January 29, 2025 • 21 mins
Overwhelming exhaustion is a challenge that many foster and adoptive parents experience, often without acknowledgment. This episode discusses burnout's signs, neurological impact, and practical steps toward healing and renewal.
• Exploring the definition of burnout what it looks like in parents
• Recognizing signs indicating a move in that direction
• Addressing emotional detachment and the inclination to check out
• Discussing diminished desire to connect with children
• Identifying physical symptoms of burnout and health concerns
• Offering practical steps to combat burnout
If this episode resonated with you, would you share it with a friend?
I'd love to hear from you! Send me a text!
Connect with me on Instagram: @Fosterparentwell
@nicoletbarlow https://www.instagram.com/nicoletbarlow/
Website: https://nicoletbarlow.com/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
Welcome to the Foster Parent Well podcast, where we
have real candid, faith-filledconversations about all things
foster care, adoption and trauma.
I'm your host, nicole T Barlow.
I'm a certified parent trainer,a certified health coach and an
adoptive parent myself.
This is a space where you canfind support so that you can
care for your kids with asteadfast faith, endurance and
(00:32):
joy.
I want you host, Nicole TBarlow, and today we're diving
(01:00):
into something that I know manyof us struggle with, but we
don't always talk about it, andthat's burnout, that deep soul
level exhaustion that leaves usrunning on fumes, where even the
smallest thing can feeloverwhelming.
I don't know about you, butthere have been seasons where I
feel like I'm just trying to getthrough the day, going through
(01:22):
the motions, checking all theboxes, but deep down, I feel
disconnected from myself, frommy kids, from the Lord.
If that's you, friend, I wantyou to know that you are not
alone.
It is so common.
I actually have a social mediaaccount where I mainly talk
about avoiding burnout and theimportance of us supporting our
(01:42):
bodies so that we can serve ourfamilies well.
But the question came up how doyou know if you are headed
towards burnout?
So I want to talk through it.
Today.
We're going to talk about sixsigns that you may be headed
towards burnout or that you mayalready be there, and we're also
going to talk about why thishappens from a neurological
(02:04):
perspective, because burnoutisn't just about doing too much.
It's also about what'shappening in our bodies.
And then, of course, we'll getinto some real practical steps
you can take to begin workingthrough it.
So grab a cup of coffee or,let's be real, maybe you're
reheating it for the third timeand let's have this conversation
(02:24):
.
So what is burnout?
Burnout is more than justfeeling tired.
It's a state of emotional,physical and spiritual
exhaustion that happens whenwe've been carrying too much for
too long without the right kindof support.
And if you're a foster oradoptive parent, let's be honest
, this life is a lot theemotional weight, the constant
(02:50):
advocacy, the behaviors, themeetings, the appointments.
It's no wonder why we end upfeeling like we're running on
empty and this really isn'ttalked about a lot in a training
perspective Like we're notprepared for this to happen to
our bodies, so we're notproactively taking steps to
(03:11):
fight against it from thebeginning.
Neurologically speaking,burnout happens when our stress
response system stays on for toolong.
So God designed our bodies tobe able to handle stress in
short bursts, like if you haveto outrun a bear, which some
days it may feel like we'redoing that right, but when our
(03:33):
stress is chronic, our nervoussystem gets stuck in overdrive,
much like it does for our kids,and when that happens, our
bodies start breaking down indifferent ways.
So let's talk about the sixsigns that you might be heading
towards that burnout stage.
Number one you are prone tochecking out.
This might look like you arescrolling endlessly on your
(03:57):
phone, or you're binge watchingshows at night just to kind of
numb out, or maybe you'refinding it really hard to focus
during the day.
Maybe you sit down to getsomething done, and then five
minutes later, you've alreadyswitched over to another task
because your brain just can'thold on to one thing for too
long.
This happens because your brainis overloaded.
(04:18):
It's like your system is sayingI can't take in any more, so it
starts seeking out ways toescape.
The problem with this, though,is that those little
distractions don't actually helpus recharge.
They just kind of keep us inthat stuck mode.
I know for me.
I've had seasons where I catchmyself checking out a lot and
(04:41):
it's easy to justify it that Ijust need a break.
But when it becomes the norminstead of an occasional thing,
it's a red flag that somethingdeeper is going on and this is
becoming a bigger issue.
Number two is that you no longerdesire community, and you guys.
