Burned Out? – A Snow Day Reminder That We Deserve Rest

Have you ever felt burned out or overwhelmed? Maybe you’ve had some difficult situations recently, or it could be that all of the small things have piled up day to day, and you feel like you’re drowning.  We’ve all felt that overwhelm at some point in our lives, unfortunately. It doesn’t matter what’s led you to feel like this, but it does matter that you do something to feel better because you deserve it. 

Recently, I wrote the blog post below the day after a rare snow day. I live in the south, so we don’t get much snow here.  When it does snow, it tends to shake things up a little, and I needed a little shake up, a little reminder to be present in my life. If you’re currently feeling burned out, I invite you to slow down a little. 

The Magic Of A Snow Day

Suddenly, squeals of delight filled our neighborhood, and I couldn’t help but smile. Without looking, I knew that the snow had begun to fall, and when I looked out the window, my assumptions were confirmed. Snow. Beautiful flurries swirled in the air, but melted as they reached the ground.

I didn’t waste any time letting my sons know that the forecasted snow had arrived a little early. One was in his room, and the other was at work. My youngest son, almost 18 years old, looked out the window and then scurried out to the porch. In that moment, I saw the little boy that he was the last time it snowed here.

Over the next few hours, the snow began to accumulate, and excitement filled our home. I texted my mom and a friend and sent them pictures, and my son and I took turns looking out the window and going out onto the porch. At one point, I heard him call to me from the back door, “Mom! Come look!” He had ran from our back door to the shed and back, leaving tracks in the snow. There was my little boy again.

In the early afternoon, my husband and oldest son returned home from work. The first thing my son said when he realized how slippery the steps were was, “Tell Mama to be careful,” talking to my husband as they walked through the front door. I was sitting near the front window, and my heart melted at his concern.

It proceeded to melt further throughout the afternoon as he ensured that the box we had for a stray cat near our home had extra insulation and was shielded from the wind and snow the best way it could be. I’m glad I’ve helped raise thoughtful men.

Both boys (I know they’re all grown up, but they’ll always be my boys.) threw snowballs and ran around in the yard, playing like they were kids again. I went out for a while, mainly to test the snow and see if I could build even a tiny snowman. It was too fluffy to stick together, so operation snowman was a no-go, but I had a good time. It’s funny how snow can turn you back into a kid momentarily.

Slowing Down To Reflect

After the busy afternoon, mixed with the excitement over the snow and concern over road conditions, I sat snuggled up on the couch with a warm cup of coffee and far too many blankets. Both our home and the neighborhood had quieted down. Everyone had retreated to the cozy comfort of their homes or bedrooms, soaking up the warmth—much like I was, I imagined.

The stillness I experienced at that moment was amplified because of its stark contrast to the last few months, which have simply been a blur. I don’t know if it has been the holidays or my season of life, but it seems like time has been in fast forward. That’s not really unusual for Christmastime, but normally I snap out of it to start the New Year. This year has been different.

Grateful For A Pause

I am so thankful for the much needed pause that allowed me to reflect on and appreciate my life. Our snow day gave me the time to fully feel the gratitude I have for my faith, peace, family, home, and my life in general.

I woke up this morning feeling more refreshed than I have in a long time. I feel both mentally and physically better, and my focus is better. I won’t say that yesterday’s pause is the entire reason for how I feel today, because I have been trying to eat better, but it definitely helped.

How To Recover From Burnout : The First Step

If you’re overwhelmed or burned out, spinning your wheels and not making progress, or you’re procrastinating and unable to fully relax because of everything you have to do, just stop. Stop for just one day. Give yourself permission to pause and reflect. Do something that restores you. Read for pleasure. Have a cup of coffee curled up in your favorite spot, with your favorite view. Enjoy a hobby. Let go of the anxiety you’re feeling. Be still. If you are a believer, pray and give it all to God. Whatever restores you, do that.

My advice may sound counter productive when you’ve been procrastinating for a while, but you have to change your mindset. When you do things you want to do because you’re avoiding something else, you never get to fully enjoy what you’re doing. You’re too busy beating yourself up for not doing what you need to do to enjoy anything. All that does is wear you down both physically and mentally, and it increases your feelings of overwhelm.

You Can’t Pour From An Empty Cup