What Does A Weary Mom Need? Rest or Recharge (and a free printable)

Sometimes, as mothers, we feel so very weary. Whether it is from the baby who won’t sleep, the toddler who is into everything and doesn’t slow down all day, or the teen that is pushing boundaries and learning how to handle the influx of hormones; we are tired, drained, and overwhelmed. When I feel that way, I typically try to find a way to rest and get more sleep. Sometimes a nap or a good night’s rest is just what our bodies need. However, through the years I’ve come to realize that sometimes what I need most is not actually rest, but recharging.

rest or recharge graphic

Sometimes that weariness is more mental than physical. When I am mentally weary, I may still feel physically weary but sleep does not replenish me in the same way. I can get a good night’s sleep and still feel weary in the morning from the stresses of life. In those times, I need to make a conscious effort to do something that will recharge my spirit.

Recharging will look different for different people, and honestly sometimes, it looks different for me from one time to the next. Sometimes I need to sneak out to the front porch with my Bible and a hot drink and just spend some extra quiet time with God. Sometimes I need to lose myself in a good book for an hour or two. Other times I need to draw energy from friends and family. While it may seem counter-intuitive, when I spend time watching my children play with family and friends, share hot cocoa and conversation with my mom friends, or enjoy a fun family tradition like driving around looking at Christmas lights; it recharges me and encourages me in the mundane.

I encourage you to take a few minutes today to think about the things that ‘fill your cup’. What activities give you renewed hope, energy, and joy? Make a list of the things that can recharge you and keep it in a place that you refer to it when you are weary. Then whenever you need to be recharged you can pick something off of that list to help you. This can also help you as you determine what extra activities to accept and which ones to turn down. For example, a big Christmas party might drain you but a quiet dinner with friends might recharge you. For some people taking their children to a parade and watching their excitement would recharge, for others it would drain. Only you can determine what is draining and what is recharging. Sometimes, we have to do those things that drain us but when we recognize the difference it makes it easier to find a good balance and fill our cups back up after we have poured them out.

I hope that you are able to find things that will emotionally recharge you during this season and throughout the year. I have included a free printable that you can use to make your list, simply click on the link below to download and print the template. I would love to hear ideas about what you do to recharge, please help others by sharing in the comments.

Rest and Recharge Template

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