SO MUCH TO REMEMBER... every woman feels it at some point in their lives. The To-Do list can feel like it never ends (because it doesn’t). If left untended this stressor can lead to burnout. This is part two of a 2-part series that explains where burnout comes from and what you can do about it. Part one of this article addressed the biological causes and how to address those first. This article will address the mental, emotional and spiritual components that contribute to burnout.
Mental Causes
Much overwhelm comes from too many things on our mental To-Do list. Organizational lists, dividing up chores with children and spouses can help this. I love the book Fair Play by Eve Rodsky for dividing up spousal responsibilities. Dropping the things that don’t matter is also important for the mental load. Assess what really matters in this season of life. For me, our garden is time-consuming in summer but as we move into the school year, it has to fall down on the priority list. Maybe there is a period of time where house cleanliness drops as a priority. Maybe some distance is required from a demanding relationship during a busy season of your life. Always be assessing what the priorities are during a particular season so you don’t have to feel the constant mental drain of everything.
Emotional Causes
When our biological and mental strain is high, our emotions can display our issues. When you are feeling overwhelmed by your emotional responses to situations and relationships are faltering, counseling or therapy can be essential. What I’ve witnessed is that once a mom addresses her biological and mental issues, she is ready to move to the emotional component. Counseling is more efficient because she has clarity about her problems. A healthy support system is also important in healing if it is filled with people who are also working towards emotional health..
Spiritual Causes
Spiritual wellness brings healing to the rest of our being. Forgiveness of those who have wronged us, seeking forgiveness for those we have wronged and looking for a purpose greater than ourselves all encourage complete healing. A faith community that offers support for physical and emotional speeds recovery. For me, the women of my church and Bible study bring strength and counsel to my spiritual healing. When I haven’t prioritized those relationships, signs of burnout can start to creep up.
Recovery from Burn-Out is possible.
Two years ago I didn’t think it was possible. Now I know healing is possible as I have recovered and watched others recover too. Life is too short to walk around in a fog of burnout. Ask for help. Reach out to those who care. Prioritizing your mental wellness is worth every moment and every penny invested.
Kathy Davis is a mom of four who began her homeschool journey in 2006 when her oldest started pre-school. In May 2021, she graduated her oldest. She is passionate about helping moms stay the homeschooling course while not losing themselves in the process. She mentors burn-out moms and helps them not only survive but thrive! In April 2020 she launched kathyjilldavis.com and started working with Amare Global to offer practical support, solutions, and community for moms who don’t want to lose their dreams and passions during motherhood. If you are looking for solutions to burnout order Amare here. Feel free to email her HERE.
