Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Are you trying too hard?

I am! Or rather, was.

I joined the Hello Mornings challenge. I joined the Abiding Fruit bible study. I started reading What Women Fear as part of the Bloom book club. I was also doing an independent study on The Power of a Positive Wife.

Yes, I started all of the above during the same month. I tried so hard to get up early every morning, and beat myself up every morning that I didn't succeed.

I was also trying to blog, sew my daughter dresses, switch to cloth diapering, and meal plan.

Needless to say, I quickly became overwhelmed by everything. I took a blogging break, I stopped setting my alarm, I didn't finish either book I was reading, and I cooked from the pantry daily rather than taking the time to stop and plan a meal.

After 2 months, I wish I could say I feel refreshed. I wish I could say it was a much needed break. The truth is, it wasn't a break I needed. It was priorities.

Although I would love to wake up early every day, the fact that I can't seem to get my daughter to sleep all night makes it nearly impossible. And I'm sure I don't need to be actively reading 2 or 3 books at a time, or doing more than 1 bible study.

I am not a huge fan of "New Years Resolutions" because it seems like something that is expected to be broker. Instead, I am making a few small goals. And one day, when I have time, I am going to make a goal outline like this.

For now, here are the changes I have decided to make:

  • Since I can't get up early every morning to read my bible alone, I will bring my bible with me while the kids take a bath. I can supervise them playing in the bubbles, and read (to myself or to them) at the same time!
  • I will not be doing an independent bible study for the time being.
  • Meal plan for at least 3 days during the week, more if I have extra ingredients for meals on hand.
  • I am using disposable and cloth diapers, to cut down on laundry from the cloth diapers.
  • Continue blogging (this is therapy to keep me from going crazy here!) :o)

Have you simplified your to-do list with the New Year?

7 comments:

  1. I think small goals are the way to go also. And I like what you said about blogging being therapy.

    Blessings!

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    1. just remember, "this to shall pass" and that should help u get thru. I had 3 children in less than 3 years and almost lost my mind.... Then after working as RN for 38 yrs and retiring again I almost lost my mind w/ nothing to do. I became a foster parent and adopted a 6 day old son( when i was 60)who is now 14 and I am happy ever day....

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    2. I do remind myself daily that "this too shall pass" because as tired as I get from my daughter not sleeping, I know when she gets older I will miss the days where she just wanted to cuddle with me. And, of course, as I'm chasing the kids around cleaning up messes, I remind myself that one day, they will understand "clean up time" :o)

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  2. I just found your blog this morning through a link. God knew I needed to read it because my life is similar to what you just wrote. I try to do it all and then feel like a failure. Why is it I feel like the only one sometimes going through this!? Us mama's can be so hard on ourselves and our worse critics. Thank you for your honesty and posting this!

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    1. I am so happy this was a good read for you! It is hard sometimes, and so easy to think that we are the only ones who feel the way we do. The to-do lists seem to pile up in our heads, especially when we see someone doing just one more thing we think we should be doing.

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  3. It is so wonderful that you let yourself off the hook!!! Trying to do it all can not only be exhausting, but it is impossible. This honestly has been one of the most valuable lessons I have ever learned. Burn out can destroy you... then you are no good to anyone. Awesome realization! www.theholeinmyhandbag.blogspot.com

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    1. Yes, burn out can certainly destory someone! Or bring you so close you wish it would :o) I feel so much better than I did a few months ago, as I was piling tasks on my to-do list. There's still some things I want to do, but now is not the time for some of them (like cooking everything from scratch, including bread).

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