What This Busy Season is Teaching Me: How to Beat Burnout

With the season of life I am in right now, I am busier than I have ever been. I am essentially working two full-time jobs while trying to study for my real estate license and do better about pouring into my relationships with my friends and family. If you had told me even just six months ago that this is what my life would look like today, I think I would have curled into a little ball and cried. I started this year out more stressed than I’d ever been in my life due to several factors (some in my control, some not), but regardless, my plate felt full. Yet, here I am six months later, with even more on my plate, and it seems there’s always room for whatever else gets added onto my to-do list or schedule.

Now, I feel I should say that I do not have kids, so I do want to give kudos to all the moms – while I’m sure our versions of exhaustion are different, you’re doing an amazing job, and I really admire how you manage all that you do between taking care of little humans and taking care of yourself.

This post is me sharing tips that I have found help me maximize productivity without burning out, and I think these are things everyone can do in their own lives whether you have children or not. However, I don’t want to be tone deaf to the fact that implementing these is much easier said than done. That being said, let’s get into it.

Tip #1: Do NOT neglect your relationship with God

This is by far the most important and most helpful tip I have. Whatever you do, find time (any amount of time) to pray, read your bible, and dwell in His presence. It doesn’t have to be for a long time at all. While I do try to carve out dedicated time in the morning and evening to spend with God, some days, as I am rushing to get out the door to get to work, all I do is flip the bible open and read a single verse, and that’s it. Other times, it looks like listening to worship music as I’m driving to and from work and meetings with clients. But sometimes, it’s also just me driving in silence, making space for me to hear the Lord clearly if he decides to speak to me.

Our society has convinced us that being busy all the time is normal. That being in a constant state of rush somehow means we’re doing something right. But the Lord says the opposite. He says that rest is good and He invites us into His presence so we can rest and recharge. My Creator is my source of energy – I operate from His presence and the rest that He gives me.

And to those who are thinking that you don’t have the time – remember that God is outside of space and time. He knows what you have on your plate; He knows what all is required of you and when you need to have all of that done by. And He wants to help you. He wants to sustain you and to be invited in. But He’s a gentleman. God isn’t going to force His help or His ways on you unless you invite Him to.

Speaking from personal experience, I really encourage you to carve out time for God every single day, and then watch how all of a sudden you’re miraculously able to do so much more than you used to. How now you have time for so much more than you did before.

We serve a supernatural God who is capable of redeeming any time lost. And the best part about all of this is that He wants to do this for you. His will is not for you to be overwhelmed with all that life is throwing at you; instead, His will is for you to be surrendered and at peace knowing that He is with you through all of it.

Tip #2: Do NOT neglect your home

Your space is often a reflection of your mind. At least I have found this to be true in my own life. When my mind is going crazy, and my thoughts are all jumbled and overwhelming me, my home oftentimes looks chaotic as well. And the chaos in my home only adds to the chaos in my head. So, clean your home and keep it that way. This doesn’t mean you have to deep clean everything every single day or even week. But rather, just make sure everything has a place, and once a day, spend 10 minutes cleaning it up. If the laundry needs to be folded, stay up late an extra 10 minutes to fold it. If the dishwasher needed to be unloaded, wake up a little earlier and unload the dishwasher.

I had gotten into the habit of saying I’d do all of those chores later, and later would come and I’d push to the next day. And the next. And the next. Before I knew it, the dishwasher was full, the sink was full, the floor needed to be vacuumed, clothes were everywhere, and now I have to find time to clean the entire house. Whereas if I had kept up with everything, I wouldn’t have to do it all at once.

Your home is also where you go to rest, and there are so many studies out there that prove the importance of having a well-kept home and its correlation to mental health and productivity. Your space should bring you peace - not stress. So do the 10-minute tidy. Make your bed in the mornings. When the laundry is done, fold it. Fluff the pillow, put the makeup away. Take care of your home. Make it one less thing you have to worry about, so you have space for the other things going on in your life.

Tip #3: Calendars & To-do Lists

I know this sounds obvious, but if it's not written down, there's a good chance I'll forget it.

My calendar is honestly one of my best friends. Every meeting, appointment, deadline, event, and commitment goes into it. If someone asks me if I'm free, I don't answer from memory—I check my calendar. That alone has saved me from double-booking myself more times than I can count.

I also keep a running to-do list. Every morning, I look at everything that needs to get done and choose my top priorities for the day. Not everything has to be finished today, and I've had to learn to be okay with that. The goal isn't to cross off every single task—it's to make progress on the things that matter most.

One thing that's helped me tremendously is breaking big projects into smaller tasks. "Study for real estate" feels overwhelming. "Complete Chapter 4 and take the practice quiz" feels doable. Small wins create momentum, and momentum makes it much easier to keep going.

Getting everything out of my head and onto paper (or into my phone) frees up so much mental space. Instead of trying to remember everything, I can focus on what's right in front of me.

Tip #4: Create a Morning Routine You Actually Enjoy

Your morning doesn't have to start at 5:00 a.m. to be productive.

Social media has convinced us that successful people wake up before the sun, spend two hours at the gym, journal for 30 minutes, make a gourmet breakfast, and somehow still make it to work on time. If that's you, that's amazing. But if it isn't, that's okay too.

The point of a morning routine isn't to copy someone else's—it's to create one that helps you start your day well.

For me, that means spending time with God, working out, getting ready, making my bed, and doing a few small things that help me feel prepared for the day ahead. Some mornings are slower than others, and some mornings I'm running behind. But I've found that even 20–30 intentional minutes can completely change the tone of my day.

I also think it's important that your routine includes something you genuinely enjoy. Maybe it's sitting outside with your coffee for a few minutes, listening to your favorite podcast while you get ready, or taking a short walk before work. Giving yourself something to look forward to makes getting out of bed a little easier and reminds you that life isn't just about checking boxes.

Final Thoughts

If there's one thing this season has taught me, it's that being busy isn't the goal. Being faithful with what God has entrusted to me is.

Some seasons are naturally fuller than others, and that's okay. But we weren't created to live in a constant state of stress and survival. We were created to live with purpose, peace, and dependence on God.

I'm still learning every single day. Some days I stay on top of everything, and other days I don't. Some days my house is spotless, my to-do list is finished, and I feel like I've got it all together. Other days, the laundry sits in the dryer for two days, I don't finish everything I planned, and I have to remind myself that tomorrow is a new day.

Progress over perfection.

Wherever you are in this season, I hope these tips encourage you. And above all, I hope they remind you that you don't have to carry everything on your own. The Lord cares about every detail of your life, and He is more than able to sustain you through every busy season.