Does your life feel like it's on auto repeat?
Do your days start off drained and end up drained? This is a vicious cycle many modern day women find themselves caught up in. You have a jammed packed schedule and have too much on your plate, which leaves you stressed to the max and your unhappiness comes out in rather unpleasant ways. Then you do it all over again the next day. A never-ending cycle.
You have to break the cycle.
Cycles can be broken with a little planning and practice. The first thing I want you to do is visualize driving a car. This car is running along... running along. Then all of a sudden, the gas light comes on. Whoops. Well, I guess it's time to get some gas. So what do you do? You say, "aw well, it just came on. I can go a few more miles before stopping." So several more miles go by and you're happily driving along, but now you're running on fumes. You forgot about the gas light and now the next gas station isn't for miles away. Guess what? You run out of gas. Now what?
You end up stuck.
You have to pay attention to the warning signs. Don't be like the car running out of gas. Everyday you go to sleep drained and wake up drained, your body is running on fumes. How functional and productive can you really be running on fumes? Just like a car needs gas to keep running, you need to refuel to keep going as well. Monitor your energy levels. This is ESSENTIAL to your well-being. You don't refuel once a week. You refuel EVERY DAY.
Let me give you 4 ways you can refuel your energy on a busy schedule:
- Take time the night before to do things you can skip in the morning such as ironing clothes and packing lunches. Don't keep saying, 'Oh, I'll just do that in the morning." You'll regret it later after you've hit the snooze button one too many times. Avoid the stress of rushing by planning ahead. Beginning your day screaming at the kids to hurry up because you're late and digging for clean clothes in a sea of laundry is not really starting out on the best foot.
- Use the extra time you have in the morning to pray, meditate, read your bible, have a cup of coffee, or just have a quiet moment to yourself. I know firsthand, life with children can be hectic and mornings even crazier. You would be amazed at how you'll feel if you're able to take some much needed time to yourself to talk with God in peace and quiet before you start your day. Even if you don't have children, this also applies!
- Monitor your energy levels throughout the day. Often times we just keep going and going and going without checking to see if the gas light has come on. How do you feel? Are you tired? Angry? Stressed? Overwhelmed? Pay attention to fluctuations in your mood. These are indicators you may need a break. A walk outside. Some fresh air. Time away from the computer. Meditate on some scriptures. Listen to your favorite song. Personally, I always keep my music handy with my favorite motivational songs. Whatever it is that you know can give you that boost, make sure it's available to you. If you don't pay attention to your gas light, you will be running on fumes by the end of the day.
- Take more time to reflect at the end of the day, even if it's just for five minutes. Put your feet up. Watch a favorite show. Exercise. Whatever it is, just take some time for yourself. Journaling is a great way to let out some of your feelings. Be accountable for your emotions. They are important. Stop putting them to the side! Stop with the busy work. You are important enough to take a few minutes for yourself. The same things you do for others, you need to do for yourself.
The fact of the matter is, in order to be the strong backbone that you are... you have to take care of yourself. No one can do that for you.
No more running on fumes, OK? Let's refuel EVERY day.