This isn't an introvert thing.
(05:02):
So I am an extroverted.
Introvert, which means I amvery outgoing in a crowd, but
crowds often drain me.
I am an introvert.
I recharge by my time alone.
But this isn't what we'retalking about here.
Foster and adoptive parentsreally need community, but what
(05:24):
you're doing can already beisolating, right, but ultimately
we need community.
We are designed for community.
But when burnout creeps in, youstart avoiding the very people
who could support you.
So maybe you don't return texts, you skip church or the idea of
(05:45):
making small talk at agathering just feels exhausting.
The enemy loves to get us alone, friends, because when we're
isolated we're more vulnerable.
We need people speaking lifeinto us.
We need people encouraging us.
We need people who can remindus of truth when we're too tired
(06:07):
to see it ourselves.
So this is a sign that we areheaded towards burnout and it is
a signal that there is a gap ifwe are isolating ourselves,
that there is a gap for theenemy to work in, and we don't
want that.
(06:28):
Number three is your mood andirritability are all over the
place.
So one minute you're fine andthe next you're snapping at your
kids for something really small, or maybe you're feeling super
emotional over things thatwouldn't normally bother you.
This is a sign that yournervous system is taxed.
And listen, I get it.
(06:50):
I've had days where I think whyam I so frustrated right now?
This is stupid, and the truthis is that it's not just about
the moment.
It's about the accumulation ofstress that has been processed.
So for me, the stressor isoften noise.
The more taxed my nervoussystem is, the more sensitive
(07:13):
that I am to noises eating,crunching, loud talking, and you
can imagine that with a housefull of kids, those things are
constant.
I can usually tell when mynervous system is overwhelmed
because my husband's voice seemsvery loud and you guys, my
husband is not the loud one inthe family, I am the loud one in
(07:36):
our family.
So when his voice seems loud tome, it is a signal that
something's off.
It's a signal that my nervoussystem is overwhelmed and my
sensory issues are taking overthat.
There are amplifying thingsthat don't normally bother me,
(07:57):
so we need to take those things.
If we're moody, if we'reirritable, if things are
dysregulating us easily, we needto view that as a signal that
our nervous system may beoverwhelmed.
A signal that our nervoussystem may be overwhelmed.
(08:18):
Okay.
Number four is that you see theproblems but not the blessings.
When burnout hits, all you cansee is what's hard.
You may see the struggles, thebehaviors, the appointments, the
exhaustion.
It gets harder to see theministry and the why behind what
we are doing.
This is so important torecognize because our
perspective impacts everything.
(08:40):
If we only see the weight, weare going to carry it very
differently.
But when we can step back andsay, okay, this is really hard,
but I know that God is workinghere, it shifts something in us.
It actually helps to give usthe ability to move forward.
It gives us the strength to beable to carry on if we feel like
(09:03):
that carrying has purpose.
I've had seasons, and have seenfriends through seasons, where
it is hard to see the blessingsLike.
It only feels hard, I only feeldiscouraged.
I forget the good that it'shappening and I really struggle
to see the good in me, the goodin my husband, in my kids, in
(09:25):
our work as a family unit.
The reality is is that there isalways both for everyone.
There are struggles, but thereare also always blessings too,
and when we struggle to see theblessings part, it's really a
sign that we need something tochange.
(09:46):
Okay, number five is a big one.
When you struggle with wantingto spend one-on-one time with
your kids or time connectingwith them, that is a sign.
It's probably a sign thatyou're already in burnout, but
it's a sign that you really needto pay attention to.
When we're emotionally,mentally and physically
(10:09):
exhausted, our capacity forconnection shrinks, our nervous
system starts operating insurvival mode, and when you're
in survival mode, your brainonly sees you.
So you're just trying to getthrough your to-do list right,
and when that happens, anythingthat requires emotional energy,
(10:31):
like deep connection with ourkids, can start to feel like
another demand, another thingthat we should be doing.
But that's the main part of ourjob, you guys.
We are navigating complex needsand big emotions and
challenging behaviors, and if wearen't connecting with our kids
(10:55):
, those things are actuallygoing to get worse.
But it's not that we don't care, it's that when those signals
appear when we are lacking thatability to really spend time and
connect deeply with our kids.
Spend time and connect deeplywith our kids.
(11:16):
It's that we don't have thebandwidth to engage the way that
our hearts want to.
