Practical Advice

This is such helpful advice for busy mamas with so much to do at any given moment.

Does the toddler need a diaper change?

The baby to be fed?

The big kid need some help with math?

Dirty dishes screaming from the sink?

Laundry needing to be changed over?

Middle child have a spelling test to be administered?

Another child needing to be corralled to play quietly while the big kids work on their schoolwork?

Another child with a sour disposition needing a talk?

All at the same time?

Sometimes I get what I call "frozen" if I'm overwhelmed and have trouble not knowing what to do next or even avoiding something. Say, sweeping the kitchen floor. Then I put things off and feel like I'm spinning in circles, practically accomplishing nothing.

The following advice from Brandy at themarathonmom.com is for times like this:

"The marathon of motherhood is quite often an interesting dichotomy.
On one hand, you must keep the goal in mind – the finish line, so to speak.
And on the other hand, sometimes, you simply cannot allow yourself to think about the fact that this race (sometime feels like it) is all uphill, all 26.2 miles.
Are you at a place in this “race” like me, where you need to not think about how hard it is and you need to just keep running?  Assuming cruise control mode is sometimes very beneficial.  Adjusting your pace to slow and steady will allow you to keep going, to breathe a little easier, maybe take in some more of the scenery, and gear back up to run a little faster in the future.
It’s not about the speed, but about the journey, anyway. 
So, if you’re struggling on any level, whether it be a mountainous pile of laundry, never-ending dishes, a thousand soccer practices a week, or whatever it is, maybe the best advice is this:
Don’t think about it.  Just do it.  Don’t think about how big a job it is, how long it will take you, or how much it makes your back burn.  Just start.  Go.
Keep runnin’!"

It reminds me of Elizabeth Elliot's advice to "doe the next thynge":

"From an old English parsonage down by the sea

There came in the twilight a message to me;

Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven,

Hath, it seems to me, teaching from Heaven.

And on through the doors the quiet words ring

Like a low inspiration: “DOE THE NEXTE THYNGE.”

Many a questioning, many a fear,

Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.

Moment by moment, let down from Heaven,

Time, opportunity, and guidance are given.

Fear not tomorrows, child of the King,

Trust them with Jesus, doe the nexte thynge.

Do it immediately, do it with prayer;

Do it reliantly, casting all care;

Do it with reverence, tracing His hand

Who placed it before thee with earnest command.

Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,

Leave all results, doe the nexte thynge

Jesus says, “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34). 

Looking for Jesus, ever serener,

Working or suffering, be thy demeanor;

In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,

The light of His countenance be thy psalm,

Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing.

Then, as He beckons thee, doe the nexte thynge."