Last Updated on March 20, 2018
Your Back-to-School Relief List
So … how many plates do you have spinning in the air right now?
Back-to-school supplies, back-to-school paperwork, carpool, after school activities, school clothing buying, snack planning, meal planning, fall sporting events, school calendar activity scheduling, reorganizing summer fun into fall responsibilities … and on and on. It can be totally overwhelming! Don’t ya think?
Seriously, going back to school surely adds at least two more necessary hours to my already-packed 24-hour day. Unfortunately, I do not have the option of adding two hours to my day — and I might just hurt somebody if I had to lose two hours of sleep — so don’t go there!
I know I am not alone; I see the frazzled look in the eyes of moms in the grocery store and in the carpool line. I read the anxious Tweets and Facebook posts describing busy days and nights and a “ramped up” mom-schedule that leaves moms weary and stressed out.
Need it be so?
I say no.
Yes, your “to-do list” is important, and yes, you need to be productive. However, I have an amazing suggestion for you: create another list. Now, before you think I am actually doubling your work load, keep reading! Create your very own personal “MOMents list” and divide your time between that never ending “to-do list” — what has to get done — and your “MOMents list” of what you need to do to help you make it through your day without blowing a gasket.
What is a “MOMents list” you ask? Allow me to share mine:
- Take a walk
- Read
- Bake cookies
- Write “thinking of you” notes
- Sit on the back deck
- Dance a little
- Write
- Pray
- Think
- Encourage “text” a friend
- Dream
- Journal
- Take a hike
- Sing a little
- Swing on the rope swing
- Jump on the trampoline
- Visit my horses
As you might have guessed (by what you just read), my “MOMents list” consists of things I like to do that bring me moments of joy, calm, and peace. And during the “busy, crazy, oh my gosh, there are not enough hours in the day” back-to-school days, having my “MOMents list” gives me options.
And call me twisted, but somehow if it’s written on a list, it seems like it officially gives me permission to fit it into my day somewhere.
Tracey Eyster is the Founder of MomLife Today and the annual Mom Camp event. Her book Be The Mom, LifeWay Bible Study Beautiful Mess and speaking engagements have allowed her the privilege of speaking into the lives of women sharing what God is teaching her. “Be intentional. Be relational. Be selfless.” In a nutshell, that’s her life and message. Tracey has been a mom since 1993 and she and Bill have been married for over 30 years.
Nice advice. However, I don’t have a deck, a safe place to take a walk, realistic dreams, a place to hike, a rope swing, a trampoline, or horses to visit. The radio programs are helpful. This is not.
-Happy and thankfull for a simple life.
Thank you, Tracey! I have always had trouble with giving myself permission to do my own list of things during the day. I think what you have said will help me make up a list and stick with it. God bless!