I totally get this feeling, andwhen you realize that you're
feeling this way, it's verycommon for guilt to creep in
really fast, like why don't Iwant to sit and play with them?
(11:37):
Why do I feel so impatient?
Why do I just want to be leftalone?
But instead of beating yourselfup, I want you to recognize
this as a red flag.
Your system is waving a warningsign saying hey, we're running
on fumes here.
Something has to change, okay.
(11:57):
And then number six is thatyour body starts feeling it.
You start experiencing thingslike fatigue, anxiety, high
blood pressure, random hormonalissues that don't make sense or
that you haven't experiencedbefore.
Maybe you're getting sick moreoften.
When your nervous system is inoverdrive for too long, your
(12:20):
body starts sending out distresssignals.
If you've been noticing changesin your health, please don't
ignore them.
You guys, go see a physician.
Go see a doctor to get itchecked out, to get things
tested.
Our bodies are temples of theHoly Spirit and taking care of
them is an act of obedience.
(12:40):
Our bodies also have limits and, you guys, they will at some
point give out.
As foster and adoptive parents,we are usually carrying a
heavier load than some of ourcommunity, and the way we
support our bodies through thisstress that we have taken on
needs to account for that extraweight.
(13:01):
This element of supporting ourphysical bodies is not something
that's often discussed intraining or preparation for the
roles that we've stepped into,but it's such a critical
component to us to being able todo this job well.
And if you've been part oflistening to this podcast for
any amount of time, you know itis a huge part of my passion,
(13:25):
because I've been there.
I've been in the place where mybody is failing under the
weight of it all, and the Lordbrought me to a place where I
began to heal.
And, you guys, I have clientsthat come to me desperate,
desperate that really start tofeel like themselves again,
(13:45):
simply by learning how tosupport their bodies the right
way.
So let's talk about what we cando.
If you are recognizing yourselfin some of these signs, first
let me say grace, friend.
There is no shame here.
This is a natural reaction ofour bodies when we take on too
(14:07):
much stress.
But also, let's not stay inthis place.
I hear people say all the timehealth practitioners, different
people, will tell you to get ridof extra stress.
The problem is that stress is apart of the thing that we've
(14:27):
been called to.
Taking on some of our kids'grief, some of their loss,
stepping into their trauma, iswhat we've been called to and
that is stress.
It just is.
We can't get rid of that.
That is the very thing we havebeen called to do, so that our
(14:48):
kids aren't carrying it alone.
But we have to know how tocarry it within ourselves or
we're going to drown underneathit as well.
So here's a few things that wecan start doing today to move
towards healing, to move out ofthis movement towards burnout.
(15:09):
Number one is always going to beget in the Word, not as another
to-do list item, but as alifeline.
Even if it's just a verse ortwo, let God's truth be louder
than your exhaustion.
And you guys, sometimes youaren't going to be able to sit
down and read a chapter in theWord and take notes and journal
(15:32):
and all the things.
Some days you're going to needto turn on the audio Bible and
let it just read over.
You You're not going to havethe energy to do the work and
you're going to need technologyto do the work for you.
But you guys, it doesn't matterhow you get the word in your
(15:54):
mind, how you meditate on thosethings, you just need to do it.
The second thing is to move yourbody.
This doesn't have to be a fullworkout.
In fact, I would advise againstvery strenuous workouts long
form cardio, that sort of thingunless your body is really used
(16:18):
to it.
But I just want you to getoutside, go for a walk, stretch
Again.
If you've been around thispodcast for any amount of time,
you know my non-negotiable is Iwalk every day because it helps
to regulate my nervous system,it helps my mental health, it
(16:38):
helps give me the energy I needto get through my day.
So just figure out a way tomove your body every single day
and then prioritize real rest.
Scrolling isn't rest.
Binge watching isn't rest.
True rest is spent with thingsthat are actually going to
(17:00):
restore you.
With things that are actuallygoing to restore you, things
like worship, prayer, sleep.
Maybe take an Epsom salt bathIf you have access to a sauna,
spending quiet time in a sauna,just kind of sitting and letting
(17:22):
that restore you.
But really think through howyou get rest, because you can
sleep at night and your body notbe well rested.
So really think through yoursleep routine and how you're
preparing your body for goodrest.
The fourth thing is to get sometime away.
