running on empty

The last few weeks have been a bit crazy for me.

They're always crazy, but its been more than usual. ha ha

I've started a handful of new violin students, 

and have been working on a new website thing

(more info on that in a while...) 

So I've been feeling spread a little thin

and I have been taking it out on my girls and Trevor.

I've been making an extra effort over the last little bit to find some ways 

to stay extra positive and keep my energy up.

Here are a few things that have worked for me when I've felt like I don't 

have anything left to give...

1. Dance. 

We turn on the music loud and we dance. 

It always gives me a little burst of energy 

and brings some fun in! 

My girls love to dance and it always helps me 

re-focus and perk up a bit. 

2. Sleep.

 I'm not always the best at this... 

but I've really been trying extra hard to get more sleep.

My girls are usually up around 7, so if I'm in bed around 

10:30 the night before, that's usually good for me. 

I tend to need lots of sleep, and when I get the rest 

I need, everything seems better.

3. Reading. 

I love to read, but I often go through phases

when I don't pick up a book for weeks.

But then, I'll pick up a bunch and stay up too late reading. haha

I've changed my reading habits a little, and I try to spend 20-30 minutes

a day reading something just for me. 

Its really helped me de-stress and enjoy being part of a different world for a bit.

4. Exercise. 

Because of my chronic cough, this is tricky for me to do. 

But now I'm starting to feel a little better again, 

so I've been putting it back in my routine. 

Even a little walk, or dancing with my girls goes a long way!

5. Prayer.

My personal prayers help a lot. 

I feel the Lord strengthening me and helping me 

through the harder parts of my day.

Whenever I'm having an extra hard day, 

I try to find a few minutes to go pray again. 

It helps. 

It reminds me that my children are the most important. 

6. Create. 

I need to be creative almost every day. 

It isn't always something big for me, but I love to crochet, 

and doing a few rows or squares is usually enough for me. 

But after all the feeding, cleaning, and kid-related things I do all day,

I need to find a few minutes to do something creative!

7. Simple Service.

When I am at the very end of my rope with my kids and all the chaos I have going on, 

I make an effort to do something for someone else. 

Because my schedule is already really thin, 

I can't do too much, but I do what I can.

Sometimes, I just send off a text or email to someone

or a quick phone call. 

I have found that spending a few minutes focusing on 

someone who isn't in my family can really help me re-group! 

I have found, in the almost 4 years of being a mom, that it is the most

draining, exhausting, and demanding job ever.

Moms are on-call 24-7 and I get really drained physically 

and emotionally. 

These things really help me feel invigorated and build up 

my energy and help my attitude!

It doesn't hurt that they are SUPER cute!!!!

I'd love to know what other moms or dads do when they are running on empty.

So, what do you do?