The Tired Catholic’s Toolbox (Part 1: Staying Connected)
Have you ever felt like you don’t have enough energy to “properly” practice your faith?
Like there’s a right way to do this, and somehow you’re missing it?
This episode was inspired by a listener who asked that exact question—and the more I sat with it, the more I realized this isn’t something we can rush through.
Because this isn’t just about prayer routines.
This is about how we actually live our faith in the middle of ordinary, busy, exhausting life.
And at the center of all of it is something simple we can lose sight of when we’re tired and trying to do things well:
You’re not trying to master a system.
You’re learning how to love a person.
In this first part of a new series, we’re starting at the beginning—the spiritual equivalent of walking into the gym for the first time.
No overload. No unrealistic expectations. Just a steady way to stay connected to God right where you are.
• Why the desire to “do it right” is actually a sign of grace
• The difference between the Church’s baseline (the precepts) and a growing relationship with God
• Why trying to do everything at once usually leads to burnout
• How to approach your spiritual life like strength training
• What to focus on when you feel spiritually tired or stretched thin
Start your day by giving it to God before anything else takes over.
“O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day
for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart,
in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world,
in reparation for my sins,
for the intentions of all my relatives and friends,
and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father.”
“Lord, everything today is Yours.”
A small but powerful way to return to trust throughout the day:
“Jesus, I surrender myself to You, take care of everything.”
3. Redirect Your Inner Dialogue
You’re already thinking all day long—start bringing God into those thoughts.
• Jesus
• The Blessed Mother
• Your guardian angel
• A saint who understands your situation
It doesn’t have to sound formal. It just has to be real.
If you want to build a habit, attach it to something you’re already doing.
Morning coffee works really well 😉
• Put a prayer on your coffee mug
• Stick it on your bathroom mirror
• Keep it somewhere you’ll actually see it
This week, keep it simple:
• Start your day with a Morning Offering
• Begin redirecting your inner conversations toward God
Start doing the reps. Build the habit. Get your footing.
Next episode: Standing at the Cross (Holy Week special)
Then we’ll come back and continue building the toolbox… and start adding a little more weight to the bar.
I love hearing from you guys—your questions are literally shaping this podcast.
If something in this episode resonated with you, or you have a topic you want to hear about, reach out:
📲 Instagram: @choppinwoodpod
📘 Facebook: Choppin’ Wood Podcast
📧 Email:
[email protected]And if this episode encouraged you, share it with a friend, leave a review, and make sure you’re following along so you don’t miss what’s next.
✨ Come for the chaos. Stay for the sanctification.
🪓 Until next time… keep choppin’ wood.
Links to Catholic shop I mentioned in today's podcast:
Little Rose Shop: https://thelittleroseshop.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorRZXzK5dPPfxD4i1nIyU86PVsHwzuhV220Ukp3xUViZMilCJz3
Just Love Prints: https://justloveprints.com/
