“Just Do It”, to quote an infamous advertising slogan. You may reply, “Easier said than done” in a most appropriate cliché. But that is just it: all too often we hype up a thing in our head and before we can get started, we are already discouraged by the stack of reasons opposing us.
Ok, ok, I know what you are thinking: What are you talking about, Amanda???
What I am talking about is everyone’s favorite: housework and that pesky to-do list you have hanging but have been avoiding.
Sure, all my kids are grown now, my jobs are shorter and easier than they use to be. I do still have the uphill days though. I also remember quite vividly what it was like to tackle my homemaking tasks with 4 kids, 10 and under, running about. It can be discouraging when the blocks you just put away are instantly dumped all over the floor or the sink you just cleaned out is refilled with the next meal’s evidence. It can be frustrating when you are trying to vacuum with your toddler right on your heals or you just swept and snack time crumbs leave a fresh trail. So how, exactly, to we just do it when discouragement and backtracking seem to abound? It really can be easier than you think. Let’s break it down:
Don’t shoot for perfection
Right here, right now, I am giving you permission to kick the perfectionist bug out. It is, in my opinion, the BIGGEST roadblock to “Just Do It”. I had an uncle once who was really bad about cleaning the bathroom regularly. He explained to me, in all seriousness, his reasoning was that if he couldn’t do it perfectly, he wasn’t going to waste time on it! Wow. That was an eye-opener for me, causing me to realize how it must be an inherent gene as there were many tasks I used to put off because I knew they couldn’t be done at or near perfection.
Why bother stacking puzzles at day’s end, they will just get pulled out in the morning anyway.
Why make the bed, we will just muss it up that night.
Why do the breakfast dishes, there will just be lunch dishes close behind.
Why clean the windows, there will just be fingerprints on them an hour later.
And the list could go on. You likely have a similar one. Perfectionism is such a huge discourager keeping us from enjoying little steps towards progress. So, if perfect is not preferred, what is?
Baby Steps all the way
It is amazing what a difference bit-by-bit can make when our goal isn’t perfection or finishing everything at once (the cousin of perfection) I once cleaned out my attic, which was overrun with clutter, by carving out an hour a day. Some days, when my timer went off to signal end-of-shift, it looked worse than when I started!!! The recovering perfectionist in me cringed to leave the attic in disarray in anticipation of the next day. However, after just over a week, my entire attic was organized and cleaned – it felt so good! This method did not come naturally though.
I’ve always been a work-till-you’re-done kinda gal. Between desired perfection and seeking time frames which would allow for absolute completion, most chores were once consistently pushed off. My house at that time was quite a ruckus, I’m embarrassed to say: you literally couldn’t walk 2 steps without stepping on stray paper from an art project, a book, a puzzle piece, an empty wrapper, and gasp A MOUSE!! No joke. We brought one of the kid’s friends in with us one evening and, as I flicked the light on, a mouse jumped from the mess and scurried away. I was beyond embarrassed and I knew then, something had to be done.
I stumbled onto an article about a new homemaking guru, “Flylady” was her call-sign and she revolutionized my housekeeping. She gave me permission to take baby steps and be proud of even small accomplishments. For her, it was scrubbing the sink before bed. For me, it was 15-minute “Fly-bys”, determined to at least try and do a little at various intervals throughout the day. By the end of my first 30 days of renewed ambition, you would have never guessed what a disaster my house had been. I didn’t shoot for perfection, I didn’t try to finish everything in one straight shot, I simply took baby steps, doing a little each day until we got to where we were going! Maintaining was easier after that, still not perfect, but much more possible! So, how do we make this baby step thing happen?
Just Start!
I was inspired for today’s post by a young mom I follow on Instagram. She homeschools her four, all under 10, with one more about ready to join her crew. She is dealing with A LOT right now living in a very active tornado alley, gestational issues, health issues for one of her children, trying to run her own business, etc… but she took a minute recently to pop onto socials and remind followers how simple it is to just START. She demonstrated this with the dishes, starting by putting a few away… then why not a few more… then some more… you get the idea. It is so simple and so true. Yet, as I mentioned at the beginning, we often get stuck in our own heads…
I don’t have time to put all the dishes away.
I’m too tired to get started.
I just don’t feel like it.
… and so on. When we really don’t want to do something, any excuse may manifest, legitimate or not. I have found, when I am the most tired, if I just prod myself to do one thing for a few minutes, energy often follows and I end up doing a few more things for a few more minutes!! I’ve been re-implementing this concept lately with our morning dishes. Because of my health, I cannot stand at the sink for long periods of time. However, I can do small stints. After breakfast, I challenge myself to wash the few dishes in the sink. I start by just washing our coffee mugs, then I progress to the bowls. If I still have energy, I wash the frying pan and empty the coffee grounds. I remind myself as I go, if I get it done now, there will be less to do later. I apply the same concept after lunch, choosing to at least put the clean and dry coffee cups away. With those in the cabinet, why not the bowls and pan. My drain rack is cleared and why not scrub up the few lunch dishes as well. By the time dinner rolls around, I only have whatever dishes the evening meal requires and I am never in the kitchen more than 15 minutes! (Well, cooking dinner sometimes takes longer!)
The same approach can be used for any task… tidying a corner of the living room, clear the edge of the counter, washing a load of laundry, and so on. Challenge yourself to pick up 5 things and put them where they go or to 5 minutes (set a timer if you must) and work like crazy until time is up. As you make a regular habit of just jumping in and trying a bit of something at first, the rewards will inspire and drive you to do a bit more!
One final element…
As a faithful homemaker, prayer is key. I would even argue for a daily dive into the Word of God, preferably first thing in the morning, to plant His seeds of faith, hope, and love deeply, which will fuel your prayers and your mindset throughout the day.
Don’t feel like getting a move-on, pray and ask for drive.
Don’t feel like pushing, pray and ask for perseverance.
Don’t feel like you have enough energy, pray and ask for strength.
Don’t feel optimistic or hopeful, melancholies got you down, pray and ask for comfort and peace.
Whatever you are feeling (or lacking in feeling) pray and ask for it. Read the Psalms and Proverbs for inspiration to your prayers and understanding of how God’s presence is manifested in both trial and triumph. And, when all else fails and you want to just give up because ANOTHER mess was made in the area you just cleaned or your husband didn’t notice or show appreciation for the work you got done, repeat this to yourself:
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. ~ Colossians 3:23-24 ~
I did this for many years and it made all the difference in my ambition and attitude for the work I had before me. God is not going to judge you on how clean your home is or how many things you checked off your to-do list. He will see your servant heart though, your efforts, your struggles, your small wins and big wins… He will see it all and be present with you, guide you, encourage you, hold you, and, ultimately, Scriptures say He will one day reward your faithfulness. You are not unseen, you are not alone.
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It is amazing, when we challenge ourselves to just start while taking baby steps through a task and not bogging it down with perfection or completion, how much we can actually get done! It is easy to think tidying and cleaning really don’t matter – but they do. Cleaning cuts down on germs which can lead to ailments while tidying not only makes spaces safer but also boosts mental health. Again, NOT with perfection in mind, simply progress.
Pick your most cluttered area and start there today. Challenge yourself to just 5 minutes, 2-3 times a day and keep at it for a full week. Don’t work for perfection, simply strive for progress. You can even take pictures as you go to remind yourself of where you’ve been and how far you have come along! I did that with my attic project AND I saved it on my Instagram page if you want to see for yourself!!
You got this! JUST DO IT, it is just as easy done as it is said, as long as you don’t let the nay-sayer on your shoulder talk you out of it!!
Blessings,
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