When Your To-Do List is Longer Than Your Day: Finding God in the Exhaustion

This week has been rather hectic for me, to be honest most weeks are at this point.

As I write this, my feet are throbbing. They’re sore from the long hours of standing—standing to bake, standing to sell, standing to cook and clean. I’ve been trying to balance it all: creating plans, following schedules, and crossing things off the never-ending list. But by the end of the day, I am simply EXHAUSTED. And in the midst of it all, trying to eat healthy or find energy for a workout can feel like a cruel joke.

It’s a cycle that feels like it has no end. Let me walk you through a day in my life:

* 1:30 AM:The alarm goes off. While the world sleeps, We start baking for our business, *Simply Sweet*.

* 5:30 AM - 8:30 AM: We sell our baked goods. It’s a whirlwind of smiles, service, and sales.

*  Morning Hustle: I freshen up my son—diaper change, PJs, brushing teeth, breakfast, and all the essential kissies and hugs. Then, I prep breakfast for my husband and myself. This is sometimes my first chance to sit down after hours on my feet, but it’s often short-lived.

*  The Juggling Act: Laundry & cleaning duties call. And in between, my son needs my attention, and he just wants to play. His nap time around *12 PM* is a precious window. I try to squeeze in work for *Pink Lotus Media*, finish housework, answer messages, manage socials, or just steal a moment of alone time. It feels like a breath that’s over too soon.

* Afternoon Onwards: He’s awake by *2 PM*. There’s lunch to handle, a trip to stock up on baking essentials, dinner to prep, dough to make for tomorrow, and a mountain of dishes to wash. The day finally winds down with preparing my son for bed. We sleep anywhere from *7:30 PM* if we’re lucky, to *10:00 PM* on the longer days.

It is a lot. It is overwhelming. And I know I am not alone in this feeling.

In this non-ending cycle, my own needs are often the first thing to go. The idea of a "wellness journey" can feel like a distant dream for someone with a pristine kitchen and free time. My reality is a messy, beautiful, and exhausting calling as a mother, wife, and entrepreneur.

So, where is the balance? Where is the nourishment in this?

I’ve found it doesn’t come from a perfectly executed plan.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

This is my lifeline. In the chaos, when my feet ache and my to-do list mocks me, I have to consciously stop and seek His kingdom first. It’s a whisper of a prayer while kneading dough: *“Lord, order my steps.”* It’s a silent plea for patience when I’m tired and my son needs me. It’s remembering that this work—caring for my family, building our business—is a form of worship when done with a heart for Him.

The balance doesn’t come from me perfectly managing my time, but from surrendering my time to Him. The strength for tomorrow doesn't come from enough sleep today (though that would be nice!), but from the One who “gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength” (Isaiah 40:29).

If you see yourself in this endless cycle, know this: You are not just busy; you are building. You are nurturing. You are providing. And in your exhaustion, you are not failing. You are being sustained by a God who never sleeps.

So let’s grant ourselves grace. Maybe a healthy meal today is a smoothie drunk in between tasks. Maybe a workout is dancing with your child in the living room for five minutes. And maybe true wellness, in this season, is simply falling into bed, handing God your exhaustion, and trusting Him to multiply your rest just as He did the loaves and fishes.

He sees your hustle. And He offers His rest.

Does your day feel like a non-ending cycle? How do you find moments of God’s peace in the busyness? Share your story in the comments—we can encourage each other.