(17:44):
Look for respite or ababysitter or, if you're married
, switch off with your spouse.
One of the best things that myhusband does for me is, like
once a quarter he gives me acouple of days to myself,
whether that's I go away to ahotel somewhere for a night or
two, or he will take the kidsaway to where his family lives
(18:09):
out of town and leave me here bymyself, which is actually my
favorite.
I would prefer to be in myhouse alone than in a hotel room
, but I'll take either, right?
But that time away really helpsme get out from under the
weight of some of that stressand to be able to think more
(18:29):
clearly.
So I am a huge advocate forthat all the way around, making
sure that both parents get timeto step away and kind of clear
their head a little bit.
I think it makes a hugedifference and it keeps us from
going into this burnout mode.
And the fifth one is to reachout to somebody so you don't
(18:51):
have to do this alone.
Send the text to that friend,make that call to somebody that
can encourage you.
Ask for prayer, you guys, andif you don't have community that
you can trust, take some timetoday to pray for that.
Pray for a community that youcan trust, that will surround
(19:12):
you, that you can depend on.
Friend, if you are in a seasonof burnout, know this that God
sees you, mount.
Know this that God sees you.
He hasn't left you.
He isn't disappointed in youfor being exhausted.
He is trying to invite you tocome to him and let him carry
(19:32):
the burden with you.
You are doing hard kingdom work, but even Jesus stepped away to
rest.
Even he had boundaries.
And if he needed that, how muchmore do we?
So take a deep breath.
You are not alone.
You are so loved.
All right, that's it for today.
(19:54):
If this episode resonated withyou, would you share it with a
friend?
And if you haven't already,make sure you subscribe so you
don't miss what's coming next.
As we wrap up, let me pray forus.
Dear Lord, I just thank you forthe blessings that you have
given us, lord.
(20:15):
Help us to see those blessingstoday.
Lord, let us be thankful andgrateful at this opportunity to
see our kids grow and heal andthrive, lord, and for getting to
be a part of their stories.
Lord, I ask right now that youwould strengthen every foster
(20:35):
and adoptive parent that islistening to this podcast.
Lord, I ask that you wouldbuild them up, that you would
form a hedge of protectionaround them, lord, that would
protect them from anything thatthe enemy has prepared for them.
Lord, build them up so thatthey can continue to serve with
compassion and grace.
(20:57):
Lord, we trust you and wedepend on you for every breath.
We love you.
We trust you in Jesus' nameAmen.
Welcome to the Foster Parent Well podcast, where we
have real candid, faith-filledconversations about all things
foster care, adoption and trauma.
I'm your host, nicole T Barlow.
I'm a certified parent trainer,a certified health coach and an
adoptive parent myself.
This is a space where you canfind support so that you can
care for your kids with asteadfast faith, endurance and
(00:32):
joy.
I want you host, Nicole TBarlow, and today we're diving
(01:00):
into something that I know manyof us struggle with, but we
don't always talk about it, andthat's burnout, that deep soul
level exhaustion that leaves usrunning on fumes, where even the
smallest thing can feeloverwhelming.
I don't know about you, butthere have been seasons where I
feel like I'm just trying to getthrough the day, going through
(01:22):
the motions, checking all theboxes, but deep down, I feel
disconnected from myself, frommy kids, from the Lord.
If that's you, friend, I wantyou to know that you are not
alone.
It is so common.
I actually have a social mediaaccount where I mainly talk
about avoiding burnout and theimportance of us supporting our
(01:42):
bodies so that we can serve ourfamilies well.
But the question came up how doyou know if you are headed
towards burnout?
So I want to talk through it.
Today.
We're going to talk about sixsigns that you may be headed
towards burnout or that you mayalready be there, and we're also
going to talk about why thishappens from a neurological
(02:04):
perspective, because burnoutisn't just about doing too much.
It's also about what'shappening in our bodies.
And then, of course, we'll getinto some real practical steps
you can take to begin workingthrough it.
So grab a cup of coffee or,let's be real, maybe you're
reheating it for the third timeand let's have this conversation
(02:24):
.
So what is burnout?
Burnout is more than justfeeling tired.
It's a state of emotional,physical and spiritual
exhaustion that happens whenwe've been carrying too much for
too long without the right kindof support.
And if you're a foster oradoptive parent, let's be honest
, this life is a lot theemotional weight, the constant
(02:50):
advocacy, the behaviors, themeetings, the appointments.
