I’m distracted and tired. I am over-committed. Our house is a mess. I have one of the longest to-do lists I’ve ever had. We have more than our usual amount of extra activities on the calendar. We only have five weeks left in our homeschool year and much more I still need to teach. I am beginning to feel overwhelmed. That is not a good feeling.
I talk to my Father about it all. I ask Him for wisdom. I ask Him for peace. I ask Him for help. He answers me. Proverbs 4:25, “Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.”
Looking straight ahead I see overload. What is in front of me that I’m gazing at is simply too much for me hand handle. I need a new plan of action.
This means I’ll have to say “no” to some activities, and saying “no” is very hard for me. I’ll have to make two new to-do-lists, one of only priorities, and one to-do-someday. We will take a few days off from our school work next week so I can get that priority list taken care of and get the house in better order. This will add another week to our school year, but we’re homeschoolers, so it’s ok to do that. It’s not going to be easy or fun, but I know it will be what is best.
How do you handle overload? I am open to suggestions.
betty jo
Still Learning Something New 
Looking back at the most overwhelming time in my life (when my husband was in Iraq, I worked full time for an attorney, raised my 2 boys PLUS 2 foster kids) I had to cope by cutting out all that was not necessary. Cleaning up the house became a competition between the kids. With my tiny 2 months of homeschooling, I’ve had to re-tweak our curriculum several times to find a method that works for an ADHD teen, weeding out the unnecessary, and making sure we focus on what they need to know by the end of the year, and leaving the repetitiveness out. ❤
I just read another blog post from another mom, and she shared something similar about saying “no” to things. Hmmm … God is trying to tell me something. Thank you for the reminder!
🙂
Saying “No” was my first step. Second, not being the first to jump in and raise my
hand. I realized last year that sometimes it costs more…..but it saves me a lot of time to just buy instead of make everything. I was the frugal queen. Now, I realize that my time is extremely important ;and if that means dropping a little more than I will.
Crystal, you are so right with that second step. Even when I know my plate is full, I often find myself putting more on it. 🙂
It’s hump time, THE most difficult time of the year to homeschool. I have come to plan on this being the ‘sag’ time, where some things will simply be skipped because we are all so tired.
This is the time of year, every year, I start saying no to everything because I need to recoup. It’s a cycle and it is the same way every year for me. Say no, gather some strength, and you’ll find yourself able to say ‘yes’ to a few things in the fall again. Blessings!
Thanks Kris. I find this to be a reoccurring spring theme as well.
Kris is spot on. This time of year is the most demanding because of sports schedules and other spring-related extra curricular activities. Saying “no” (practice it in front of the mirror, if you must) is key. I enlist my kids when things get crazy, handing over to them tasks that don’t require my involvement. I also have a friend, who happens to get herself too committed to things as well, who holds me accountable, gently reminding me that I might be over-extending myself when she hears that I’m being asked to take on a responsibility, etc.
Mrs. D K Miller, thanks for visiting my blog. I want a responsibility accountable friend, too. How awesome you have each other. Practicing saying “no” in the mirror isn’t such a silly idea. I’m going to try that! 🙂
I enjoyed this!
Thanks, Dogtor Bill!
Funny, but you never seem to be stressed at all……..You are a remarkable woman from what I have seen. I used to be a “couldn’t say no Mom”………..But when life altering changes come along, the decision is made for you! I always have good intentions but have found, that at this time in my life, I am not always able to do all I want, so I just try to patiently sit back and wait for the LORD to help me do what i can…………….
Well, I ended up saying “no” to homeschool for this coming up week. We are going to have a project week instead. My 2 high schoolers are leaving for mission work and the 2 younger ones are going to be helping me with all that I’ve fallen behind on. And PLAY!