Learning To Slow Down In the Busy Seasons

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Y’all know that I totally love fall, right?

I love the leaves, the cool weather, the pumpkin everything. But if I’m being totally honest with you, there are a handful of things I don’t love. And they are, ALL THE THINGS.

Every year, I tell myself, “this fall, I’m going to slow down!” And every year, somehow it gets busier. It’s garbage, I tell you.

I mean, not total garbage. The things I’m wrapped up in are all really good things, and I have no doubt that I am right where God wants me to be, doing what He wants for me, but I am just a regular little human who gets real tired, real quick these days.

So today, I’m here to share a handful of things I’m trying to do to slow down, just a hair. Wish me luck, and if you’re in this boat with me, let me know what works for you.

clearing out the weekends.

Lately, we’ve decided that we’re spending one whole weekend a month at home, to hang out, relax, and catch up on things around the house. I much prefer doing chores when I’m not rushed, don’t feel like I have a million things to do in ten minutes, and can enjoy the process, maybe with some music on.

drinking water.

I know it’s silly, but if I start running out of time to DRINK WATER, then I have a serious problem. I carry around a half-gallon jug everywhere I go, and I make time to fill it when it’s empty. I just feel better when I’m hydrated.

take a break.

My devotion this morning was about the Sabbath, which, hilariously enough, I didn’t have a chance to take this past weekend, and it really focused on how resting is really trusting God that everything won’t fall apart if I just stop what I’m doing for a break. The house won’t fall apart if I don’t scrub it every week, my homework will get done if I take a night off, and life will go on. So I’m really trying to rest when I need it. If that means I skip a blog post every now and then, so be it.

skin care routine.

I got a new face scrubber for my birthday, and it is the best thing ever. I have never had skin this soft, ever. Taking the extra 2 minutes it takes to refresh my skin is so worth it.

set boundaries around my time.

This is such a hard one, but so worth it. I’m working to really be intentional about my time, whether it’s work time, or time with my family, or a bit of time to relax. I don’t want to waste the time I have scrolling on social media, or signing up for things I don’t really want to do. This means I really have to think about how to spend my time to make the most of it. It’s still a work in progress, but it’s a start.

self-care activities.

There are a handful of things that I just feel so much better if I’m able to do, like go for a walk. The weather has been so nice lately, I’ve been making a point to get outside and walk every day. Just to get away from screens and noise and walls and spend some time in the sun. Sometimes I also like to bake something, as a way to relax. There’s just something about jamming out to my favorite music and using my hands to make something delicious (again, away from a screen), is so therapeutic. Plus, it’s hard to be feisty when your house smells like bread.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

“There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.” Hebrews 4:9-11