Breaking Up with Busyness

I learned within the last few years. I do not thrive when I am busy, so I am breaking up with Busyness. I also learned, and my motto is that you have to slow down to speed up. So, if you find yourself in a busy season right now? May I offer some suggestions?

Breaking up with Busyness

Self-care is not about massages and manicures but about doing the things that help you operate at your best self. For me, that means breaking up with Busyness. I used to busy myself caring about the wrong things. Despite my best efforts, my Busyness led to no results—just me running around like a nut holding onto Jesus by a thread.

The things I invested time in did not bring fulfillment, just increasing angst. My Busyness took away from other things far more important than worldly gain. Although I ddon’tlike the term “self-care.”Putting care into yourself is often needed.

Psalm 62:1 (NIV) Truly, my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him.

What I knew

I was taught that “idle hands are the devil’s playground has stuck with me throughout my life. I was still busying myself with a task, some meaningful and some meaningless. Then, I became a mother and applied that to my children. I signed them up for classes, keeping their weekly calendar full of outings, play dates, and activities. Teaching them that they should always have something to do and not allowing them to have the time for rest or leisure. After rereading the story of Mary and Martha, I came to an epiphany- “need to break up with Busyness. Previously, I took pride in being an exceptional multitasker and exemplary at time management. I realized slowing down and taking time to “be still” was an admirable trait.

Why is Busyness Applauded?

Many people are always on the go until they reach exhaustion. Busyness is considered tremendous, and stillness is deemed to be lazy. We can hear God, be closer to Him, and use His guidance when we are still.

Mark 6:31-32 (NIV)
³¹ Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”³² So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.

Are we valuing our relationships?

Being busy also keeps us from having meaningful relationships with others. We are so wrapped up in the go-go; that we aren’t fostering our communities and fellowship, which is very important.

Hebrews 10:24–25

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and ball the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Are we meaningful and present in our significant relationships, like our spouse or children? Are we filling our time and presence with stuff and activities? Is it worth the stress and isolation to be task-oriented?

Five Ways I plan to break up with Busyness.

1. Say “No” more. I often say “”yes” before thinking about how it will add or take away value from my life. I plan on saying “Not Yet” and “no” more and see if the situation or task will take away from my life.
2. Get over FOMO. I often say “yes” because I don’t want to miss out on anything. I have always been like that, but I realize I don’t have to be part of everything, which is okay. Age brings you wisdom, I guess.
3. I know my Why. If I stay focused on the “why” I am doing something, then “that” I am doing will either have more or less meaning—being rooted in my “why” will help me discern the things that are meant for me.
4. Setting Up Boundaries, one thing that I need to do is to make time for devotion. Five minutes a day is not going to cut it. Recently, I have let that be a mindset, but I need more time with God.
5.  Join the 21-Day Project Stress Relief Challenge that begins on Sept. 19th

My “”ha””Moment

The story of Mary and Martha was an epiphany for me. I discovered I wanted to fellowship and devote more time to God and my family and friends. Have a more meaningful and present relationship with the people in my life.

It allowed me to slow down and reduce to be more like Mary. Planning for my children is a memorable experience versus expertise in activities. I spend quality time in the Word with my husband daily, my family, and my dog, and my stress level is low.

I live the lifestyle and enjoy the moments instead of calculating my time. So, in the last part of the year, I will be doing less and wanting more. This life was not meant to cram as much as we could into every hour but to enjoy every hour. TThat’sthe plan. LLet’ssee if I stick with it.

More Confirmation on leaving Busyness behind

Another Aha- Moment I had in Sunday service during the message. The pastor said something pivotal—those who wonder why their world is crumbling never had it on a strong foundation, to begin with.

It was like a light bulb.

If it had happened to me years before, my world would not look as hopeful as it is today.

You aaren’texempt from life as a Christian. IIt’sjust how you choose to live it and whom. The Word, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus can bring clarity and peace.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Creating Stress Management Coping Skills and Tools

We are so much stronger in the community and they can help and guide us to be better than ourselves. I am partnering with Revelation Wellness for their 21-Day Project Stress Relief. For 21 days, the Revelation Wellness ministry has created a guided 21-day program to help you retrain your God-given ability to live well in light of the stressors that life can bring. In this program, you’ll learn how to stay on track and faithfully live the healthy and whole life God desires for you.

Learning how to cope with our stress has many benefits:

These coping tools will create new rhythms that

• Embodied peace and strategies to cope with stress
• Decreased stress, anxiety, and depression
• Better sleep and more quality ways to rest
• Less pain both physically and emotionally
• Increased energy and stamina
• Lower blood pressure
• Improved digestion and inflammation in the body
• Boosted immune system
• Less muscle tension
• Better decision making
• Improved relationships

Why do a 21-day stress relief challenge?

September is typically stressful for me and produces a lot of anxiety. With new schedules, responsibilities, and roles as a mother. Each year September and October are a challenge for me to adjust. Stress is all around us and everyone feels its effects. God knew we would experience hard times. He didn’t say we might have trouble; He said it would happen. Through Project Stress Relief, you will learn how to harness the positive effects of stress and combat the negative ones. If you are looking for tools to reset your mind and body back into the design God intended, this challenge is for you! I love to do things in the community because it holds me accountable, and I would like to invite you to join us. You can begin to sign up for this challenge on August 23rd. Put it on the Calendar and get into this program.

What is Included in the Program?

• Daily emails leading you to your website content
• 21 daily devotionals
• 21 daily video teachings  (about 5-8 minutes each)
• 21 daily practical, experiential activities
• Audio or video recordings to help you put into practice what yyou’velearned each day.
• FB Community Group and I, alongside other Revelation Wellness Instructors, will coach you through.
• Live coaching calls on the Healthy & Whole FB page

You can sign-up here

What tools do you use to manage your stress and bring you peace?