Between running a household, balancing family relationships, and chauffeuring kids to their countless activities, motherhood could be described as simply exhausting.
The good news is that shifting motherhood from exhausting to rejuvenating is possible with a few changes in priorities. Simply put, we need to add more of the things that feed our souls and let those things crowd out the things that exhaust us.
So what are these new priorities that lead to a more balanced life?
1. Spiritual Care
Time in the Word
Nothing compares with reading the Scriptures to saturate us in truth and remind us of the joy that is found in resting in God. Scripture helps put your problems in perspective, gives you biblical guidelines for your family, and increases your love and patience.
Practical Ideas:
• Listen to the Bible on your phone.
• Memorize Scripture.
• Read inspirational books—or listen to them while you commute.
• Join a women’s Bible study.
Time Serving Others
Often, the best way to help yourself is to help someone else. Making service part of your everyday life keeps your eyes off of yourself and reminds both you and your family of all the blessings that God has given you!
Practical Ideas:
• Lead a Bible study at your house.
• Help at the local food bank one Saturday morning a month. (Many are happy to have children come along.)
• Invite a lonely person over to dinner. (They don’t mind the chaos of a house with small children nearly as much as you assume they will.)
2. Relationship Care
Family Fun
Laughing together creates amazing family memories.
Practical Ideas:
• Curl up in your bed with your young children and read stories.
• Bake cookies together.
• Go out after the rain and jump in puddles with them.
• Play video games with them. (They’ll probably win and like it!)
• Ask for your daughter’s help to update your wardrobe.
• Watch some of their favorite silly YouTube videos.
3. Personal Care
Physical Exercise
Research consistently proves that exercise, a healthy diet, and sleep help reduce stress, give you more energy, and boost your spirits.
Practical Ideas:
• Jog to the corner store and reward your kids with a healthy treat.
• Play Frisbee in the park.
• Take camping holidays, and canoe, hike, and swim.
Learning
Learning opens the mind to all the opportunities and possibilities God has given us. If you are constantly learning something new, even if it’s just a new gardening technique, you will be a motivated, interesting person. There’s more to life than scrolling through Facebook!
Practical Ideas:
• Read a book on a subject that interests you.
• Learn a foreign language.
• Try a new recipe.
• Take a class on how to invest.
Relaxation
One study found that mothers on average lose 750 hours of sleep in the first year of each baby’s life. If something has to be sacrificed so you can get everything done, you probably choose your own personal relaxation. Yet we all need time to refresh ourselves; that’s the way God made us.
Practical Ideas:
• Take a bubble bath.
• Get a haircut or a facial.
• Do your makeup really well at least once a week.
• Take a nap.
• Go for a walk by yourself.
What ideas do you like best? What practices are you going to put in place to lead a more balanced, rejuvenated life?
For many women, housework has become more than chores that need to be done; it is a symbol of identity. Sheila Wray Gregoire wants to stop that thinking in its tracks and help women back to a life of balance—for their sakes and for their families. She encourages women to shift their focus from housekeeping to relationships and shows them how to foster responsibility and respect in all family members.
