How Lazy Mom Month Gifts You Restorative Rest

I hereby declare the month of January as Lazy Mom Month. You, dear Mother, have put so much time and energy creating magical memories over the past few months. Now you get a break. This is your time to drink in the restorative rest of Lazy Mom Month.

You have cooked and planned, shopped and celebrated. You tied dainty bows on gifts, and delivered plates of cookies to your neighbors. Pouring yourself out for the sake of your family and friends, you offered a beautiful sacrifice. Now it time to rest, and absolutely not feel guilty about it!

While I treasure serving my family through the holidays, I likewise cherish Lazy Mom Month. A few years ago I realized that as I ran out of steam over the Holidays, I simultaneously grew in bitterness. Everyone else was resting except ME! Now, knowing I get a rest in January, helps me fully attend to family throughout the Holiday Season.

I know lots of your friends will be racing on a new Peloton in the basement, setting their alarm earlier, or committing to a bullet journal. But we aren’t going to be doing that just yet. (Unless this serves your rest, then by all means go ahead and do it!) We have given so much this past year, and especially the past two months, so let’s use the first two weeks of January to re-fill our tanks, and open the gift of restorative rest.

What To Do Next

This is going to look different for everyone, so I need you to set a Lazy Mom standard for yourself. Let me give you some examples from my own life:

1. With less social commitments, and fewer demands from my family, my schedule opens up a bit. Therefore I use some of this extra time to take long walks. Nature feeds our souls, and exercise feeds our body. So take the time to fill up in the beauty of creation.
2. Because I prepared so much food over the past two months, I need a break. I still cook, because my family would wither away if I didn’t, but nothing is elaborate. Canned bean soup and bread is what is on the menu for dinner. And doubling it will help it last longer. At other times I’ve done a month of boxed meals, such as Hello Fresh. Whichever you choose, less prep work is my goal.
3. I choose to be a bit more lavish with my time. When given a choice between completing two loads of laundry and reading a book, I choose the book. Necessary demands of home life still need to be completed, but some days those demands will wait.
4. As you probably know, I spend a lot of time talking about and preparing Bible Studies. I’m not quite sure how I got to this place, but I now begin the first few weeks of the New Year in prayer and journaling. Whether I’m outside on my extra January walks, or beginning the day in the early morning hours, I spend less time studying God’s word and more time in prayer. I review the last year and talk with God about what is ahead. With the roller coaster of ups and downs throughout the year, this time of prayer helps level the ground. I remind myself of the specific ways God cared for me over the past year, and this helps launch me into the next year with solid footing.

However you choose to structure your Lazy Mom Month, let it all serve to fill up of your Mom tank. Mothering is a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week job. This will not change. And, believe me, it is so worth it! Yet, consider this as your permission slip to soak up Lazy Mom Month for the purpose of restorative rest.

You are doing a wonderful job, Momma! Happy New Year, dear one!

(Let me know how you are framing your Lazy Mom Month. I would love to know what you think! You can also connect with me on Facebook or Instagram.)