some of my tasks to help me get back in
the right frame of mind.
If we have been working diligently at
home for several days, suddenly switching
things up and going on a field trip or a trip
to the park may lift everyone’s mood. If
we have been off schedule and have fallen
behind, tightening up the schedule and
checking on everyone’s goals and progress
may be just the thing to combat the feeling of being overwhelmed and under-mo-tivated. If we have all been feeling tired,
changing up the sleep schedule—adding
in a rest time or going to bed early for a
few nights a week—may be enough to get
the spring back in our steps.
If you are experiencing burnout, it is
important to know that it does not last
forever, and it is often a call for change.
Start with examining your spiritual walk
and see if you have been neglecting some
of the basic spiritual disciplines that will
help keep your life in balance. Prayer,
journaling, and Bible study are easy to
ignore when you feel overwhelmed, but
they are powerful tools to help restore a
proper state of mind.
Next, examine your self-care. Are
you getting enough rest? Are you eating
healthy meals? Are you drinking ample
amounts of water? Are you getting exer-
cise and sunshine? If any of those compo-
nents are lacking, you will fall victim to
excessive stress more easily. Even if you
have many children, you can find creative
ways to meet those needs, sometimes
while completing other essential tasks.
Once I got my heart
and mind focused on
God’s Word rather
than on my current
circumstance, I began
to see the burnout
lifting.
Have you surrounded yourself with
Godly people and positive and uplifting
literature and music? If not, take some
time to dust off some favorite CDs and set
out your devotional books. Call an upbeat
friend or make a date with your husband.
It’s perfectly acceptable to talk to your
husband or a friend about your feelings,
to seek their advice. It is also good to
make a change in your schedule. For ex-
ample, if you have been very busy, plan a
relaxing day. If you have been off-sched-
ule, evaluate your schedule and get back
on track. Sometimes a short break will
be all that’s needed to help you overcome
feelings of burnout and give you strength
to fulfill your duties.
Malia Russell is the blessed wife to Duncan,
thankful mother to five children (newborn
to 21), and an author, conference speaker
and director of www.homemaking911.com
and www.wheatnthings.com.
