Women Who Do Too Much: How to Stop Doing It All and Start Enjoying Your Life

by Patricia Sprinkle

Help and encouragement in this revised edition for overwhelmed women who desire to know what God created them to do and how to accomplish it.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help

194 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Aka Patricia Houck Sprinkle.

When I met and married Bob, he looked over our budget and demanded, "Why don’t you write a mystery to pay for all the ones you buy?" I immediately knew I wanted to put a body in a building where I’d once worked. However, being over-endowed with the Protestant ethic, I wrote "important" things first and only wrote the mystery in my spare time, so my first mystery, Murder at Markham (reissued by Silver Dagger in 2001), took thirteen years to complete. It took even longer for me to learn that any writing which gives me pleasure is important, whether fiction or non-fiction.

Since 1988 I have written twenty mysteries, four novels, and five non-fiction books. I am grateful to my readers and editors for letting me do what I enjoy most in the world. Bob has concluded that writing is not a profession, it's an obsession--my favorite vacation is to go to a place where somebody else fixes my meals and where I can write more than I do at home, without interruptions. Thanks, if you are one of the readers who keeps my fingers on the keys. I enjoy spending time with you at conferences, book clubs, and signing events.

Reviews

[Natasha]

I appreciated how practical this book was, but it was often so practical, it sometimes left God behind. I would say, read this book, take the practical applications, but instead of focusing on what YOU want for your life, first ask God, what he wants for your life and then use the practical in the book to help you focus on God's response. I suppose you can only say, "pray over your decisions" so much, but as someone who has a tendency to put "to-do" lists above God's plan and being flexible about how he might change my plan for the day, I thought it could have merited repeating a bit more.

If you are a very structured person, the writing style here is definitely for you. If you take this book as a tool to help you organize what God is asking of you, you'll find it very helpful. Just don't forget the God's gift of grace to you does not mean getting caught up in "to-dos" and that Holy Spirit is the one who empowers -- not your own will.

[Brenda]

I was genuinely intrigued by this title and the promise of addressing female burnout, especially since I’ve navigated it myself and am currently writing my own book on the subject. I went in expecting to find practical, cognitive strategies and actionable exercises to help manage overwhelm.
Instead, I found that the author's primary solution relies on surrendering your burdens to the wise hands of God.
While I deeply respect that a faith-based approach brings comfort to many, it isn't the practical framework I was looking for, nor is it a universal solution for burnout.

If faith is already a guiding force in your veins, you may find this book incredibly uplifting. However, if you are looking for secular, psychological, or cognitive tools to stop "doing too much," this is not the right read for you.

[Inika Williams]

The content was refreshing and inspirational—encouraging readers to lead a meaningful life orchestrated by God. I mostly appreciated how the author combats the common perception that we are supposed to work ourselves to the bone with little regard to our dreams, goals, and calling. Rather, the author countered this by offering practical advice on how to lead a life of intention and purpose. I loved the book from the beginning to the very end.

[J S]

I read this book in the 1992 edition. Cant comment on updated edition. For Christian women busy with family, juggling various commitments it covers a little on boundaries, co dependence, comitting our ways & days to Jesus. Ideal if you have habits of rescuing or people pleasing or enmeshment or co dependency, finding it hard to say No pleasantly. Advice on seeking Jesus input into what should have priority.

[Tiffany Dickinson]

This book helped me to see some of the things I do out of guilt (created by me) and control (trying to control others). The chapter on forgiveness was especially helpful. I recommend this for any Christian (man or woman) and those who are seeking.

[Bethany Stiles]

Pretty good book

[Lisa Birch]

I'm not sure about this book.

Firstly, it is definitely a Christian self help book. I didn't realise this when I picked up a copy at the library, and while I don't have a problem with Christian books, I felt this book was marketed as secular when it really wasn't. I also didn't like the way the book was about taking a break from doing everything, but also started with 'but if you don't do the workbook questions, don't bother' (well, close enough to it).

I did gain a lot of interesting insight into things, like examples of when to say no, and when to say yes, and of the idea that the more you take on, the more others will expect you to do. It was timely advice.

[Dawn Muir-Frost]

I had trouble getting through this book and almost put it down a few times because I so strongly disagreed with the author's assumptions, particularly about the workplace, financial information, and the parents relationship to their children. I felt that while the author was trying to provide good tips on time management, her style definitely did not appeal to me. I have had much better success with other time management books.

[Andrea Vollmar]

Literally changed my life. And that's not a phrase I use flippantly. As someone who has always been too busy to spend time on things that are important to me, I gained some very valuable Christian insights and truths from this book that completely changed my mindset on this whole issue. I am going to start weaving its truths into my life tapestry starting NOW. I highly recommend this to all Christian women!

[Darcy]

The beginning is slow. I found the book to be full of ideas & tips. Even though some of them I've heard of before, she presented it in a new way.

One quote that spoke to me on pg 36. "Just think: The very traits you are trying to change in somebody may be what God will eventually use in their lives to build up the kingdom! Don't get in the way.

[Cindy]

I read it for a book group at my church. I didn't get anything remarkable out of it. It was an easy read. Maybe if I were busier? The book group was fun, though.

[Serap]

Wonderful!