Steady Mom

Help for Busy, Tired Moms (Moms' 30-Minute Blog Challenge)

This post was originally published on July 28, 2009. Get some rest, all you busy mamas!

 
Photo by Ian Burt

Whew - I'm not gonna lie. I am a busy, tired mom. Various factors in the past two weeks have been draining, to say the least. Thankfully, I've learned some strategies to get through this time and emerge even stronger.

Physical causes make a significant impact on our energy levels. But I know that emotional issues have just as much an effect on my spirit during tiring times.

Here are a few ways to combat the undercurrent of emotional fatigue:

1. Take it one day (or minute) at a time.

Photo by Amy

Earlier this month I posted one of my favorite motivational pieces - Just for Today. Of this poem, the point I revisit often is #7:

"Just for today I will try to live through this day only, not tackle my whole life problem at once. I can do things for twelve hours that would appall me if I had to keep them up for a lifetime."

That advice is so helpful and so true. Usually when I find myself emotionally worn out, it's because I'm projecting current circumstances into the future - "What if my kids always have this issue, how can I keep going at this pace, etc." This is negative, spiral-down thinking.

Proactive thinking looks like this: "How can I deal appropriately with this screaming child? Now it's time to change one diaper. I'm going to work on my blog for the next ten minutes, etc."

It's so easy to live in the moment - just watch your kids. They do it naturally. You don't have to keep going forever, you just have to keep going this instant. Living this way, forever takes care of itself.

2. Cling to the good.

What one thing did your child do right today? Maybe your daughter snatched toys away from her brother, tried to bite you, and took off all her clothes in anger. But, did you see how well she cleaned up when you asked? And that smile - beautiful!

Photo by D Sharon Pruitt

Write 'the good' down if it helps. And every time you think of your little girl throughout the day, visualize that moment. You'll likely have more than one - if you make the effort to look for them. These positive images need to remain at the forefront of our minds.

Every day we progress a little more. So do our children.

3. Meditate and pray.

In my life, my Christian faith serves to ground me and remind me of the bigger picture. It keeps struggles in perspective and relieves me of feeling as though I must deal with my problems alone. How freeing to hand burdens over to Someone who carries them much more thoroughly than I ever could manage - a very peace-inducing lifestyle.

It's been said that "a soul occupied with great ideas best performs small duties" (Harriet Martineau).  

Sometimes the constant work of motherhood begins to feel monotonous - that's why the great thoughts of Scripture, philosophers, and other wise authors provide an emotional strength and mental stimulation to carry us through challenging times. I share more specifics about focusing our thoughts in my book, Steady Days.

Maintaining emotional endurance is key to enjoying life with little ones. And if you're in the middle of a difficult season, don't forget the power of hope.

Every day your children are growing older, making new discoveries, and becoming more mature. Every day you are gaining more experience and wisdom as a mama. Those two factors combined can only mean a steady growth over time and a hopeful, positive future to look forward to.

So enjoy the growth and journey today brings your way!

Related Posts:
Rest for a Weary Mother - An Introduction
Rest for a Weary Mother - The Physical

 

**Which of these three points (or others of your own) do you find most helpful when dealing with emotional fatigue?**

If you enjoyed this post, I hope you'll subscribe to Steady Mom--it's free!


Jamie is founder of this spot called Steady Mom, editor of the blog Simple Homeschool, mama to three cute kids born on three different continents, and author of Steady Days: A Journey Toward Intentional, Professional Motherhood.

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Thanks for participating in the Moms' 30-Minute Blog Challenge, held here each Tuesday. Please link up below with the permalink to your 30 minute post, not your blog's home page.

I would also ask, as a courtesy, that you would please link back here to Steady Mom by including a text link somewhere in your post. Thank you.

Please note that the links will close at 11pm EST on Thursday.

 

Why We Are Addicted to Complaining and How to Stop It

Photo by Janek Mann

 

The following is a guest post from Lisa Byrne of The WellGrounded Life. (A note from Jamie: Lisa's blog is one of my favorites--I'm so happy to have her sharing on Steady Mom today!)

Not too long ago,  I caught myself in a conversation with a friend where we spent our whole time together sharing complaints about our lives.  In fact we were purposefully seeking out ways to connect through negativity.
 
You know, commiserating on the difficulties of raising toddlers, the terrible heat, the extra expenses of school season beginning, the monotony of having to clean the house and cook dinner every day. Really the ordinary, (and extraordinary!) responsibilities (and blessings!) we have as moms in the world.
 
All too often, if I’m not watchful, I find myself in these kinds of conversations...when my husband comes home, when I drop the kids off to my mom’s for a visit, when I strike up a conversation with the cashier at a store.
 
The tendency to focus on the negative and keep ourselves in a constant state of complaining is rampant in our society.
 