It's no wonder why we end upfeeling like we're running on
empty and this really isn'ttalked about a lot in a training
perspective Like we're notprepared for this to happen to
our bodies, so we're notproactively taking steps to
(03:11):
fight against it from thebeginning.
Neurologically speaking,burnout happens when our stress
response system stays on for toolong.
So God designed our bodies tobe able to handle stress in
short bursts, like if you haveto outrun a bear, which some
days it may feel like we'redoing that right, but when our
(03:33):
stress is chronic, our nervoussystem gets stuck in overdrive,
much like it does for our kids,and when that happens, our
bodies start breaking down indifferent ways.
So let's talk about the sixsigns that you might be heading
towards that burnout stage.
Number one you are prone tochecking out.
This might look like you arescrolling endlessly on your
(03:57):
phone, or you're binge watchingshows at night just to kind of
numb out, or maybe you'refinding it really hard to focus
during the day.
Maybe you sit down to getsomething done, and then five
minutes later, you've alreadyswitched over to another task
because your brain just can'thold on to one thing for too
long.
This happens because your brainis overloaded.
(04:18):
It's like your system is sayingI can't take in any more, so it
starts seeking out ways toescape.
The problem with this, though,is that those little
distractions don't actually helpus recharge.
They just kind of keep us inthat stuck mode.
I know for me.
I've had seasons where I catchmyself checking out a lot and
(04:41):
it's easy to justify it that Ijust need a break.
But when it becomes the norminstead of an occasional thing,
it's a red flag that somethingdeeper is going on and this is
becoming a bigger issue.
Number two is that you no longerdesire community, and you guys.
This isn't an introvert thing.
(05:02):
So I am an extroverted.
Introvert, which means I amvery outgoing in a crowd, but
crowds often drain me.
I am an introvert.
I recharge by my time alone.
But this isn't what we'retalking about here.
Foster and adoptive parentsreally need community, but what
(05:24):
you're doing can already beisolating, right, but ultimately
we need community.
We are designed for community.
But when burnout creeps in, youstart avoiding the very people
who could support you.
So maybe you don't return texts, you skip church or the idea of
(05:45):
making small talk at agathering just feels exhausting.
The enemy loves to get us alone, friends, because when we're
isolated we're more vulnerable.
We need people speaking lifeinto us.
We need people encouraging us.
We need people who can remindus of truth when we're too tired
(06:07):
to see it ourselves.
So this is a sign that we areheaded towards burnout and it is
a signal that there is a gap ifwe are isolating ourselves,
that there is a gap for theenemy to work in, and we don't
want that.
(06:28):
Number three is your mood andirritability are all over the
place.
So one minute you're fine andthe next you're snapping at your
kids for something really small, or maybe you're feeling super
emotional over things thatwouldn't normally bother you.
This is a sign that yournervous system is taxed.
And listen, I get it.
(06:50):
I've had days where I think whyam I so frustrated right now?
This is stupid, and the truthis is that it's not just about
the moment.
It's about the accumulation ofstress that has been processed.
So for me, the stressor isoften noise.
The more taxed my nervoussystem is, the more sensitive
(07:13):
that I am to noises eating,crunching, loud talking, and you
can imagine that with a housefull of kids, those things are
constant.
I can usually tell when mynervous system is overwhelmed
because my husband's voice seemsvery loud and you guys, my
husband is not the loud one inthe family, I am the loud one in
(07:36):
our family.
So when his voice seems loud tome, it is a signal that
something's off.
It's a signal that my nervoussystem is overwhelmed and my
sensory issues are taking overthat.
There are amplifying thingsthat don't normally bother me,
(07:57):
so we need to take those things.
If we're moody, if we'reirritable, if things are
dysregulating us easily, we needto view that as a signal that
our nervous system may beoverwhelmed.
A signal that our nervoussystem may be overwhelmed.
(08:18):
Okay.
Number four is that you see theproblems but not the blessings.
When burnout hits, all you cansee is what's hard.
You may see the struggles, thebehaviors, the appointments, the
exhaustion.
It gets harder to see theministry and the why behind what
we are doing.
This is so important torecognize because our
perspective impacts everything.
(08:40):
If we only see the weight, weare going to carry it very
differently.
