Christian Homemaking Podcast - Mystie Winckler
3 Basic Planning Pieces that Beat Stress - with Clarissa Ramsey
updated
Kristi Clover is a home organization and #momlife expert. She’s also the author of M.O.M.=Master Organizer of Mayhem and Homeschool Basics, the host of the Simply Joyful Podcast, and a popular conference speaker. Her passion is to help Christian women find sanity and joy in the throes of mom life. She loves to share about her adventures in motherhood and home life through a variety of media that you can find at KristiClover.com. Kristi lives in San Diego with her husband, Steve, and their five children.
Be sure to connect with Kristi online for an extra dose of encouragement. She’s @KristiClover on most social media networks.
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Joy has some tips and a free challenge that will help you get outside with your kids with no pressure and no guilt. Find it here: naturestudyhacking.com/2023/04/25/screen-free-kids-get-outside-challenge-3
Find Joy's podcast here: naturestudyhacking.com/naturalist-kids-podcast
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Change things up in your routine and blast out of the blahs by seeing how you're winning while taking small baby steps.
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
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🏆 Enroll in Simply Convivial Continuing Education and get practical life management mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
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Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
📖 Get my latest book: How to Use a Planner Without Wasting Time
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➡️ Take the free daily card challenge and practice with me!
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Perfectionism is getting in the way of your weekly review in insidious ways. Learn how to overcome perfectionism and find a baby step weekly review that works for you.
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
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Mystie and Leisa Moulton chat about how to make chores a less-dreaded thing we have to deal with.
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Overcome perfectionism and start with baby steps as you work on organizing and planning. A 'weekly review', which is a practice to continually iterate, allows us to grasp our plans and obligations for the upcoming week.
An integral part of this process is identifying and addressing 'open loops'. Coined by David Allen, 'open loops' refer to uncertainties, obligations, or commitments in one's life that are undefined and might be causing stress or anxiety. They are the things that are on one's mind but are not being actively addressed.
The first step in tackling these open loops is by ‘brain dumping’, which involves writing down all the things that are occupying your mind. This practice helps make them specific rather than vague, reducing the feeling of overwhelm.
The next step is to focus on particular issues among these open loops, and take baby steps to address them. Essentially, regular brain dumping and reviewing of these lists in a weekly review can lead to better organization and reduction of stress.
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In this episode, Stefani discusses her struggle with balancing productivity and taking necessary breaks. She finds it challenging to pause her work because she always sees something more to be done. However, she has realized the importance of taking breaks to prevent burnout and maintain her well-being. Initially, she attempted productive breaks, such as reading, but found them ineffective. Ultimately, she started taking 10-minute midday breaks where she lays down and does nothing, helping her reset. Additionally, she has scheduled end-of-day downtime for herself to spend quality time with her family.
Main Takeaways:
Constant Productivity Can Lead to Burnout: Stefani highlights the challenge faced by many individuals, particularly those who have a high focus on productivity, in taking breaks due to the never-ending to-do list. This can lead to feeling constantly frazzled and burnt out.
Intentional Breaks are Essential for Well-being: She emphasizes the importance of intentional breaks during the day, especially ones that are truly restful and not just a change in activity. These breaks can prevent burnout, making individuals more effective in the long term.
Iterative Approach to Finding What Works: It’s important to find what kind of break works for you. Stefani iterated through different types of breaks until she found that simply doing nothing for a short period was the most beneficial. Everyone needs to experiment and adjust their break schedules according to what suits them best.
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
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Decluttering is not a one-time project but a habit, requiring regular dedication and small, manageable sessions. Giving items a designated home becomes crucial in preventing the mere shifting of clutter and instead focuses on returning objects to their rightful places. Recognizing the temporary nature of clutter allows us to embrace the ebb and flow of possessions in our actively used spaces.
The onion approach encourages tackling decluttering one layer at a time, while employing temporary homes and functional strategies aids in maintaining order. By distinguishing between decluttering and organizing, we gain clarity on the tasks at hand. Ultimately, by incorporating these metaphors into our decluttering journey, we can find traction, transform our spaces, and achieve a harmonious and productive environment.
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
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Bess is a wife, mother of 5, and grandmother of 3! She currently teaches full time at Logos School and hosts the podcast, Come Over for Dinner!, on all the ways to make hospitality practical and fun. Apart from her family, Bess’s days are lively with the bustling energy of second graders whom she teaches full-time. She jestingly remarks that she “attends second grade every day”. Her teaching journey is paired with the podcast she hosts, where she and her guests delve into the practical aspects of hospitality. From sharing favorite recipes to discussing must-have kitchen items, her podcast serves as a trove of inspiration and guidance.
