The year is coming to a close. After a year like 2020 your probably thinking that this year can end as quickly as it started right? It has been a hard year for most of us. Despite a hard year and the challenges that came with it, it is not uncommon to be feeling the burnout in life, ministry, business, homeschool, kids, marriage and ALL THE THINGS at this point in the year! This kind of burnout encourages you to start looking towards the new year because, well, your ready to feel fresh and new right? What if I told you, you could over come this feeling right now in 4 simple steps. Overcoming burnout is possible even in the middle of a pandemic.
Rest in knowing you are called to this very moment in time! You are called to finish this year strong. It is tempting to give up and start making your list for next year to do all the hard things. God is your help in moments you are weak and tired, even in these final moments of 2020. You can start today on purpose, with a purpose and be present as we head into the holiday season and wrap up the year.
Evaluate your current commitments
Are you guilty of saying yes to often. Maybe you feel led to participate in every opportunity presented to you. One of the greatest skills you can cultivate is learning to say no. Therefore, taking the time to evaluate your schedule of current commitments may give you some insight to areas you can cut out. Ask yourself if you are you truly called to be in this position, ministry, outreach or activity or are you filling in a gap because your afraid there is not anyone else that can do it? and area of of outreach you are currently involved in. Also, ask yourself why you are involved in each commitment on your to-do list. One of the biggest traps Christians fall into, is serving when there is no one else to do it.
If you are feeling burned out right now, there is a good chance you are serving in positions that God is not calling you to can and will cause more harm than good. When you commit to a position your not called to be in, fear becomes a driving force of your efforts. Operating outside of your gifts is like telling your leg to do the arms job. Understanding your spiritual gifts can help you to identify areas of service that are building you up, or bringing you down. There are many options for spiritual gifts tests online.
After evaluating your current schedule, consider stepping down from areas that are causing you stress.
Take care of yourself
Taking care of yourself has to be a priority. Time for you generally does not just find free time on the schedule and pencil itself in. Despite what anyone has told you, taking time to mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally care for yourself should be a priority and should have time blocked out on your schedule.
Self care looks different for everyone depending on your seasons of life! I have older kids now and I find it easier to make time caring for myself. When you have small children at home that rely on you to keep them alive, finding 5 minutes a day to close your eyes a take a few deep breaths might be a miracle.
If you are in a tough season, do yourself a favor. Get creative and spend time looking for ways to work on your mental, physical, spiritual and emotional well-being. Schedule a date night with your spouse or friends monthly. Go to coffee with your mentor. Ask the neighbor to watch the kids for 20 minutes and go for a walk. Get up 30 minutes before your kids do and work on a devotional or Bible study. Overall, self-care for parents with young kids or busy schedules can be difficult to find so be intentional.
Prioritize Bible learning
Time to re-fill your cup! There is no greater place to connect with God and be filled to the max. Making time to be in God’s Word is an area of your life that cannot be skipped over. Whether you are working through personal devotions or working through a study with your small groups, be sure that you are scheduling time to be in God’s Word.
When i had small children, I often had the Bible playing on my phone or device audibly. Sometimes, I would play worship music while preparing meals or doing laundry. There are so many ways you can be sure you are in God’s Word despite your situation. If you have made the excuse that you do not have time to open your Bible, or maybe you do not know where to start in God’s Word, iWrite Bible has your no stress, Bible learning plans ready to go. If the scriptures do not fit into your day, then cut some things out of your schedule again. Maybe even consider staying up later, or getting up earlier. All that to say, no excuses on this one!
Establish your morning routine
When you feel tired or run down, it is easy to slip into unhealthy habits. Maybe you forget meals and drink a pot of coffee throughout the day just to pull you through. I can relate. First of all, I am not a doctor. So, if you are experiencing any kind of symptoms you should see your doctor to rule out any medical conditions that may be causing you to feel burned out.
Having a morning routine is one of the greatest ways to get excited about starting your day! I don’t know about you, but I need to be excited about getting the day started otherwise I will set myself up for failure. If you already have a routine, but your not excited about getting up to start your routine, well then, it’s time to fix your morning rituals and get excited about life again.
As you evaluate your current morning start-up routine, look for areas that cause you stress. Your routine could be anywhere from 5 minutes to two hours depending on your season of life. Be sure your day starts with things that address your physical, spiritual, mental and physical well being. If you cannot identify areas of your daily start up that you are excited about in each of these categories, keep working towards creating habits that address these areas of your life that will bring you new life worth waking up to.
Share ways you have overcome that fatigue and crushed the day like a boss!
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