Burnout is something we all want to avoid but tend to find ourselves in from time to time, especially as parents. You invest so much time in your littles and taking care of your family, and it\u2019s important to make intentional time for you. \u201cPut your mask on first before you help others.\u201d Self-care not only makes you a better you, it makes you a better mom, wife, leader, etc. Here are five ways to avoid burnout: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you don\u2019t plan or schedule time for yourself, it will never happen. Something always comes up. Always. So plan for \u201cyou time,\u201d but also plan for something to come up. Expect it. And then have a plan for how you will handle that and make yourself a priority. This isn\u2019t selfish, it\u2019s self-care; you can\u2019t pour from an empty cup. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am always looking for the next great mom hack and ways to cut corners. But sometimes, the best way to do something is the hard way. I\u2019ve found that by putting in the hard work on the front end, I\u2019m less worried about things falling apart when I have time to relax on the back end. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s a million-dollar idea: a spa for kids. Hear me out. It\u2019s like a drop-in daycare but instead of just play, it\u2019s centered around self-care and creating a calm space for kids to practice taking care of themselves. Bonus if they can hire people who are really good at painting tiny, constantly moving and impatient fingers and toes. Ok. Ok. So maybe it\u2019s a stretch, but you get where I\u2019m going with this. Even if it\u2019s something fun or even if it is just dropping the kids off with Aunt Molly for the afternoon, it shows them that you make \u201cyou time\u201d a priority and they should too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seriously. Taking care of yourself doesn\u2019t always mean taking an afternoon off to go to the spa. Sometimes it\u2019s the little things, like remembering to drink water. Go to the bathroom the first time you feel like you have to. (Anyone else try to maximize their time by waiting until your eyes are floating?) Take a five-minute break just to go outside and breathe in the fresh air. I walk three laps around my very tiny pool. Feels silly when I do it, but I always feel better afterward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have to remind myself of this constantly. I sometimes go days without actually pausing for more than sleep. Psalm 46:10 says, \u201cBe still, and know that I am God\u201d (NIV). It\u2019s amazing how difficult that can be sometimes. To just. Be. Still. (Even if you have to go sit in your closet just to get five minutes of this.) Clear your head and ask God to reveal to you what he has for you that day. Pray if you feel led, but at least be still and give God time to break into the chaos and remind you who is in control. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Caring for yourself now prevents \u201cMom Mode\u201d from quickly turning into \u201cCrisis Mode.\u201d Breathe, sweet mama. The laundry will still be there tomorrow. Today, it\u2019s OK to take care of you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tia Gerdsen is a wife, toddler mom, activist and friend. She works at Colorado Christian University, a MOPS partner, where you can save up to $16,000 on a degree 100% online. Learn more at ccu.edu\/mops.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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