A couple of days ago, my husband came home and said, ” I don’t know what it is. Is it just that time of year or what? I feel flat!” Yes! That describes how I feel so much! The holidays are a couple of months over, the sun seems gone forever (although we have had some sunny days recently), the school year is over half over yet I’m losing steam. Sigh! How can we not only survive, but thrive these “flat” months?

Make lists

I am such a nerd at heart. I was that kid who had to study by a flashlight in the car if I had a test the next day, yet somewhere to go the night before. I am forever being that nerd as an adult by making lists and getting excited about the mundane things I accomplish.  There are days, and I am serious , where I make lists, then throw them away so no one else sees them. They look something like this. 1) Get out of bed when grumpy 3 year old awakes 2) shower 3) make breakfast for little boys that doesn’t involve pop-tarts 4) teach them something until lunch 5) lunch that doesn’t involve cookies 6) fill time until screen time 7) screen time 8) make dinner 9) stare out the window waiting for husband 10) collapse. Anyone? Just being real here. Then I toss the list and hope the next day I’m feeling more inspired.

Pray

“Pray without ceasing” is not just a cliche for me. It’s a command and a blessing written by Paul, but breathed by God. Some “flat” days it’s  a minute by minute routine to pray for grace and all the fruits of the Spirit that seem so hard. My daughter texted me today asking “Is there anything specific that I can be praying for you this week?” Wow! That was a kick in the pants that I should be praying for others without ceasing during this time. It’s hard to be upset with others if you are praying for them, so I’ve heard.

 

Resist

So, I’m probably the only one, but when I’m ‘flat’ I can fall into bad habits. These include, but are not limited to,not exercising, eating junk, not putting on my makeup and doing my hair (which seems worldly, but actually makes me feel better), being lazy homeschooling, and other things better left “untyped”. However, without remembering “I can do all things through Christ”, just forget it. These flat times I have no “willpower” of my own.

Be Creative

I have started bible journaling. I really love it, except it does involve getting out pens and markers . Living with a lot of little boys ,this can be a challenge. However, I have found that being creative in my bible is really therapeutic for the ‘flat.’ Even just reading a verse over and over and trying to imagine what my journaling would look like lifts my soul. I hope that all of you have an outlet of creativity. I’ve found it helpful!

OK, back to bed for me as it’s 4am. I just had this inspiration to write so maybe now I can sleep. I hope that any of you going through the ‘flat’ will thrive!