The practice of hospitality is not just about inviting people over but also about serving and giving to others, including family members. True hospitality involves sacrificing personal standards of perfection for the sake of fellowship and building relationships. In unexpected or less-than-ideal situations, it is important to maintain a positive attitude, understanding that sometimes these incidents can be humorous when viewed in retrospect. Having a sense of humor, especially about one’s imperfections, is valuable in building character and maintaining a joyful spirit.
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
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Bess is a wife, mother of 5, and grandmother of 3! She currently teaches full time at Logos School and hosts the podcast, Come Over for Dinner!, on all the ways to make hospitality practical and fun. Apart from her family, Bess’s days are lively with the bustling energy of second graders whom she teaches full-time. She jestingly remarks that she “attends second grade every day”. Her teaching journey is paired with the podcast she hosts, where she and her guests delve into the practical aspects of hospitality. From sharing favorite recipes to discussing must-have kitchen items, her podcast serves as a trove of inspiration and guidance.
Bess identifies perfectionism as a common hurdle that many women face. This paralyzing mindset, which dictates that if something can’t be executed flawlessly it shouldn’t be undertaken at all, can be stifling. Bess is no stranger to this challenge. She admits that her natural inclination is toward perfectionism, wanting things to be ‘just so’. She's a planner by nature. Through personal experience, she shares insights on how to overcome this hindrance. One of the most profound pieces of advice Bess offers is to view oneself as a character in God’s story. Citing the author N.D. Wilson, she encourages individuals to see themselves as part of a larger narrative. This perspective can be transformative.
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
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Dallas Nachtigall is an artist by training, a wife and a mom of three. As she researched homeschooling, she was thrilled to learn that art education, drawing, and nature journaling could be integral pieces of her kids' education.
So, at age 28, she picked up where her academic life had ended after college. She now teaches homeschool families around the globe drawing and art skills through video courses, podcasting, and in-person workshops. She loves the continuing challenge of self-education and the freedom to teach and work at home.
You can find her at bestowingthebrush.com where she also has free art and growth mindset resources.
Dallas Nachtigall discusses time management and attitude management in this conversation. She emphasizes the importance of stewarding the limited time we have and mentions time boxing as a helpful method, where specific hours are dedicated to specific activities. Dallas acknowledges the need to keep returning to these habits and maintaining discipline. She also discusses the usefulness of a "brain dump" to manage her thoughts and emotions, which helps her gain clarity, work through issues, and recognize what needs to be prayed about. Recognizing the value of externalizing thoughts, she explains how it helps to reduce stress and anxiety.
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
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So, at age 28, she picked up where her academic life had ended after college. She now teaches homeschool families around the globe drawing and art skills through video courses, podcasting, and in-person workshops. She loves the continuing challenge of self-education and the freedom to teach and work at home.
You can find her at bestowingthebrush.com where she also has free art and growth mindset resources.
Managing irritation and anger is a struggle when we feel overwhelmed, and when perfectionism drives us. We have a responsibility as mothers to handle our emotions with self-control and grace, then pass that skill on to our children.
Dallas also talks about the challenges of managing time in homeschooling and other responsibilities. She shares her experience with clutter and decluttering, noting that it can be overwhelming to identify what is clutter and what needs a proper place. Dallas emphasizes that most people do not have everything figured out, and it's important to keep working and improving.
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Unfortunately, many women, especially Christian women, struggle with home management, motherhood, and figuring out what they ought to be doing. There is a lack of direction and instruction in the Christian world today for women who want to be faithful to Christ in their homes. The gospel touches and transforms our whole lives, bringing us into greater conformity with God's revealed will.
Both men and women have the duty to love God with all their hearts, minds, and strength. Both have the call and ability to know God more deeply and personally through prayer, Scripture, and corporate worship. The fruit of the Spirit applies equally to both men and women, but the opportunities and expression of that fruit will be different. God made men and women different by nature and gives them different roles so that we better image the glory and complexity of God Himself.
The Bible has much to say about the duties of women, with one passage giving us a comprehensive glimpse of our job description: Titus 2:3-5. God makes it clear that real kingdom work is done through families in homes. Women are not to stay home in order to keep small. Instead, God tells women to cultivate a fruitful life from their own home base because they are the cultivators of beauty and glory and the home is the best place to build beauty and glory.
