This week has been a very rough week, just for me personally.  I’m not sure what has been going on, but I’ve been struggling in everything that I do.  I’m just keepin’ it real here.  I’ve still been working my behind off, but I’ve been seriously suffering from a complete lack of motivation.  What’s a mom to do when she’s just a little burnt out?  Does she just give up?  Not possible….  Does she take a break from it all?  In my case, not possible….  Does she call up a babysitter for the afternoon?  Again, not possible….  So, what’s a mom to do?

First of all, it’s imperative to find the source of your frustration/burnout.  Are you living amidst mounds of clutter?  Are you scheduling too many things into your day/week?  Are you trying to be Supermom?

I think we moms have to sometimes learn to take babysteps and to relax just a bit.  I know for me, it’s hard to make myself sit still, even for a few minutes.  My mind is racing, there are so many things on my to do list, I have to get this out to this person, that scheduled, the house needs vacuumed; oh, and don’t forget, we have to get to soccer practice, choir rehearsal, and the grocery store tonight, not to mention the library because of that overdue book.  Ahhhhhh!!!!

So, how do we learn to relax in the midst of chaos….since relaxation can be key to motivation?  It’s possible….but it’s like exercise, you just gotta do it.  You’ve just got to make the time to do it, even if it means writing it into your day planner so that it’s a part of your to do list.  Whether relaxing means sitting on the porch blowing bubbles with your kids or just sitting in front of the tv for 30 minutes, a little bit of relaxation truly is good for us moms.  It doesn’t mean we’re lazy; it means we’re taking time to enjoy life, not just speed through it.

So, Mama, if you’re feeling a bit unmotivated, or like me, reeeeaaaalllly unmotivated, take a step back, and determine to spend just 15-30 minutes today, simply doing something that is relaxing.  Even if you wait until the kids are in bed, and you wait until just before bed, try it.  It will keep burn-out away….and it will rest your poor, tired out brain.

To read more from Mel, visit her personal blog, Real Heart Prints.