Guest Post from "Toblerone" who blogs at Simple MomBusy stay-at-home moms are, well, busy. And unfortunately, the moms themselves are the ones who usually go by the wayside--we wake up at 3 a.m. to nurse and then yawn through the day. We teach our children the alphabet, but barely have time to read to learn something new ourselves. We spin multiple plates, and ultimately fall down burned-out, exhausted, and if we're not careful, bitter.
How do we take care of ourselves in a God-glorifying manner? I am not advocating not doing any of the above. It is a blessing to have a precious baby to feed, I love watching my daughter's eyes brighten when she learns something new, and I wholeheartedly accept that God has a myriad of tasks for me that make up my wonderful job of MOM.
But I think He wants us to take care of ourselves, too. After all, we're His daughters. If we teach our children to live a life pleasing to Him--while neglecting to nurture our own selves for His glory--how soluble is the message we're sending?
Here are 10 tips for avoiding burn out throughout the day:1. Go outside. When I've been inside all day, I get lethargic and mopey. A 30-minute walk with my kids in tow will re-energize and lift my spirits. An hour-long trip to the neighborhood park will realign my attitude about my day's remaining tasks. Summer is here, so now's the time to take advantage of great weather.
2. Read the Word. We all know the story of Susannah Wesley covering her head with her apron so that she could have time alone with God amongst her 19 children. We may not need to do that, but we definitely need our time with the Father. Spend 15 minutes in your favorite chair, reading your Bible. Read it aloud while your kids color--you'll be surprised what the Holy Spirit will do within you just to hear truth spoken in your home. Not to mention your kids!
3. Take a shower and freshen up. This isn't always possible, but if it's 2 p.m. and you're still in your jammies, nap time would be a great time to get yourself clean. You'll feel so much better (and prettier, too).
4. Get creative. Finger paint with your kids. Bake something you've not yet tried. Dig in the garden. Find a craft that's both fun for your children and useful for you. A few hours of creative freedom does a world of good for me.
5. Go to bed! Seriously. Give yourself a bedtime and stick to it. When you get enough (or at least more) sleep, you'll have a transformed attitude and renewed energy.
6. Set a timer. Allot a specific amount of time for your daily tasks, and pepper them throughout your day so you don't burn out. When I tackle the entire kitchen in one fell swoop, I'm often too wiped out to accomplish much else. But if I schedule four 30-minute sessions of cleaning with 15-minute breaks in between, I'll have more energy to move on to the next task once the kitchen is done. Less chance of being crawl-to-bed exhausted by nightfall.
7. Monitor your computer time. I wrote about
using a great little free online tool, and it has really helped me. If you log how much time you spend checking e-mail, reading blogs, or just surfing, you'll be shocked how much time will go down the drain. When you intentionally cut yourself off, you'll be more productive and more "with" the real world--which really will encourage you.
8. Make realistic to-do lists. When you list 25 things on your daily to-do list, you're setting yourself up for failure. When you plan on 10 things, you up your chances of crossing everything off (one of the best feelings ever!). When you're done, you can play with your kids, sit in the backyard and read, or even get a head start on tomorrow's list. You can make a master weekly list so you don't forget those 25--or 30--things, and leave them for the next day. There's always tomorrow.
9. Read a book. Even if it's one page before you konk out for the night, you'll stimulate your mind, and depending on the book's topic, you'll learn something new. What you read can also provide lively discussion at the dinner table with your husband.
10. Smile. Make a concerted effort to go about your day smiling, and sure enough, you'll probably feel better. You may look goofy, but your kids won't care--in fact, you'll probably lift their spirits, too. While you're at it, why not try laughing? As a mom, you've got plenty of fodder to keep you snickering!
"Toblerone" is a stay-at-home mom with a graphic design business. She and her family live overseas (for security reasons, she can't say exactly where on the internet), and can be found blogging at Simple Mom.
Graphic from AllPosters.com
Labels: Avoiding Burn Out
A butterfly at the Omaha Zoo Butterfly Garden
Related: Stephanie's post on a similar topic was a great encouragement to me as I was seeking the Lord on this.
