For This House
Every Season. Every Space. All for Him.
Every Season. Every Space. All for Him.
Updated: December 30, 2024
Originally Posted: January 13, 2024
8 min read
Emily Van Eps
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means the creators of For This House may earn a commission if you click on the link and make a purchase.
Just before the New Year, when my oldest was 2, my dad taught her to throw her arms up in the air and holler “Happy New Year!” at the top of her lungs. While she had genuinely no idea what it meant, her cuteness was impossible to ignore, and her silliness would bring a smile to everyone in the room.
These antics were a regular occurrence in our house through our New Year’s celebration that year and into the first two full weeks of that new year. And while, like I said previously, it was truly adorable, the closer we got to New Year’s day, and the further into the new year we progressed, I found myself cringing just a bit more each time she would holler it.
That year in specific, but also many other years over the course of my life, I’ve found myself slogging through the first days of the new year. I find myself exhausted and foggy-brained, struggling to form complex thoughts, and even more to put words to paper to write these blogs!
Maybe it’s overwhelm from constant task-juggling, expectations set by all the “New Year, New You” marketing, the invisible workload of being a mom and wife, or something else. Regardless of the cause, I have found myself entering many a new year feeling like I’m already ready for a break.
If you find yourself feeling the same, I’d like to suggest a kind of ‘New Year Reset’ that you probably haven’t considered before.
So often, the start of the new year means adding things to your plate, specifically new habits to improve your health and wellness. Maybe it’s eating healthy or adding exercise to your routine. While each of these things are good habits for us to work on, adding something additional to your plate during a time when you’re already feeling maxed out is likely setting you up for failure and future heartbreak.
So, rather than a diet reset, join me in trying a mental health reset. Give those connectors in your brain a chance to rejuvenate. Just remember–we’re not striving for perfection. We’re striving for better, whatever that may look like for you.
Are you taking on too much? Staring at screens too long? Not taking enough breaks? Lacking work-life balance? As a mom, many of these can be difficult to resolve (anyone else’s toddler follow them everywhere!?).
I’ve found that simply the practice of recognizing where my exhaustion or mental overwhelm stems from can be hugely beneficial in and of itself. This way, when my husband inevitably tells me I look tired and asks how he can help, I can immediately identify a bucket he can help to pour into to take some of the load off of me.
Don’t just veg for hours doom scrolling on your phone. Yes, it feels like a mindless task, but I can guarantee it’s affecting your mental exhaustion more than you realize.
Find a hobby that allows you to rest actively—get out in nature, listen to music, find a book that you consider to be a ‘leisure’ read (not something that requires brain-power to comprehend). Whatever the hobby, it should require little brainpower, allowing you to take a step back and rejuvenate.
I don’t mean add an extra cup of coffee to your morning routine and call yourself hydrated. As adults, we should aim for half our body weight in ounces of water or other hydrating beverages daily.
Lately, as a stay-at-home mom of two, I find myself assessing my total water intake around 7 pm and realizing I’m severely behind my goal. On days like this, I often mix up a packet of LMNT in my 40 oz Owala cup and try to drink as much as possible before my head hits the pillow. While it’s not the same as hitting my total ounce intake goal, my body is getting many vital nutrients and minerals from the LMNT powder, and it’s doing a better job of hydrating my body than just 40 oz of water would on its own.
(Interested in trying LMNT? Use my link to snag yourself a free sample pack with any order!)
While this reset might be something you do initially this January, don’t let it be something you stop doing. As the year goes on and things are inevitably added to your plate, take a minute to gauge whether those additions improve your functioning or further fatigue you.
Remember that “no” is a complete sentence and requires no further apology or explanation. Listen to your body and your mind—the road back to base level from mentally maxed out requires ongoing check-ins with yourself.
Maybe, like me, you’ve found yourself two weeks into the New Year struggling with the resolutions you set for yourself, realizing they’re actually furthering your fatigue. There is NO shame in dumping them and prioritizing something else for your year. Depletion benefits no one.
Lord,
Grant us the wisdom to know our limits as this new year unfolds. Like a child’s pure joy in shouting “Happy New Year,” help us find simple pleasures in each day. When we feel overwhelmed by expectations and endless tasks, guide us to recognize our need for rest.
Help us be gentle with ourselves as we navigate our daily responsibilities. Give us clarity to know when to say “no” and courage to prioritize our wellbeing. May we find moments of peace in nature, in quiet reflection, and in caring for our bodies and minds.
Rather than striving for perfection, help us embrace progress at our own pace. Give us strength to support those around us while also tending to our own needs. And when exhaustion creeps in, remind us that rest is not just permitted, but sacred.
Amen.
Emily is a founder of For This House, and the middle sister to Lauren and Ally. She is a graphic design maven by trade, currently living in small-town and staying home with her two beautiful girls. Learn more about Emily.