Burn-out

This past year and a half I have learned more about burn-out than I ever wish on someone.

To me, burn-out is:

• not trusting the Lord
• doing things in my own power
• biting off more than I can chew
• carrying my own burden/creating unnecessary burdens for myself
• not recognizing my limits
• not recognizing my own needs as a child of the Lord
  
• feeling as if I am in a "pit"

There are also many other ways burn-out can be manifested. 

Here is an excellent article.
I also like to read these helpful posts to point me on the right path to recovery, and so that I don't get in that place again. Very, very good stuff from a wise mother. Another great post here.

Things that have helped me on the road to recovery:

• Trusting God/restoring my relationship with God
• Letting others love me and minister to me. (as mothers, we sometimes think we can do it all, and to let others minister to us is sorely needed.)
• Making a list of priorities 
• Asking for help and prayer
• Being good to myself
• Cutting out blog reading and "Christian book" reading. (too much information, too much mind clutter, too much propensity to put unnecessary burdens on myself, my husband, and my family)
• Giving myself lots of quiet space to think and reflect and to "Be still before Him." so that He can "gently lead me" in my mothering.  

There are countless other things I do and can do to take better care of myself so that I do not get into a place of burn-out. This list is just a start. I encourage you mothers to really think about your priorities and how and if you are caring for yourself. It's so easy as a mother to give, give, give, without realizing that we need care as well. Because if we are not healthy, then our families will not be healthy. Listen to Him, let Him lead you gently, dear mothers. Everyone is unique, and what worked/is working for me may not work for you. That is why we have to seek Him personally, as He tailors a life lovingly just for us.

... God has allowed in the lives of each of us some sort of loss, the withdrawal of something we valued, in order that we may learn to offer ourselves a little more willingly, to allow the touch of death on one more thing we have clutched so tightly, and thus know fullness and freedom and joy that much sooner. We're not naturally inclined to love God and seek His Kingdom. Trouble may help to incline us--that is, it may tip us over, put some pressure on us, lean us in the right direction.

~Elisabeth Elliot