Today, I ran into a neighbor at the post office and asked how she was doing. She shared how her mother-in-law had recently moved in due to poor health, adding to the already busy routine of running her kids to swimming lessons and soccer practice. As a result, her home had fallen into disarray. She looked defeated, as if there simply weren’t enough hours in the day to keep up with
everything.
I could see the stress on her face, and I knew exactly how she felt. Life has a way of piling on, especially when we have so many competing priorities.
"I get
it," I told her. "You have so much on your plate, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed. But maybe there are small changes you can make to take a little control back."
We talked about a few ideas that might help her feel more in command of her time and space, even with all the demands she's managing. Here are some of the tips I
shared:
1. Delegate Where Possible: Enlist the help of family members, even young kids, with age-appropriate tasks. Assign simple chores like folding laundry, picking up toys, or helping set the table. Sometimes, just sharing the load a bit can make things feel more manageable.
2. Create a Cleaning Routine: Rather than trying to do everything at once, break cleaning down into small, daily tasks. Spend just 10-15 minutes on one area each day. For example, Mondays can be for tidying the living room, Tuesdays for the bathroom, and so on. This routine keeps things manageable without overwhelming
you.
3. Hire Help if Possible: With her mother-in-law’s care and the kids’ activities, maybe hiring someone to clean once a week or every two weeks could take a weight off her shoulders. Even occasional help, like hiring someone to do a deep clean every few months, could be a huge relief.
4. Set Up Command Stations: Have one spot near the door as a ‘launch pad’ for each family member. Hang hooks for coats, place baskets for shoes, and organize backpacks and sports gear so everything is ready to go in the morning rush. This way, getting out the door with the kids isn’t as stressful, and it keeps clutter from piling up. 5. Carve Out a Daily 'Pause': It may feel impossible, but try setting aside even five minutes for yourself. Maybe it's a cup of tea once the kids are in bed, or five minutes of quiet before everyone wakes up. Use this time to take a deep breath, enjoy a small moment of peace, and recharge.
These are just a few ideas that could help her start feeling more in control. Sometimes, the smallest shifts can make the biggest difference.
