KL Traffic Is Testing My Limits as a Working Mom

I don't mind going to office daily. But the journey? It's breaking me in a ways I never expected.

Every morning, I leave the house prepared to give my best as an employee, as a mom, as someone trying to balance it all. But the moment I hit the road, reality kicks in. The traffic doesn’t just slow me down… it slowly drains me. By the time I reach the office, I’m no longer starting fresh, I’m already tired.

And lately, it’s not just mental exhaustion, it’s physical too.

Sitting for hours(I can say 4 hours go and back) in traffic has started to take a toll on my body, especially my lower back. The kind of pain that lingers even after I step out of the car. The kind that follows me throughout the day, quietly reminding me that this routine is becoming too much.

What makes it harder is this I don’t even hate going to work.

I enjoy having a routine. I appreciate being productive. I like showing up and doing what I’m supposed to do. But the journey to get there? That’s the part that’s wearing me down.

And as a working mom, exhaustion doesn’t end when the workday does.

When I finally reach home, there’s still another role waiting for me, one that matters even more. My child needs me. My attention, my patience, my presence. But some days, after spending hours on the road, I find myself running on empty.

And that’s where the guilt quietly creeps in.

Am I too tired today?
Why do I feel so easily irritated?
Am I giving my child the best version of me or just what’s left of me?

And then there are days when the traffic gets even worse.

Days when I arrive late to pick up my son.
Days when I see him waiting too long … and I can feel the guilt instantly.

I try to tell myself it’s out of my control. But as a mother, it still hurts.

And on top of that, the overtime charges.

Paying extra because I couldn’t make it on time feels like a double weight.
Physically exhausted from the drive… and emotionally burdened by the guilt and the cost that comes with it.

It’s a heavy feeling to carry. Because deep down, I know it’s not a lack of love. It’s exhaustion.

This week made me realize something important, not all tiredness is worth it.

There’s a difference between being tired from doing something meaningful… and being drained from something that takes more than it gives. And right now, this daily commute feels like it’s taking too much.

I’m starting to listen to my body more.
To acknowledge that this constant discomfort isn’t something I should ignore.
To admit that just because I can push through it… doesn’t mean I always should.

Maybe the answer isn’t immediate.
Maybe nothing changes overnight.

But something in me is shifting.

I’m beginning to understand that sustainability matters. That showing up every day shouldn’t come at the cost of my health or the version of myself I bring home to my child.

Because at the end of the day, I don’t just want to survive my routine.

I want to live it with enough energy, patience, and presence for the people who matter most.

If this spoke to you, you’re not alone.

Drop a comment and share your experience, I’d really love to hear your story.

And if you know another mom who needs this, send this to her.