• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to header navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Display Search Bar
  • About
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Facebook Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Twitter Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Pinterest Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Instagram Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on YouTube Follow 5 Minutes For Mom via RSS

5 Minutes for Mom

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Course
      • Breakfast and Brunch
      • Snack
      • Lunch
      • Appetizer
      • Dinner
      • Dessert
    • Ingredient
      • Apple
      • Beef
      • Blueberry
      • Chicken
      • Chocolate
      • Cranberry
      • Peach
      • Pumpkin
      • Squash
      • Strawberry
      • Tomato
      • Vegetables
      • Zucchini
    • Method
      • Air Fryer
      • Baking
      • Grilling
      • Instant Pot
      • No Bake
      • One Dish
      • Slow Cooker
    • Type
      • Breads and Rolls
      • Cakes and Muffins
      • Condiments
      • Cookies and Bars
      • Drinks
      • Food for Kids
      • Gluten-Free
      • Main Dish
      • Pies and Crisps
      • Salads
      • Sandwiches and Wraps
      • Side Dishes
      • Smoothies
      • Soup
  • Crafts & DIY
    • Crafts
    • DIY
    • Kids Crafts
    • Printables
    • Scrapbooking
    • Sewing
  • Family Life
    • Giveaways
    • Lifestyle
    • Marriage
    • Motherhood
    • Parenting
    • Pet Care
    • Special Needs
    • Time Management
    • Travel
  • Holidays
    • New Year’s
    • Valentine’s Day
    • St. Patrick’s Day
    • Easter
    • Mother’s Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Christmas

Overwhelmed? Me too. Let’s talk about it.

October 2, 2017 by Elizabeth

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

ShareTweetPinPocketMail

my actual calendar from a few months ago

I’m sure most of you can relate with our writer Elizabeth. Read on and see.

So it’s really ironic that I’m writing this today, a full day after I told my editor I’d have it done. If I was to ask how many of you feel overwhelmed, I’d be willing to bet pretty much everyone would be nodding her head at the computer, muttering something about “You have no idea.” I was inspired to write this after receiving Hayley DiMarco’s latest book A Woman Overwhelmed: Finding God in the Messes of Life and the problem is, things are so crazy that I haven’t even finished it!

Life is, so often, completely overwhelming. I’ll give you a few examples from my own life, so you can see I know what I’m talking about.

My mother-in-law broke her hip this summer so we spent over a month in a tiny town in the California desert helping her, so I wasn’t prepared for the new year of English classes. My husband and I run a small non-profit doing refugee care, and I’m the director of the ESL classes. That means I’m in charge of talking to our church about room assignments, ordering books, registering students, etc, and I wasn’t ready. Some of the books still haven’t come, 2 weeks on! Our classes keep growing and we’re too big for the church now and need our own space. Plus we are taking a class at the local university to improve our Arabic. Plus we’re having our first ever benefit dinner to raise funds for that new space. Plus I’ve done something to my neck and am in a lot of pain.

Plus, plus, plus!

My current list of stressors is so long that I’m not even sure if this paragraph is coherent. Did I mention my friend who’s dying, and how I need to arrange for her Iraqi friends to visit, picking them up and driving them home, while making sure she’s not being deluged? Did I mention that I’m hosting huge elaborate dinners at my home twice next week?

Now we’re all feeling tired and overwhelmed just thinking about it, and you’re probably making mental lists of your own stresses. As mothers, this is a familiar place to be. We’re the ones who are responsible–for remembering extra soccer practices and doctor’s appointments and how Abel’s best friend is coming over Friday and won’t eat melted cheese, so no pizza or nachos. We’re the ones who are in charge of not just our family’s physical health, but their mental and emotional health as well. Maybe you live in Texas and are drying out after a hurricane. Maybe your family just lost a pet, and your sensitive little son can’t understand why God didn’t answer prayers for healing. Maybe you’re in the middle of one of life’s enormous events; a death, a divorce, loss of a job.

How do we stagger on under this weight? I haven’t figured it all out, in case the above examples didn’t tell you that, but I can share some ways that help me:

  1. Perspective.

    When I had 3 toddlers, things were intense. At the time, the hours seemed to drag. In hindsight, it all flew by. Life is composed of seasons, and each brings its own joys and sorrows, with stresses and responsibilities in varying levels.

    Who knows how long your current season will last? It won’t be forever. Enjoy what bits you can, endure what you need to, and remember, you’ll be through it someday and on to something else.
     

  2. Make wise choices.

    You can’t make everyone happy, and it’s not your job to do so.

