little steps - pt. 2
Last month I was struck by how many of you resonated with my post about taking care of the “little things” that nag at us, especially tasks at home. Honestly, I didn’t realize what a big deal this little stuff is for so many people besides myself, so thanks for adding your voice to the conversation!
In this post, I want to offer practical next steps for those of you who like the idea of having some dedicated “hearth and home” time but have legit obstacles when it comes to finding it.
Challenges like…
Young children (and all that encompasses)
Busy jobs
Long commutes
Weariness/Physical Issues
Stacked school and/or social calendars
And then there’s the general overwhelm of “where do I even begin…?”
So let’s start there. Because beginnings are everything.
FIRST, make a down and dirty list of every household task that is nagging at you.
Items can be big - like a messy garage you can’t get your car into - or small - like that card you’ve been meaning to send, balancing the checkbook, or scheduling a doctor’s appointment you’ve been putting off.
Listing everything in one place will help you feel more organized. Which is already progress you can smile about…
SECOND, put a ★ next to items that have the biggest emotional impact for you.
This is less about the size of the task and more about how completing it will (or won’t) immediately increase your sense of order and well-being.
THIRD, match up the starred tasks with pockets of time you can carve out.
If it’s a little task, consider making a plan to complete it in the next 48 hours (if possible). If it’s a bigger job, ask yourself (and Jesus) how to find time for it.
FOURTH, celebrate the wins, no matter the size.
Yesterday I sewed a button on my shirt which means it is no longer mocking me from my chair in my bedroom and has been returned to it’s place in my closet. I didn’t need a whole day to do this (obviously), so I was able to incorporate “hearth and home” time in the midst of other things I had to tend to. It was a small thing, but still a win.
The more wins we collect, the more intentional we’ll become about tackling the things that nag at us, and carving out the time we need in a way that is honoring of the rest of what we’ve got going on in our lives.
I hope you find these practical tips helpful. If you have further questions or feedback on this topic, feel free to hit ‘reply’ and let me know your thoughts. I love to hear from you.
For TRUTH…
- Constance
