The magician throws his cape as he begins his next presentation.
"And now, for my next magic trick, I will balance school, work, church, social lives, clubs, working out, and family, all while maintaining a decent sleep schedule."
I'd love to see this magic trick, maybe even learn it so that I can perform it on my own life. Sometimes I pile so many things into my life that I think it will take a little bit of magic for me to balance it all.
Yes, I am an overachiever.
I don't have a magic trick for you. Not even "Six Easy Ways to Fix Your Busy Life." Nothing is easy, and fixing your life is more than reading a list. But I do have six things for you to remember when you start to wish for a magic trick to solve the consequences of overachieving.
1. God can do everything
Look up! Past your own inadequacies stands God's complete adequacy. He is never stressed out. He can't bite off more than He can chew. He never gets weary of being God and continuing His will.
"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work with us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations for ever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:20-12)
"Being confident of this, the he who began the good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6)
2. You can't
Just because God can do everything does not mean that we can do everything. Spoiler alert: we're not God. There will be times when we won't be able to do everything. We will get tired, over-scheduled, and incapable. But God is sufficient for us even when we can't get it all done.
"Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians 3:5-6)
3. Delegate
Since we can't do it all, it makes sense to ask for help and then let others support us. What makes sense theoretically, though, becomes harder in life. To admit that we need help takes humility. The ability to task others and trust them with those tasks takes practice and courage. But it is worth it. Imagine how much better you can do the tasks you excel at if you delegate the tasks that others can do better.
4. Make a list
Lists helps you to take what replays over and over again in your brain and get it out. Write it down so you don't need to go through the list mentally throughout the day. There are apps like Todoist that help organize your lists so that you don't forget something again. (Unless, of course, you forgot to write it on the list.)
5. Take a breath
Yes, there are things to do. Yes, life is busy. But you also need to take a breath. Find something that refocuses your heart and clears your mind. Maybe it's exercise. Maybe it's reading or watching TV. Try out writing or art. Chill with friends. Take a drive. Inhale. Exhale. If you need to, put fun on your list to give it priority.
6. Persevere
Many people advise feelings of stress with Just give yourself a little rest, a little time for you. Take a break, the stress isn't worth it.
Although rest is important, it serves a purpose, and the purpose isn't rest in itself. We rest so that we can work better. We are put on the earth for a short time, and we are called to big living, even in little ways. We are called to an entire lifestyle of following Jesus
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." (Galatians 6:9-10)
To all of the overachievers out there, I don't have an easy fix for you, but I do want to remind you that God is completely sufficient for you, even in your insufficiency. Delegating, making lists, taking a break, and persevering all come together to help you when you start to feel overwhelmed. Keep up the good fight in His even better grace.
"But he [God]said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'" (2 Corinthians 12:9)
"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, for you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:58)
