Six Ways To Avoid Busy Burnout

We just came through  of one of our busiest seasons yet with all three of our teenage sons playing lacrosse. Thank goodness our twins were on the same team! 

Games, meals, and practices replaced our once empty evenings. 

As this season was approaching I was reminded of some strategies my husband and I put in place when our boys were small. 

Life can get crazy real quick during a busy season, and it helps to go into it with a strategy (even if it’s a loose one!)

Here are some tips and tricks to help you through your next busy season of life.

Stay consistent in your time with God

 A lot of things may fall by the wayside during this time (I really don’t mind if pulling weeds has to go) but your time with God shouldn’t be one of them.

Draw near to him during this time, and he will be near to you. John 14 says “I am the vine, you are the branches.” He will guide you through and be your strength when you’re feeling weary. He will give you insight for managing the crazy schedules and meal planning. When unexpected things happen, Jesus will be the one to help you in ways you can’t imagine. 

Give yourself a break!

Don’t expect too much of yourself during this time. When our boys were little we came up with a five day meal rotation that we put in place when we were short on time and energy. It went a little something like this: tacos, spaghetti, heat up Chinese, corn dogs (it was a fan favorite!), and make your own pizza.

Quick, easy meals are a life saver! What are your family favorite easy meals? Drop them in a list and pull them out on your busiest weeks.

Use modern convenience to your advantage when necessary. Instacart, store pick up and Amazon delivery are all great resources. These options were not available when our boys were babies, and I’m so glad we have them now. If the budget allows, save yourself the trip to the grocery store and choose delivery instead.

Scale back

Let your family (and friends) know things will be simpler for a time. Do you normally bake elaborate desserts? Grab a box of brownie mix instead. Do you typically clean your house from top to bottom? Get one task in when you have a few minutes to spare. Give the kids one task a day to help keep things clean. As soon as our boys were old enough, we created a daily job list. The jobs rotate so that one person isn’t cleaning up after the dog every day. It’s super easy to create, and having the extra help will take a few things off your plate.

 

Maximize your time

Use your lunch hour, kids nap schedule or your time waiting in line for pickup to make a phone call or set up that bill payment. Before I begin my workday in the mornings, I grab a post-it note and write down things that have to be completed that day. It helps me take all of the “to do’s” out of my mind and put them on paper.

As a pocket of time opens up in my day, I re-order the prescription or schedule the appointment from the list.

Proverbs 6:6-8 CSB "Go to the ant, you slacker! Observe its ways and become wise. Without leader, administrator, or ruler, it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food during harvest."

You will feel such relief when a few simple tasks are completed, and it really does only take a few minutes.

Rest and repeat

Sleep in, take a nap, go to bed early, set a 5 minute timer and close your eyes. Rest in any and all ways.

Rest doesn’t always mean actual sleep. Think of what helps you to feel replenished and spend a little time doing it. Taking a walk or reading a chapter of a book might restore you. I enjoy sitting on my patio with a glass of iced tea, even if it is only for ten minutes!

There is a reason that the Lord gave the command to rest. He desires to be with you, and replenish you. If you ask the Lord to give you rest, you will be amazed at the ways he chooses to give you just the amount rest you need.

Hebrews 4:9-11 CSB "Therefore, a Sabbath rest remains for God's people. For the person who has entered his rest has rested from his own works, just as God did from his. Let us, then, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall into the same pattern of disobedience." 

Technology is your friend

We aren’t all great with technology, but chances are pretty good you have a smart phone within reach. Add all of your family’s appointments, meetings, school events, and even pet checkups to your phone calendar. If your family has a family share plan, be sure to add them to the family calendar so everyone will see it. This helps with those constant questions (or maybe it’s just my kids who ask when…) When it is time to add another event, you will have access to your family’s events. If your kids are adding their own appointments, remind them to add it to family when they make the appointment.  It’s such a small thing but has saved us so much extra time and effort! 

 If you’re super organized (unlike me) review the calendar with your spouse at the beginning of the week so you can make arrangements for any appointments or changes in schedule. This is also a good opportunity for you to discuss each other’s schedules. We often make plans to meet with a friend, or to help a family member when the other one is not around, and simply forget to tell the other! You can use this time to catch up on those details. 

These tips aren’t going to change the world, but putting a few small changes in place can help you not feel completely overwhelmed. I hope you find these tips and tricks helpful, and are able to put a few into practice. 

If you think you will try out one of these tips, or have some tips of your own that work great, I would love to know! Drop a note in the comments!