Are You Overstuffing?

“You were probably overstuffing it. That’s what causes burnout,” he explained, smiling gently as I nodded and signed the service receipt.

He was right. With seven people in this house, I’ve been known to shove dirty school uniforms and sweaty basketball jerseys and tiny pink pajamas and roughly 4,000 stray socks all into one load and press start.

Then our dryer groans under the heavy load of EVERYTHING tumbling inside.

Day in and day out.

I overstuff.

Until finally one day last week the heating element in our dryer burned out, and I’ve been hang-drying the wet clothes of seven people all around the house.

“You need smaller loads,” the repairman emphasized on his way out.

I thanked him for the reminder.

I needed it in more ways than one!!

Because haven’t I been here before?

Stuffing it all in? Trying to carry it all? Heaping on more than I can handle until suddenly my life is overflowing?

Extra days at work. Volunteer hours. A Bible study AND a book club. Yet another extracurricular activity for the kids. And “Oh, and you need me to help coach, too? Sure!”

I can tend to give too many yeses, and my To Do list grows longer.

But I just stuff it alllllllll in, attempting to do EVERYTHING at once. All while plastering a perfect smile across my face. It’s fine! I’m fine!! Everything is fine!!! I got it!!!

Until finally…

I’m in danger of burnout.

Again.

Can you relate? Maybe you do this, too. Maybe, like me, you tend to give too many yeses and stuff it all in. Attempting to do, well…EVERYTHING.

But listen, is there something we can put down today? Is there anything we can let go of? Can we stop trying to do it ALL and ask for help? Or even, dare to say NO?

It’s easy to overstuff, you guys.

Our dryers.

Our lives.

And that’s what causes burnout!

Really, we just need smaller loads.