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Feelings of Overwhelm

Let me know if you can relate to this story…

Nikki was a busy young lady with six young children she had to care for. She had meals to cook, laundry to do, and homeschooling lessons to plan. Despite her best efforts, she constantly felt overwhelmed and behind on her tasks. Her sole focus for the last five years was homemaking and homeschooling. And although this seemed excellent and noble, she neglected many things in her life, like her health, quiet time with the Lord, managing her finances, and even cultivating her marriage. How was she going to balance life with all her different roles and responsibilities…

The 15-Minute Rule to Balance Life

Balancing life can be challenging, regardless of whether you are a homemaker or have a career. As multifaceted beings created in the image of God (with physical, social, intellectual, and creative needs), finding time to fulfill responsibilities to our family, community, and ourselves can be a struggle. So how do you find balance in motherhood, career, and life?

The 15-minute rule is a widely known cleaning approach where if you have a task or area in your home that you’ve been avoiding, you set a timer for 15 minutes and work on it. This helps you tackle it step by step, eventually leading to a more organized space, such as a neat utility closet or a tidy office. This rule aims to break down a seemingly overwhelming task into smaller, manageable chunks.

So how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

FREE 15-minute Visual Card PRINTABLE

The 15-minute rule aligns with biblical principles of stewardship and care for our bodies as gifts from God. It helps us manage time effectively and fulfill our responsibilities to others, thus honoring God.

SIX STEPS for Real Growth

No need to wait for the perfect habits, just take a step towards something you’re struggling with, that’s all it takes! Here are some steps to help you get started…

1. LOOK AT THE CHALLENGE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO GROW.

First, please think about the concept of reframing. Reframing (great VIDEO on this topic here) challenges as opportunities to grow to involve changing one’s perspective from seeing obstacles as negative and insurmountable to recognizing them as valuable experiences that can lead to personal and professional development.

By embracing this mindset, individuals can view challenges as opportunities to learn new skills, build resilience, and become better versions of themselves. This approach requires a growth mindset (growth mindset video explained click this), an optimistic attitude, and a willingness to learn and grow from difficult experiences. Embracing challenges as opportunities for growth can lead to a more fulfilling and meaningful life and increased success in both personal and professional realms.

2. EVALUATE THE AREA(S) in your life you want to nurture and grow.

Next, it’s important to regularly reflect on areas of your life that you want to nurture and grow. This can help you establish clear goals and take meaningful steps towards personal development. Here are some common areas to consider:

Career/Work– Developing new skills, seeking new opportunities for advancement, or finding more fulfillment in your current role.
Relationships – Building strong relationships with friends, family, and romantic partners can bring joy and support to your life.
Personal Growth – Learning new things, setting and achieving personal goals, or developing a growth mindset.*
Health and Wellness – Nurturing physical, mental, and emotional health, and could include exercise, proper nutrition, stress management, and self-care practices.
Spirituality (Biblical Worldview) – Developing a closer relationship with God and understanding your purpose as His child. Nurturing your spiritual life brings peace, comfort, and guidance.
Finances – Creating a budget, saving for the future, or reducing debt.
Hobbies and Interests – Pursuing hobbies and interests can bring joy and fulfillment to your life and provide an escape from everyday stress.
Homemaking – Creating a comfortable and functional living space, managing household tasks and responsibilities, and developing homemaking skills (cooking, hosting, finances).

By regularly assessing these areas of your life and setting specific, achievable goals, you can work towards personal growth and improvement in each of them.

3. WRITE DOWN SPECIFICALLY WHAT YOU PLAN TO DO.

Furthermore, after you evaluate areas in your life that you want to improve, write down action steps using the 15-minute rule to achieve your goals.

EXAMPLE OF A SIMPLE ACTION PLAN

So if the goal is to UNDERSTAND DIFFICULT BIBLE CONCEPT, here’s what your simple plan would look like:

☐ I will purchase a book* to help with understanding biblical concepts.

☐ I will place the book on the coffee table in the living room, and grab the book instead of my phone.

☐ I will read for at least 15 minutes during the children’s quiet time.

You are more likely to follow through with your goals if you have actionable steps!

4. USE A VISUAL TIMER.

Moreover, a visual timer is a useful tool for managing time effectively and providing structure in tasks. It helps increase motivation and focus by showing the remaining time, and prevents distractions by keeping you on track. It can also benefit others involved by helping manage their time and avoiding frustration. Incorporating a visual timer leads to a more productive and efficient outcome.

✨Another homeschool mom gave me the idea to buy a LARGE VISUAL TIMER (we purchased this one) that the kids and I can see the time tick down. Seeing the time literally tick away really does motivate you to get things done!

5. TACKLE TASK WITH ATTENTION AND FOCUS.

Consequentially, it’s important to eliminate distractions as much as possible when working on a task. Put away anything that might divert your attention, such as your phone, computer, or television. You can also schedule your work when your environment is quieter, such as when your kids are taking naps or after they’ve gone to bed.

By minimizing distractions, you’ll be able to focus more fully on the task at hand and get more done in less time. This will help you progress on the areas of your life that you want to prioritize while also reducing the stress and anxiety that can come from being constantly distracted and overwhelmed.

reasons focus & attention are critical

Increased productivity: When you concentrate on one task, you are more likely to complete it efficiently and effectively, thus increasing your productivity.
Better quality of work: When you give a task your full attention, you are more likely to produce higher quality work.
Reduced stress: Multi-tasking often leads to feeling overwhelmed and stressed, whereas focusing on one task at a time can reduce stress levels and improve overall well-being.
Improved creativity: Focusing on one task can help you think more creatively and find new solutions to problems.
Better time management: When you prioritize and focus on one task, you are more likely to complete it in a timely manner, and can then move on to the next task.

Working with focus and attention helps you to be more productive, produce higher quality work, reduce stress, improve creativity, and manage your time better.

6. be consistent and patient, and there will be fruit.

Finally, consistency and patience are valuable attributes, especially when pursuing goals or working on tasks over time. It can be tempting to want instant results, but the truth is that lasting achievements often require consistent effort over an extended period.

The Bible reminds us of this in Hebrews 12:1, which says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Regular sustained effort and patience lead to steady progress and long-term success. Whether personal or professional, the fruit of your labor is a testament to the power of hard work.

Conclusion

I, Nikki, discovered the power of the 15-minute rule and saw firsthand how it improved my life. By dedicating just a small amount of time each day to tackle tasks I’d been procrastinating, I found more balance and peace in my busy life.

Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit your works to the Lord and your plans will be established.” By committing my tasks to the Lord and taking small steps towards completing them, I can trust in His plan for my life and experience the blessings of obedience.

In conclusion, a 15-minute rule is a practical tool for busy mothers, or for any person for that matter, to help balance life. It is a way to honor God by using our time wisely and being good stewards of the blessings He has given us. Try it, and see what happens!

Footnote: I utilize AI-assisted software ChatGPT to help edit this article.