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Tuesday, February 12, 2019

How to Find Your Spark When You're Unmotivated and Exhausted

How to Find Your Spark When You're Unmotivated and Exhausted

There are days when I am so overwhelmed I just sit and stare at my surroundings completely unsure of what I should do first and wondering where I will get the energy to begin. I was having one of these moments yesterday. Just so many things floating around in my head that I knew I needed to do but didn't have any idea where to start. I used these 4 simple tips to get the ball rolling and put me on a path for a satisfyingly productive day. 

1. Write down what you need to do, put an estimated amount of time per task and prioritize. It helps me put my to-do list into perspective when I see the amount of items I need to do with an amount of time that each task will take.  Writing things down helps me see what needs attention immediately and what can be designated for a day when I am not so exhausted. I like to prioritize my list and then take the easiest, quickest, yet most pressing item to do and tackle it first. I feel great when I start checking things off my list and I feel less overwhelmed when I can lay everything out for me to see.
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5

2. Awaken your senses with mint. To get me out of a slump yesterday I took a quick bath and used lots of mint infused products. I suggest you use mint shampoo and conditioner, or mint body scrub.  Try a few drops of mint essential oil in your bath water, use mint in your diffuser, chew mint gum, use mint cleaning spray or drink some mint flavored liquid chlorophyll. Mint is an invigorating scent which energizes, improves alertness and even eases anxiety. I like to dab a little behind my ears and on my temples & wrists. 

3. Make your bed. I try to do this first thing in the morning but I am almost always the first one out of bed so I wait until my husband goes to work. Making the bed takes three minutes but gives a sense of accomplishment and peace. Make sure you love how beautiful your bed looks when you have it made the way you like it. I find adding just four decorative pillows gives my bed a cozy and inviting look. It can be nice to have the extra support to sit and read with the extra pillow support. A few extra throw pillows are also an inexpensive way to change your decor with having to do something drastic.
4. Do one thing. I find that if I can just muster up the strength to do one thing I will build a little momentum and then I can focus on the next thing. And then the next and then the next and before you know it you are completing your to-do list! My one thing is usually spraying my counters down. I love to spray my counters down w Mrs. Meyers cleaning spray because the smell just makes me happy. That one act usually spurs on another but even if it does not, at least I gave clean and clear counters. When my kids see me spraying down the counters they are mentally prepared for when I ask them for help. It could be something as simple as asking them to put three dishes each in the dishwasher or to fold all the blankets and straighten the pillows on the couch. Usually if we can just get the ball rolling then speed and momentum build and in ten minutes we have our space tidied and feel a sense of satisfaction.

I have been so overwhelmed and exhausted after our church's Disciple Now weekend and running all over town to buy supplies for our new build. Not to mention taking care of the kids, homeschooling, keeping the home clean and trying to keep up with the laundry while our dryer is broken. It has been one thing after another around here and I am barely keeping up. Through, prayer, wisdom and strength from the Lord I am managing and these four tips have been helpful in keeping me on task and providing encouragement.

Thank you for reading. Praying you found some inspiration and motivation here today. 
Grace & peace,
Adoring Family

Creative Muster

2 comments:

  1. Too bad we don't live closer together... we were trying to keep up on our laundry with a broken washer! Thankfully our new one finally arrived and I managed to get all the laundry done and now we're back on schedule. I find I often hit these types of unmotivated/ overwhelmed to do list most in winter. Especially February and I really think it has something to do with the yucky weather and not getting out enough (for me!). I am so much more motivated in general when the sun is shining and we can get out a few days a week for a hike or fresh air.

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    1. Oh no, the washer is worse! At least if I got desperate I could wash and hang dry. Glad you are all caught up now :)
      I think you are right about the weather, I need some natural vitamin D.
      Thank you for stopping by, blessings to you and your 3!

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