Recharging Your Batteries

You know you need to re-charge your batteries when:

1. You are tired all the time
2. You have no joy or enjoyment of what you are doing
3. You loathe preparing for work/ministry/other
4. You find yourself becoming angry that you are associated with a particular activity you used to love.

Lately, I have found myself with many of these burn out symptoms. I have also seen them in Jimmy too. It is scary and un-enjoyable to experience. Yet so many ministers and minister's wives experience burn-out. It can make you feel guilty for "hating" what you do or it can leave you feeling stuck or depressed. So what do you do about it? How can you fight it? What exactly is it?

What is Burn-Out?

Burn-out is emotional and sometimes physical exhaustion related to activities you perform or participate in. I hope that is a little clearer than mud! When you are burned out you don't want to have anything to do with the activity or people causing these feelings. This is a VERY bad thing when you work in any type of ministry. So...

How to Re-Charge Your Batteries

Recovering from burn-out can take time. Don't feel guilty if you can't find a "quick fix". I have found that the longer you continue to perform while burned out, the longer it will take you to re-charge your batteries and recover. Just the same as many other problems in life, early detection is key in fighting burn-out/recovering from it. Here are some of my ideas for re-charging your batteries:

Number One: Spend time relaxing both alone and with your spouse.

It's okay to take a break. Even if you are the only two in the whole ministry. Sometimes you just have to stop. Remember that a Need doesn't necessitate a Calling. God wants you to succeed and He wants you to Enjoy the work He has called you to do and He wants you to Take Care of yourself. You can do all these things by practicing balance. It's a hard thing to do but you have to know when to say "yes" and when to say "no".

Number Two: Don't be Afraid to Ask for Help

To prevent burn-out it is important to learn how to delegate responsibilities and lead your team toward a common goal. Dividing the pressure and responsibility makes a strong support team where each person has a more bearable load. In re-charging your batteries, asking for help means bringing other people in as re-enforcements. Maybe you need to ask someone else to teach so you and your spouse can go away for the weekend. Or maybe you need someone to listen to the frustrations you are feeling. Or you might just need a shoulder to cry on. Just don't be afraid to ask for help.

Number Three: Spend Time with God

This probably should have been number one, but I honestly want to believe that you didn't forget this part so I am leaving it for last. Your relationship with God is your lifeline. If you aren't tapping into this life giving and renewing force every day, you aren't taking your Spiritual Vitamins and you aren't getting the nutrients you need. God knows what you need, when you need it, and why you need it. He is faithful to meet your needs, but you must be faithful in seeking Him and asking for His help. He is there every step of every day. Don't ignore Him. Don't forget Him. Spend time with Him. He is the author and perfecter of our faith. He is the healer of our souls and emotions. Don't forget to reap the benefits of spending time with Him!

Closing Thoughts

There is no perfect formula for re-charging your batteries after burn-out. Each person is different. What works for me probably won't work for you and vice versa. I simply wanted to give you some of the tools you will need to figure out a strategy that WILL work for you. However, I want to open this up to you....

How do You Re-Charge Your Batteries?

Please post your re-charge strategies below.