Think Not of the Former Things: 3 Ways to Accept a Season of Exhaustion

We’ve had quite a month in our house. Usually, I’m quite organized in the early part of the year. It’s when I do a hard reset and set my goals.

This year, February has been a lost month. Click To Tweet

I keep thinking back to January, before I went with hubby on a business trip and hit the ground running when we got home, only to have the entire family succumb to the flu within 48 hours. We’re nearly a month later and I’m still not fully myself.

Sometimes you have to accept that things didn’t go according to plan. This is not my strong suit. I can manage a minor deterrent or a temporary delay, but I don’t generally do well with a complete derailment or unclear redirection.

While we have gotten our school year mostly back on track we are still struggling to cover all the subjects. The break did little to help my obstinate kids. Daily battles have returned in lieu of weekly ones. The littlest has hit a whole new phase of feigned incompetence and dependence. I feel like I can’t ever get enough sleep, and most days I feel like the walking dead.

I know I need to adjust but when commitments have already been made it’s difficult to change midstream. The fact is, I still don’t have the energy I did before. In the past, I would have just pushed through, but physically that feels nearly impossible and certainly unwise.

I can’t do everything I would usually do. I can either feel bitter about it or make allowances while still doing my best to fulfill responsibilities. However, I have found a few ways to make things a little easier.

Keep Meals Simple

I’ve had to make my peace with frozen pizza, chicken fingers, and tacos for a lot of family meals. This means making sure there are alternatives for my gf and non-meat eater, but at least prep time has been less, at a time of the day when my energy is the lowest.

Evening Rest and Recharge

I try not to work in the evening. Usually, after dinner finds me trying to get some extra work done (whether for my paid or unpaid responsibilities) but that just won’t fly right now. So instead of settle for simple handicrafts and an episode of a sitcom before winding down for bed with a book. I allow myself to put down the book when I start to feel sleepy instead of pressing through. It makes my reading a bit more disjointed but it’s done wonders for my sleep.

Take the Time to Ask the Questions

While I don’t think it’s a good idea to make major decisions when you are feeling under the weather, it can be a good time to look objectively and ask some important questions. As I’ve had to let certain responsibilities slide or delay projects I’m forced to realize that I am doing too much.

A life that only works when I am at full force at all times is not a sustainable one. Click To Tweet

This won’t be the last time I am sick for an extended period or another challenge prevents me from doing it all. I need to decide how I’m going to better allocate my time in the future to prevent impending burnout. I realize I say this a lot yet I am still fairly awful at doing it. But at least I’m asking the questions and hopefully, that will help me moving forward.

Whether you are dealing with a chronic illness, a recent diagnosis, or a family emergency, we all face times when we can’t do as much as we did before. Coping will mean adjusting standards while still leaving room for new growth. It’s Ok that you are exhausted right now. It won’t be forever and it may help you learn some new things that will make your life better in the future.