    Whether it’s limiting your kids to one extracurricular event per season or explaining that you can’t lead the Tuesday night high school youth group, remember that it’s okay to say no.
     

  3. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

    This isn’t original to me. But I do think taking the time to consider what really matters is key. The Bible says 2 things will endure into eternity; the Word of God and the souls of people. Cut out what you can, so that you have the time to do the things that matter.

    And if you’re overwhelmed with things that matter? See #2; you can’t make everyone happy.
     

  4. Carve out time for reflection and meditation.

    I don’t know what season you’re in, but I have mostly managed to do this because it’s so important for my mental health. When the kids were little, I managed to get them all napping at the same time. It was difficult to do and it certainly didn’t happen overnight, but it paid off. I would ignore dishes and messes for that time, and take an hour to read my Bible and pray, or read a good book and relax.

    Now, I tell refugee women that on Thursday mornings I can’t take them to a doctor’s appointment, or go to their kids’ school with them, or whatever good important thing they are asking me, because that is my weekly time for reflection and meditation. You might be in a place where you truly cannot carve out time, but this won’t last. It may be really hard to do, but as soon as you can, make sure you get a few hours every week. And try to use that time for something that will truly bring you joy, not just staring at the walls in exhaustion.
     

  5. You need fun times too!

    Find a babysitter and go somewhere relaxing. Go for a walk. Steal an hour with a close friend for coffee. Our best friends live about 30 miles away and with traffic, that can be a major time commitment. So we meet in the middle, downtown, for late-night happy hours 2 or 3 times a month.

    Whatever you enjoy doing, try to make sure you have time to do it at least semi-regularly.

What are some ways you deal with feeling overwhelmed?

Pin it for later

ShareTweetPinPocketMail
Around the Blogosphere – Add YOUR Giveaway Link #Giveaways
How to Make A Poop Emoji Costume For Kids – Easy DIY Halloween Costume

About Elizabeth

Elizabeth is a voracious reader with eclectic tastes who loves being part of the team at 5 Minutes for Books. She's lived in 7 countries and is currently in Oregon, where she spends most of her time with Iraqi refugees. She has 3 teens.

Reader Interactions


Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Bringing Moms Together

We are Janice and Susan, twin bloggers and work-at-home moms. We're here to inspire, encourage & empower you.

Meet Us…

Work With Us…

Subscribe via Email

to be first to read new posts

Trending Now

Raspberry Coulis – How To Make Raspberry Sauce

Raspberry Coulis – How To Make Raspberry Sauce

Among Us Costumes – How To Make Pretty DIY Among Us Cosplay Outfits

Among Us Costumes – How To Make Pretty DIY Among Us Cosplay Outfits

Oven Roasted Potatoes and Peppers Recipe

Oven Roasted Potatoes and Peppers Recipe

Instant Pot Apple Crisp that is Ready in Minutes!

Instant Pot Apple Crisp that is Ready in Minutes!

browse around

  • Posts by Susan
  • Posts by Janice
  • Favorite Recipes
  • Favorite Crafts
  • Giveaways
  • All Posts

Footer

Recipes

Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipe and History

Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipe and History

25 Awesome Rainbow and Green St. Patrick’s Day Treats

25 Awesome Rainbow and Green St. Patrick’s Day Treats

Easy Valentine Sugar Cookies

Easy Valentine Sugar Cookies

Crafts/DIY

Easter Egg Painting – How to Paint Easter Eggs with Acrylic Paint

Easter Egg Painting – How to Paint Easter Eggs with Acrylic Paint

DIY Flower Press – How To Press Flowers

DIY Flower Press – How To Press Flowers

Valentine’s Day Crafts For Kids – Super Cute and Easy Valentine Craft Ideas

Valentine’s Day Crafts For Kids – Super Cute and Easy Valentine Craft Ideas

Giveaways

Valentine’s Day Gifts For Mom

Valentine’s Day Gifts For Mom

School Supplies List and Back to School Shopping Guide

School Supplies List and Back to School Shopping Guide

REDEEMING LOVE Set to Strike Gold on the Big Screen #RedeemingLoveMovie

REDEEMING LOVE Set to Strike Gold on the Big Screen #RedeemingLoveMovie

Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Facebook Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Twitter Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Pinterest Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on Instagram Follow 5 Minutes For Mom on YouTube Follow 5 Minutes For Mom via RSS
  • About
  • Contact
  • Work with Us
  • Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2023 5 Minutes for MomTheme by Melissa Rose Design and Once Coupled