The phrase for today is “Take care of yourself.” Say it with me class…”Take care of yourself.” I know it’s only the beginning of the school year for most. We are rested from nice summer vacation to the beach or mountains (if you were fortunate enough to take one), and we are pumped about starting a new year. We don’t mind the long hours of planning or staying up late to ready ourselves for a new school day. We fill our schedules willingly to accommodate our ever-mounting to-do list.
I get it. You’re refreshed, renewed, and revived. You’re ready for anything. You can attack an endless list of issues without batting an eye. The world is your oyster and you’re ready to shuck that bad boy like it’s never been shucked before. However, I know there is something coming that you may not see yet. It’s exhaustion, burnout, and fatigue.
Why point out the negative you might ask? It’s not to rain on your parade. It’s not to scare you or put you down. I want you to be prepared for what’s to come. I want you to know what may be waiting over the horizon for you. And maybe you can do something to save yourself from homeschool burnout.
It’s called self-care. We think self-care has to be caring for yourself in a big way. A weeks vacation on an island. A stay at an all inclusive spa. A shopping spree with no limit. And all that is nice, and it is self-care. It’s not what I want to talk about today. I think it’s the little things that keep your cup filled and keep you going through life’s ever-changing situations. Take the time each day, two minutes or an hour, whatever time you can spare and take care of you. You can take a shower with your favorite scented shower gel or soap. Paint your toenails. Play a game. Take a cheat day and eat your favorite dessert. Take a walk outside. Play golf. Read scripture or a chapter in your favorite book. Pray. Do some deep breathing or just take a nap. Taking a few moments each day to relax gives you the fuel you need to tackle life’s issues.
Anything (that’s moral and legal that is lol) that gives you a moment of relaxation can help pull you through the hard times. Think of yourself as a cup. You’re constantly pouring out into your home, your marriage, your children, you church, and your community. No cup is endless. There’s always a limit to it’s capacity. So in order to pour out, your cup must be filled. See these times of self-care as filling your cup. They may just be a small deposit, but their value has no limit.
Take those moments, however small, to care for your mind, your body, and your spirit. Take the time to fill your cup so that you’ll be ready to fill someone else’s.
Naja Coles
I’m most importantly a follower of Christ by who’s blood we believe there is salvation. We believe in biblical Truth only. Being led by the Spirit of God, we seek to raise our family by that Truth. I am a wife of 7 years, and mom to 8 wonderful children ages 6-7 months. We have been homeschooling for 2 years officially (6 if you include preschool). I enjoy music, gardening, and learning to live a healthy, non-toxic lifestyle.
Matthew 4:17