Moms, Are You Feeling Worn Out?

Are you feeling worn out, exhausted, mentally and physically drained? Did you know that rest is a form of self-care? While self-care often focuses on going to the nail salon, getting your hair done, or exercising, rest is a crucial and often overlooked aspect.

Rest can be defined as the cessation of work or movement to relax, refresh oneself, or recover strength. How much rest are you getting? If you’re anything like me, not much. Summer is my favorite season, not just because my birthday falls during this time, but also because of the slowdown it brings. My sons’ activities have slowed, allowing us to move at a more relaxed pace, and I have more time to just breathe. However, coordinating camps and summer activities to keep them busy and off electronics can be demanding. I, too, have often neglected rest as a form of self-care. Keeping everything running smoothly leaves little room for rest. How many of you can relate?

The Challenge of Rest

A few weeks ago, I was talking to a group of moms about rest, and they shared that resting was challenging for them. They understand, even from a biblical perspective, that rest is important (Mark 6:31), but struggle to implement it. So, the question becomes, how do we get the rest we so desperately need but find hard to achieve? Here’s what I shared with those moms that might help you too:

Scheduling Rest: Add rest to your calendar. Decide on a day and time where you give yourself permission to do nothing. I usually do this when my kids are at summer camp so it’s uninterrupted.
Planning Ahead: Since doing nothing is hard for me, I plan out my rest time. This includes journaling, which helps me think clearly and deeply on different things, preventing me from picking up tasks out of habit.
Placing My Phone on Do Not Disturb: My phone is a major distraction, so I turn off notifications and set it to do not disturb. This prevents interruptions and helps me stick to my scheduled rest time.

As we move into the middle of the summer months, I highly encourage you to include rest as part of your self-care routine. You can’t pour from an empty cup, so make time to refuel and refresh yourself with rest.