This is motivation Monday, and today we’re talking about why it’s so bad to keep doing “just one more thing” on your to-do list.
Do you have this evil urge, too? The “I bet I can fit in one more thing before I *really* need to take a break” one?
And is that running your day, or is your evaluation of your energy levels in charge?
‘Cause to-do lists are not supposed to be the boss of you – *you’re* supposed to be the boss of you (under God, I mean) – and if you’re letting your task list run the show, then you’re automatically guaranteed to be out of whack.
Which you’ve already been feeling in your life, if I know you.
So.
How do you *stop* cramming in “just one more” job and start taking breaks the moment you need them?
Primarily, I think this is a self-trust issue. You’ve got to *trust* that you’re going to get back to the to-do list *after* you’ve had a break – not ditch it completely.
AND, you’ve got to trust that the rest of your day won’t be overloaded if you hit pause now.
If you don’t have full trust in those two things, you won’t stop. You’ll power through.
Which is exactly what you’ve been doing. And it needs to stop.
Because you can’t in good conscience say that you’ve been honoring your unique, God-given energy levels and then turn around and say, “My gas tank’s on empty, but I need to stretch these fumes just a little bit farther. THEN I’m allowed to stop.”
Nope! You’ve got to stop NOW. Take the break NOW. Let go of the to-do list NOW.
And THEN you’ll be equipped – filled up – refreshed – restored – on the other side of it.
It’s an exercise in trust, remember.
Trust that God will indeed give you the energy reserves you need *after* you take a break.
Trust that He has not overloaded your day (if anyone has, it’s you).
And trust that following the “Tired” part of HALT (hungry, angry, lonely, tired) is how all humans were meant to function – so that includes you.
My friend, where do you need to trust more today? Where do you need to release the “7 things checked off by 10am” expectations?
Where can you start giving your body (or mind!) a break, no matter how early in the afternoon your warning lights pop up?
That’s what you need to start turning this #momlife exhaustion around.
