When Life Closes In

As it stands right now, my Proverbs 31 Woman book is (finally) ready to go once it has cover art. It's been a long time coming and I'm really excited to get it done and published! My next project will be editing and preparing my James Bible study for a similar treatment. My third children's book is with the illustrator now, and we hope to have it completed by Christmas. It sometimes feels like everything happens at once, which is pretty overwhelming. But, once they are all published, I'll have to seriously buckle down and get some more writing done. 

Do you ever feel like everything that needs your attention happens all at the same time or not at all? Nothing is ever spaced out easily, at least not in my world. I often feel like I'm running around erratically, never accomplishing anything, even though things are getting done. But, when the list is so long and the time is so short, it's easy to let the panic and stress take over. 

So, what do we do when life just closes in around us? Most of us respond in one of a few ways: some run through their list until they break down, some try to do pieces of each thing that needs doing without forgetting anything important, some thrive on the hectic lifestyle and dive right in, and others play the "ignore it and maybe it will go away" game. I can't say that any of these are a particularly healthy approach, but let's face it, most of us can identify with at least one of these strategies. I, personally, try to complete pieces of each task and pray I don't forget the important stuff. I don't recommend this strategy, though, because I inevitably forget something. 

I'm trying to get better at handling the messes of managing a family, writing and editing books, leading and preparing Bible studies, teaching Sunday School, and whatever else jumps on my plate by handling one thing at a time. I have a list, and I try to work my way down the list. Sometimes things jump to the top of the list by necessity, but I'm trying to roll with the punches. I'm not going to claim to be an expert, but I sure do get a lot more done when I stop panicking and start productively working!

As we all get back into the groove of school with the kids, I want to challenge you to think about your coping mechanisms. If you're like me and find yourself stuck with a destructive habit, try to change it. Make your list, utilize your calendar, send yourself text reminders; do whatever you need to do in order to reclaim a little bit of sanity!   

Re-engage the brain (for a little bit longer!)

Has anyone noticed that their kids' brains have turned off since coming off Spring Break? Isn't it supposed to be a time to recharge the batteries before wading back into the school routine? The answer is yes, but Spring Break has the opposite effect in my home. 

The girls and I spent a fantastic 12 days in New Mexico with my parents over our break, which was so nice. We relaxed, the girls played, and we did tons of fun stuff. But now we're home slogging through the same-old routine and brains are disengaging. 

While the idea of a recharge is nice, I almost wish we could just skip it and get out of school a week earlier. The girls wouldn't get used to sleeping in and playing all the time, and I wouldn't have to be the warden every single morning, reminding them to brush teeth and comb hair (because we never do those things). 

My zeal for school work has also diminished and I have to force myself to care about what's coming home. Heaven help us if someone brings home a project! This is the time of year when Mom helps the kids find the shortest book in the library to write a book report on or homework is completed in the backseat on the way to ________ (fill in the blank). 

My kids are involved in one sport (all together!) that runs year round, so our sports routine is constant. But many kids pick up baseball, soccer, or lacrosse this time of year, and schedules get even crazier! I've known many moms who pack dinner into the car and eat on the way to one practice or another. 

So how do we re-engage our brains and get through the rest of the year, ladies? Here's what helps me - when I remember to do it! 
1.  Write it down - If you have something coming up write it down on the calendar. I keep a desk calendar hanging over my desk so I can see what's going on each week. This requires actually keeping up with it and adding things as you find out about them. This time of year it's hard to remember to get everything on there, but boy do I pay when I forget! 
2.  Say "no" if you need to - You can't do everything; sometimes you need to say no and let someone else pick up the baton and run. It's hard, I know, but you know when you're getting to your breaking point. The last thing you need in the middle of all the crazy end-of- school-year hustle is a breakdown!   
3. Pray! - It may seem oversimplified, but prayer can be the difference between a harried, crazy mom and a calm, centered mom. Yes, our schedules are busy right now, but the Lord knows what each one of us needs to get through all the craziness, and he's able to bless us and our families through it. When things start to feel overwhelming I make myself spend some time in prayer, then I start prioritizing my list. It's amazing how much clearer everything looks after I've taken that time to connect with the Creator. 
 

Chaos Has Descended!

As much as I love holidays, the weeks leading up to them seem to get crazier every year! My calendar is full of conferences, doctors appointments, dental appointments, and seminars - on top of all the regular parts of my weeks - exercise, Bible study, music lessons, and Jiu-Jitsu. Somewhere in there I have to squeeze in time to work since the holidays really are coming, and we'd like to pay for whatever gifts are coming! I think I might really and truly lose my mind this year!

My goal right now is to find peace.  I know, that sounds kind of crazy, right? Did you see my calendar?? Peace is a far distant destination, if you look at everything on my plate. However, for my sanity (and my family's) I've got to find a way to carve out some peace in the midst of the chaos. I have some ideas I'm going to try, and I'll try to update you on my progress as I go along.

1. Stay focused: I have to stay focused on what's actually important.  Are there things I can let go of? Probably. I have a bad tendency to say "yes" and figure out how I'm going to do it later. I may have to miss a few events, or say no to a few people, but I have to stay focused on what's most important - my commitment to God and to my family. Everything else can wait!

2. Calm it down: I have a tendency to carry all my stress around, letting it compound and make me crazy until I start dropping things. Unfortunately, the things I end up dropping are usually bills, appointments, or school commitments - all things I REALLY need to remember! I have to calm everything down and make time for these things that just won't wait. Keeping a desk calendar front and center has really helped me a lot with this. As long as an event makes it to the calendar, I'm OK and I can plan for it. If I forget to put it on the calendar, it gets dicey!

3. Push Forward: I know that some days I'm not going to get much done on my list, but I can't let that stop me. Life has a bad habit of intruding just when I have everything planned out just right! When that happens, I have to remember to push forward and get through. The world isn't going to stop just because I'm overwhelmed!

4. Pray it out!: The final, and most important, part of the equation is prayer. I have to pray when things get to be too much. God will give me the peace I need to see my way out of the hole, but only if I ask for it. Sadly, I think that too often I rely on myself to get things done, when it's only through him that I'm going to truly succeed in life. He's promised to take our cares and burdens away if we give them to him - so why in the world don't I? His shoulders are much broader than mine, and much better suited to lifting heavy burdens.