Have you ever woken up in the morning, certain it is the weekend, only to discover it’s a Tuesday? If you’re like me, this discovery makes you want to pull the covers back over your head.

Do you cringe at the thought of making just one more lunch? Maybe your child won’t mind having yogurt and chips again!

Are you struggling to help your child with nightly homework? You pray your middle-schooler doesn’t have an essay due this week.

Do you daydream about escaping to a secluded island with no cellphone coverage? The inability to scroll through endless cute pet videos is a sacrifice you’d be willing to make if that means you’d never have to read another “circling back” email.

If you relate to any of these, you’re not alone.

These are very common responses when we’re overwhelmed, frustrated, or just plain tired. As I’m sure you’re well aware, parenting doesn’t always allow for you to take these much-needed respites. As a responsible parent, we’re required to find ways to push on through. You meditate, take a walk, get extra rest, call a friend to rant; you find a way because life has to go on.

This week, I want to share with you my favorite strategy for moving past resistance and instead engage resilience to help you get through those tough tasks. When I am overwhelmed or frustrated, I take a time out, a moment to refocus and center my thoughts, so I can reconnect with why I am doing all this “work” in the first place.

For example, when I realize it’s Tuesday (and not Saturday????) and I need to hop out of bed and get myself and my family out the door, I take a moment to connect with something (or someone) for whom I am grateful. I may even journal a little about it in a notebook, even if it’s just a few lines. This step helps shift my mood and perspective, providing me a boost of energy to begin the day and tackle my tasks.

How do you refocus and reset your inner compass? What activities or strategies help you dig deep when there’s not much fuel in the proverbial gas tank?

Let me know in the comments or on social media. I’d love to hear what you face on a routine basis and how you overcome challenges and excel.