it’s important to prioritize your personal health amidst the ever-changing tides of parenting.

Along with following our blog, you can stay updated on new studies and trends in teen behavior, advice for keeping teens away from risky behaviors, general teen parenting tips, and more by keeping up with the Stop Medicine Abuse initiative on Facebook, Twitter.