Grace full mama

Have you ever been in a full scale “funk?” I think there is a definite possibility that I am the queen of it. The smoke, anxiety, hormones, husband being away for over a week, (enter various other excuses here) have me feeling… blah. I felt like time with the kiddos would help, and made cookies and homemade hot chocolate yesterday thinking a Hobbit marathon would be a wonderful way to relax; problem is my older two kiddos are at a point where a movie night with mom is no longer their favourite pass-time, and they would rather be keeping in touch with their friends.

Jobs kind of pile up on me and I have a tendency to isolate myself when I struggle like this. Therefore I have decided to take a peek at the best ways to get outta that funk! Here is what God and I came up with after a good bit of seeking and brainstorming.

1: As always, prioritise time with Him. Pray some serious warfare prayers because odds are pretty good that you are under spiritual attack when you feel this way. Come against the enemy on behalf of everyone in your house. Ask for the infilling of Holy Spirit. Vent to him. Talk to him.

2:Give yourself some grace. Take a breath, mama. If you need to, take a nap. Sleep deprivation makes your child’s tapping fingers feel like an icepick to the temple. Have an extra cup of coffee. Remember that while we have a really important job to do, your worth is not tied up in doing it perfectly.

3:Pick the most important tasks, and do those first. Is it supper prep?n Laundry looming over your head? Paperwork? Start in that corner and work your way out. My rule is always that I start in the kitchen. I can handle everything else in the house better if I have a clean kitchen.

4: If you are feeling really, truly gross, use a timer system. I love this one. I decide on a specific job. Tidying, cleaning, organising a specific room, you name it. I set a timer and work for 30 minutes. Then I take a few minutes to maybe read a book, or do a different job, or go outside for a bit. Then do another 30 minutes. Rinse and repeat. The structure of this saves my sanity when I really need it. It might not be a lifesaver for everyone, but it is awesome for me. One note though, when you are doing your 30 minutes, work as fast as you can and limit anything else you might want to do. Don’t look at your phone unless you have an essential message. Answer non essential messages in your break time. It is amazing what you can accomplish in a truly focused 30 minutes.

5: Music or audible are lifesavers when my brain is on the “scrambled” setting. I use a speaker and get something edifying going. I love anything by Francine Rivers, Frank Peretti, Angela Hunt, or C.S. Lewis. Find something that settles you. It’s magic, I promise.

6: Decide to have a “day off.” No, don’t laugh at me. I’m a mama too. I get it. But take a day where you do the essentials and don’t try and tackle anything else. Have leftovers or something easy for supper (my go to is a crustless quiche on easy days). Take time to listen to and snuggle your kids. Go on mini adventures. Picnics at the river just down the hill from us are some of my kid’s favourite memories. But just do something simple, and special, together.

Okay mama’s. Im going to get outta this funk. My 30 minutes start now.