But when we can step back andsay, okay, this is really hard,
but I know that God is workinghere, it shifts something in us.
It actually helps to give usthe ability to move forward.
It gives us the strength to beable to carry on if we feel like
(09:03):
that carrying has purpose.
I've had seasons, and have seenfriends through seasons, where
it is hard to see the blessingsLike.
It only feels hard, I only feeldiscouraged.
I forget the good that it'shappening and I really struggle
to see the good in me, the goodin my husband, in my kids, in
(09:25):
our work as a family unit.
The reality is is that there isalways both for everyone.
There are struggles, but thereare also always blessings too,
and when we struggle to see theblessings part, it's really a
sign that we need something tochange.
(09:46):
Okay, number five is a big one.
When you struggle with wantingto spend one-on-one time with
your kids or time connectingwith them, that is a sign.
It's probably a sign thatyou're already in burnout, but
it's a sign that you really needto pay attention to.
When we're emotionally,mentally and physically
(10:09):
exhausted, our capacity forconnection shrinks, our nervous
system starts operating insurvival mode, and when you're
in survival mode, your brainonly sees you.
So you're just trying to getthrough your to-do list right,
and when that happens, anythingthat requires emotional energy,
(10:31):
like deep connection with ourkids, can start to feel like
another demand, another thingthat we should be doing.
But that's the main part of ourjob, you guys.
We are navigating complex needsand big emotions and
challenging behaviors, and if wearen't connecting with our kids
(10:55):
, those things are actuallygoing to get worse.
But it's not that we don't care, it's that when those signals
appear when we are lacking thatability to really spend time and
connect deeply with our kids.
Spend time and connect deeplywith our kids.
(11:16):
It's that we don't have thebandwidth to engage the way that
our hearts want to.
I totally get this feeling, andwhen you realize that you're
feeling this way, it's verycommon for guilt to creep in
really fast, like why don't Iwant to sit and play with them?
(11:37):
Why do I feel so impatient?
Why do I just want to be leftalone?
But instead of beating yourselfup, I want you to recognize
this as a red flag.
Your system is waving a warningsign saying hey, we're running
on fumes here.
Something has to change, okay.
(11:57):
And then number six is thatyour body starts feeling it.
You start experiencing thingslike fatigue, anxiety, high
blood pressure, random hormonalissues that don't make sense or
that you haven't experiencedbefore.
Maybe you're getting sick moreoften.
When your nervous system is inoverdrive for too long, your
(12:20):
body starts sending out distresssignals.
If you've been noticing changesin your health, please don't
ignore them.
You guys, go see a physician.
Go see a doctor to get itchecked out, to get things
tested.
Our bodies are temples of theHoly Spirit and taking care of
them is an act of obedience.
(12:40):
Our bodies also have limits and, you guys, they will at some
point give out.
As foster and adoptive parents,we are usually carrying a
heavier load than some of ourcommunity, and the way we
support our bodies through thisstress that we have taken on
needs to account for that extraweight.
(13:01):
This element of supporting ourphysical bodies is not something
that's often discussed intraining or preparation for the
roles that we've stepped into,but it's such a critical
component to us to being able todo this job well.
And if you've been part oflistening to this podcast for
any amount of time, you know itis a huge part of my passion,
(13:25):
because I've been there.
I've been in the place where mybody is failing under the
weight of it all, and the Lordbrought me to a place where I
began to heal.
And, you guys, I have clientsthat come to me desperate,
desperate that really start tofeel like themselves again,
(13:45):
simply by learning how tosupport their bodies the right
way.
So let's talk about what we cando.
If you are recognizing yourselfin some of these signs, first
let me say grace, friend.
There is no shame here.
This is a natural reaction ofour bodies when we take on too
(14:07):
much stress.
But also, let's not stay inthis place.
I hear people say all the timehealth practitioners, different
people, will tell you to get ridof extra stress.
The problem is that stress is apart of the thing that we've
(14:27):
been called to.
Taking on some of our kids'grief, some of their loss,
stepping into their trauma, iswhat we've been called to and
that is stress.
It just is.
We can't get rid of that.
That is the very thing we havebeen called to do, so that our
(14:48):
kids aren't carrying it alone.
But we have to know how tocarry it within ourselves or
we're going to drown underneathit as well.
So here's a few things that wecan start doing today to move
towards healing, to move out ofthis movement towards burnout.
