EP 201 -BRAIN FOG AND MINDFULLNESS

Welcome back Bootcampers! We hope you are doing well.  Every single one of us has on occasion dealt with the challenge of "brain fog" and struggled to do even the most simple of tasks.  Why? Pastoring is a 24/7 job and we never are fully disconnected from the weight of ministry.  Brain drain and fatigue are real, you have to be proactive and get rest. In a recent survey Pastor's said: A study conducted by Soul Shepherding, a Christian leadership training ministry, found the following: 75% of pastors report feeling extreme stress; 90% work an average of 55-75 hours per week. 90% feel fatigued each week 70% struggle with depression. 80% say their ministry has negatively impacted their marriage and family 85% have never had the opportunity to take extended time off.[1] What can a pastor do when they are just totally exhausted?  The guys break down some practical realities and then offer some solutions.  If you're tired, worn out and struggling to do the next thing, give this EP a listen. Truths We love to work-get stuff done and it feeds us (ego, drive, sense of accomplishment) We love to feel needed. Ministry is exhausting-it is never finished We were not made to work and work and work (God mandated a day of rest, for reflection and renewal)  Application Set a sane work schedule Focus your work according to your wiring. Creative Admin People Meditation/Evaluation Delegate and elevate – you cannot and are not supposed to do it all Establish a daily quitting time (of course respond to emergencies) Fellowship with Jesus (prayer, devotion, meditation)   [1] https://www.christianity.com/w....iki/church/what-shou   Don't let your lack of inspiration or knowledge keep you from getting a handle on your church web presence. Get with our great sponsor, One Eighty Digital. They have the know how and expertise to get you up and running. Let them know you are a Bootcamp listener.     JimBo Stewart: [00:00:00] Here we are back at the bootcamp. Bob, are you hope? Are you ready? I'm gonna, I gotta start over. That was not good.  TAKE 2 JimBo Stewart: Here we are, back at the bootcamp. Back at it again, Bob. I hope you're ready for the next episode, episode 201, as we move beyond the horizon of 200 episodes, up into the up upper echelons of Replanting podcast. Bob Bickford: You know, Jimbo, I, I don't know about you, but maybe I'm feeling a little groggy because the air is so thin up here with, 200 plus episodes now, and. The way you fumbled that previous intro. I'm wondering if you're gonna be okay or do we, do we just need to shut this thing down or take a break? JimBo Stewart: You know, we've got 200 episodes in. Surely there's nothing else for us to say. I think, just enjoy, enjoy the archives, guys. It's been good. I've enjoyed it. Bob Bickford: But what do we know? JimBo Stewart: What do I know? What do I know? No, let's jump in, [00:01:00] man. It's, in the heat of summer, man. Talk about mental fog and brain train. let's, let's jump into that because I think it's, that's a real thing, man. When you, when, when too many things are going on at once and there's pressure and there's, the nonstop and, you know, you've preached the last. 47 Sundays in a row and, you know, it's, it can, it can start to really overwhelm you. Bob Bickford: It Sure can. Jimbo, I and I get t