Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7, NLT
THE HOUSE IS A mess—again. Dishes all over the countertops, toys everywhere, papers askew, laundry piled up, and overall “I’m-so-behind-on-life” disarray. It’s depressing just looking at it all. Didn’t I just get this mess cleaned up?
When I look around at the mess, I see Mount Everest. I get stuck, I feel depressed, and I have no idea where to begin or if I even want to. I just feel so overwhelmed sometimes.
After learning about the Curse, I at least have a clearer perspective on my housework. I can see the eternal reasons for taking care of my home and family, and the immediate gratification of a well-kept home is like the frosting on the cake. But I still struggle with being overwhelmed from time to time. So, what’s a girl to do?
Here are some tips I’ve come across over the years, suggestions that have been helpful to me:
- When the house is a mess, work on only one room at a time. This little nugget of advice has helped me so much! I tend to just start cleaning, haphazardly moving from room to room, cleaning a little here and a little there. Then I started doing only one room at a time—what a difference! I stay focused on my task, and when I’m through with one room, I can look at it and see results.
- Be generous to your trash can. Throw things out! The more things I realize I don’t need and can definitely live without, the less stress I create for myself. Just let it go!
- Get rid of half the toys. I’m serious. Okay fine, maybe for you half is too much (or not enough), but the point is, your kiddos don’t need to have five thousand things. Grab the toys the kiddos don’t play with all that much (or won’t even notice that they’re gone) and either get rid of them or store them in the attic. You can always pull them out on a rainy day.
- Do the fifteen-minute thing. Professional organizer Marla Cilley (aka the FlyLady)[1] suggests putting the timer on for fifteen minutes and going to work, doing everything you can in that amount of time. Imposing a time constraint is helpful, especially to those of us who like a challenge. Turn on some Pandora radio, and you’re set!
- Just get moving! I spend so much time fretting and feeling overwhelmed that I stay stagnant, which leads me to feeling worse, and then ultimately, I give in to laziness and a “why bother?” attitude. Just get up! Force yourself to do something because as it’s been said, “Action is the antidote to despair.”
- Envision the big picture. You know that warm and comfy feeling you get when you walk into a home that is well cared for, clean, and inviting? It’s not sterile (i.e., no plastic coverings on the furniture), but tidy, warm, and peaceful. That’s the kind of home I want, and that motivates me to see the big picture instead of the piles. What’s your big picture?
- Get off the computer. This is probably the best advice I can give you. For me, the more I’m on the computer, the more depressed I get and the less I do. Shut it down, friend.
- Keep your eyes on the goal. I believe getting our work done while pushing through the tough stuff will reap eternal rewards. Your family (and even you) will be more comfortable and less stressed. Think on these outcomes as you persevere up the mountain. The view from the top will be exhilarating or, at the very least, peaceful and clean.
- Get something new for your home that brings a smile to your face. Buy or find something to put in your home that matches the vision you have for your space. Perhaps it will be something unique you nab at a yard sale this weekend, something you repurpose, or something beautiful that lifts your spirit. Whatever it is, find it, place it, and enjoy it.
READ PSALM 55:22; PROVERBS 16:3; AND 1 PETER 5:7
When we are feeling overwhelmed, what does Jesus ask us to do?
Light a candle, find a cozy spot somewhere quiet (only for ten minutes—send the kids outside, wait until nap time, or pop in a DVD), sip on your favorite beverage, close your eyes, and envision your big picture. Think about your home and what you want it to be. Do you want it to be a place of refuge? Inviting? Warm? Fun? Picture your home in all its clean and organized glory, and then burn the image into your heart and mind. Now grab a pen and write down your big picture on the lines provided (or in your journal, a separate notebook, or on a piece of paper). Ask God to help you physically create the vision for your home life.
Ask yourself what your stressors are. Can your children or husband help relieve some of that stress? For example, I taught my eight-year-old how to do laundry so she could be responsible for her clothes.
MARTHA CHALLENGETODAY, FOCUS ON YOUR BEDROOM CLOSET.
Get rid of everything you don’t use or haven’t used in two years. Let it go, friend, just let it go.
MOTHER-IN-LAW’S NOTE
If you don’t want to just get rid of everything you haven’t used in two years, play mix and match with your clothes and see if you can create outfits using some of the things you haven’t worn. Sometimes I see a bunch of clothes I haven’t worn, discard them, and then later regret getting rid of them. If you make interchangeable outfits, you can pare down your closet that way.
READERS’ TIPS
I take everything off the floor of the closet and then vacuum that space. I put last season’s shoes in a storage bin and take it to the garage. Same thing with last season’s clothes. I pitch all metal and plastic hangers, using only wooden ones. They last longer and look prettier in my opinion. Then I clear off the top shelves, dust off the shelving, and organize books, purses, photos, and random items by putting them in small storage boxes with labels. I also take this time to change out the lightbulbs. Then I Febreze the closet and voilà![2]
–Melinda Stanley
In the bathroom closet, instead of folding my towels, I roll them. They take up less space and look nicer that way.[3]
–Kristine Huber