I think it has an addictive quality.  And I also think it is destructive to our health.

This Moment :: Digging

 

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, join in over at SouleMama.

 

 

We are heading out today for two weeks of beach vacationing--yay!

Things around here will more or less proceed as usual, with guest posts, reposts, and beach photos in abundance, no doubt. (And yes, I also plan on taking a serious break from screen time, too!)

Have a lovely weekend and think of me with sand in my toes and the sun on my face...

If you enjoyed this post, I hope you'll subscribe to Steady Mom--it's free!


Jamie is founder of this spot called Steady Mom, editor of the blog Simple Homeschool, mama to three cute kids born on three different continents, and author of Steady Days: A Journey Toward Intentional, Professional Motherhood.

 

Cleaning Your Way to Happiness

Photo by Todd Baker
 

This post is written by monthly contributor Cortney of Praiseworthy.

Is cleanliness the key--the key to happiness, the key to sanity, the key to all that is right in the world?

Ha! I sure hope not. Because if it is, then I am in big trouble! But maybe it is the beginning, maybe it is the catalyst, or maybe it is the icing on the cake. What do you think?

I recently enjoyed the interview with Mandi Ehman here on Steady Mom in which she credited a neat and tidy home as the one practical thing that makes the biggest difference in her day.

As I have struggled to be a steady mom, I too have found that cleanliness can be my source of strength--not because keeping a clean house is one of my strong traits, but because when I make an effort to be clean and organized, the state of my home becomes a strength to me.

If I walk into my bathroom and my clothes from the day before are lying in a pile amid an assortment of bottles and brushes and bobby pins on the counter, that view is doubled in the reflection of the mirror and my day begins with a vision of disorder. 

If I walk into the kitchen and the sink is full of dishes and the counter covered in everything from books to crumbs to gardening gloves, then the task of preparing breakfast grows into a series of pesky chores.
 
But if I walk into any room in my home where it is clean and put in order, I feel free to breathe in and enjoy the purpose for being there--completing a task seems more fulfilling, people are more enjoyable, and I am simply happier.

Family Laundry: Keep it Organized (Moms' 30-Minute Blog Challenge)

This post is part of a blog carnival called the Moms' 30-Minute Blog Challenge. Write a 30-minute post and come link up below!

Photo by Meena Kadri

We'll be heading out on vacation at the end of this week, and I've got piles of laundry to tackle before then. So it seemed like a good time to republish this post, which originally aired June 24th, 2009.

As families grow, so do laundry piles. Keeping the family laundry organized is no small challenge. I'm certainly no "laundry expert" (do you think such a title exists?!) But after experimenting with different strategies over the years, laundry is now one of my preferred household chores.

Here's what works for me:

1. Limit the amount of laundry that needs to be done.

I read somewhere that a good laundry goal is one load per family member per week. In our household of five, we don't even need to do that much. I typically wash, dry, and fold four loads of laundry each week. Often this goes down to three loads in Summer when fewer layers are required.

So, do our kiddos run around 24/7 in their birthday suits? Not exactly. But, they don't wear pajamas. After evening bath time, we dress our children in whatever shirts they'll wear the next day and some comfortable pants. This cuts down on laundry as well as dressing time in the mornings.

We also reuse towels multiple times between washes. In our family, we get through about five towels a week. We hang them over the shower rod to dry and use next time (until they fail the smell test!).

Photo by D. Sharon Pruitt

2. Have a specific time of day for each step in the laundry process.

I put laundry in the washing machine early in the morning, and move it to the dryer before lunch. I fold during the kids' afternoon play time, and put clothes away during their bath time.

Now that I have a planned time for each step in the process, laundry flows fairly effortlessly in our home. It has helped to eliminate laundry sitting in the basket for days on end. And of course I'm looking forward to the time when my kiddos will take over this chore entirely (blissful thought!).

3. Get creative.

Think outside the box when it comes to laundry. You can also brainstorm a unique solution to this organizational dilemma.

My friend Robyn, amazing mother of nine, recently created a "dressing area" in her laundry room where she keeps her children's clothing. Having everyone in the family head to one common area for clothes seriously simplifies the laundry process!

**Now it's your turn to share--how do you tackle laundry in your home?**

If you enjoyed this post, I hope you'll subscribe to Steady Mom--it's free!


Jamie is founder of this spot called Steady Mom, editor of the blog Simple Homeschool, mama to three cute kids born on three different continents, and author of Steady Days: A Journey Toward Intentional, Professional Motherhood.

___________________________________________

Thanks for participating in the Moms' 30-Minute Blog Challenge, held here each Tuesday. Please link up below with the permalink to your 30 minute post, not your blog's home page.

I would also ask, as a courtesy, that you would please link back here to Steady Mom by including a text link somewhere in your post. Thank you.

Please note that the links will close at 11pm EST on Thursday.