(15:09):
Number one is always going to beget in the Word, not as another
to-do list item, but as alifeline.
Even if it's just a verse ortwo, let God's truth be louder
than your exhaustion.
And you guys, sometimes youaren't going to be able to sit
down and read a chapter in theWord and take notes and journal
(15:32):
and all the things.
Some days you're going to needto turn on the audio Bible and
let it just read over.
You You're not going to havethe energy to do the work and
you're going to need technologyto do the work for you.
But you guys, it doesn't matterhow you get the word in your
(15:54):
mind, how you meditate on thosethings, you just need to do it.
The second thing is to move yourbody.
This doesn't have to be a fullworkout.
In fact, I would advise againstvery strenuous workouts long
form cardio, that sort of thingunless your body is really used
(16:18):
to it.
But I just want you to getoutside, go for a walk, stretch
Again.
If you've been around thispodcast for any amount of time,
you know my non-negotiable is Iwalk every day because it helps
to regulate my nervous system,it helps my mental health, it
(16:38):
helps give me the energy I needto get through my day.
So just figure out a way tomove your body every single day
and then prioritize real rest.
Scrolling isn't rest.
Binge watching isn't rest.
True rest is spent with thingsthat are actually going to
(17:00):
restore you.
With things that are actuallygoing to restore you, things
like worship, prayer, sleep.
Maybe take an Epsom salt bathIf you have access to a sauna,
spending quiet time in a sauna,just kind of sitting and letting
(17:22):
that restore you.
But really think through howyou get rest, because you can
sleep at night and your body notbe well rested.
So really think through yoursleep routine and how you're
preparing your body for goodrest.
The fourth thing is to get sometime away.
(17:44):
Look for respite or ababysitter or, if you're married
, switch off with your spouse.
One of the best things that myhusband does for me is, like
once a quarter he gives me acouple of days to myself,
whether that's I go away to ahotel somewhere for a night or
two, or he will take the kidsaway to where his family lives
(18:09):
out of town and leave me here bymyself, which is actually my
favorite.
I would prefer to be in myhouse alone than in a hotel room
, but I'll take either, right?
But that time away really helpsme get out from under the
weight of some of that stressand to be able to think more
(18:29):
clearly.
So I am a huge advocate forthat all the way around, making
sure that both parents get timeto step away and kind of clear
their head a little bit.
I think it makes a hugedifference and it keeps us from
going into this burnout mode.
And the fifth one is to reachout to somebody so you don't
(18:51):
have to do this alone.
Send the text to that friend,make that call to somebody that
can encourage you.
Ask for prayer, you guys, andif you don't have community that
you can trust, take some timetoday to pray for that.
Pray for a community that youcan trust, that will surround
(19:12):
you, that you can depend on.
Friend, if you are in a seasonof burnout, know this that God
sees you, mount.
Know this that God sees you.
He hasn't left you.
He isn't disappointed in youfor being exhausted.
He is trying to invite you tocome to him and let him carry
(19:32):
the burden with you.
You are doing hard kingdom work, but even Jesus stepped away to
rest.
Even he had boundaries.
And if he needed that, how muchmore do we?
So take a deep breath.
You are not alone.
You are so loved.
All right, that's it for today.
(19:54):
If this episode resonated withyou, would you share it with a
friend?
And if you haven't already,make sure you subscribe so you
don't miss what's coming next.
As we wrap up, let me pray forus.
Dear Lord, I just thank you forthe blessings that you have
given us, lord.
(20:15):
Help us to see those blessingstoday.
Lord, let us be thankful andgrateful at this opportunity to
see our kids grow and heal andthrive, lord, and for getting to
be a part of their stories.
Lord, I ask right now that youwould strengthen every foster
(20:35):
and adoptive parent that islistening to this podcast.
Lord, I ask that you wouldbuild them up, that you would
form a hedge of protectionaround them, lord, that would
protect them from anything thatthe enemy has prepared for them.
Lord, build them up so thatthey can continue to serve with
compassion and grace.
(20:57):
Lord, we trust you and wedepend on you for every breath.
We love you.
We trust you in Jesus' nameAmen.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Ridiculous History
History is beautiful, brutal and, often, ridiculous. Join Ben Bowlin and Noel Brown as they dive into some of the weirdest stories from across the span of human civilization in Ridiculous History, a podcast by iHeartRadio.