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The rise of social media has been a double-edged sword for many of us. On the one hand, it's never been easier to keep in touch with friends and family from all around the world, but on the other hand, social media can also have some significant negative effects on our mental and emotional health, as well as our relationships. This is especially true for homeschooling moms, who may find themselves constantly comparing their own lives to the seemingly perfect lives of others on platforms like Instagram.
The problem with Instagram, in particular, is that it works as a comparison machine. When we scroll through our feed, we're bombarded with images of other people's lives, which our minds then evaluate and analyze. If the photo seems acceptable, our minds register it as good, which can then lead to feelings of obligation. For example, if we see a picture of someone's perfectly organized kitchen, we may feel like we should be doing more to improve our own living spaces.
The images we see on Instagram can also shape our conception of normal, which can be a good thing when it comes to passing down cultural practices from one generation to the next. However, in the world of social media, our perception of what's normal is more shaped by what other people choose to post online than by interpersonal interactions in physical social contexts.
For homeschooling moms, the constant exposure to images of other people's homeschooling experiences can be especially problematic. We may find ourselves constantly comparing our own homeschooling practices to those of others, which can lead to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. Additionally, we may start to view our own lives through the lens of Instagram, constantly thinking about what's "Instagrammable" and how we can document our own experiences to make them look better on social media.
To avoid these negative effects, it's important for homeschooling moms to be mindful of their social media usage. Try going a week without looking at or posting on Facebook or Instagram, and see if you notice any unhealthy patterns of relating that you didn't even realize were happening. Remember, Instagram is just a highlight reel of someone's life, and it's not a true reflection of what life is really like. So, take a step back, and focus on what really matters - building meaningful relationships with your family and creating a fulfilling homeschooling experience for yourself and your children.
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Katie Westenberg, a Christian author and speaker, shares her perspective on how to deal with overwhelming situations. Our capacity for dealing with stress can change throughout our lives and is dependent on our circumstances. We need to be aware enough to diagnose whether the problem is spiritual or physical and seek God's guidance in both areas. She suggests that if the problem is physical, practical changes can help. However, if the problem is spiritual, we need to focus on our relationship with God and examine our faith. Katie suggests connecting with other women for help during tough seasons.
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Laney Homan is a wife of 25 years and mother to eight children ages 6 to 23, and works from home as the member success manager for Your Morning Basket. She homeschools her five youngest kids who are elementary through high-school aged, and knows what it feels like to have a lot to keep track of. Some of her favorite things are reading and visiting her local coffee shop. And today she joins us with words of encouragement for the Mom who feels scattered and overwhelmed.
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
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When I was a young mom and homemaker, I read blogs and books on keeping house better. I didn’t love housework, but I did want to do a good job. I wanted to be a good housewife, a good homemaker.
I would try to do the cleaning routines promoted by bloggers. I copied lists and plans from magazines. I asked friends who had clean houses how they did it.
But having a clean house just seemed like one of those things that was not going to happen for me. I would go in fits and spurts, but no routines or consistent level of cleanliness ever stuck.
The only thing I was master of was the boom and bust cycle: Go on a cleaning frenzy, make a ton of progress all in a day, collapse exhausted from the effort, and wake up sad the next day that the work all had to be done again.
What I know now, nearly twenty years later, is that I was missing two things: 1) an unconscious preference for neatness and 2) an understanding of the nature of cleaning.
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
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As moms we can easily feel scattered, like all the different responsibilities we have are pulling us in different directions, and like there’s never enough time to get it all done. Homeschool moms especially can struggle with this because they have the all the schooling duties in addition keeping the home running.
When we aim for completion rather than faithfulness we can get sucked down into resenting the work in front of us. The room you just cleaned needs cleaned again, and the laundry will never be forever done. Changing our goal to being faithful in our work rather than being done with our work is such a helpful shift.
Laney Homan is a wife of 25 years and mother to eight children ages 6 to 23, and works from home as the member success manager for Your Morning Basket. She homeschools her five youngest kids who are elementary through high-school aged, and knows what it feels like to have a lot to keep track of. Some of her favorite things are reading and visiting her local coffee shop. And today she joins us with words of encouragement for the Mom who feels scattered and overwhelmed.
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During this FREE workshop, we'll discuss:
What keeps us on social media
How social media affects our real life and normal days
How to get the benefits without the drama and downsides
Whether or not getting off social media is right for you
Books mentioned:
Amusing Ourselves to Death: amzn.to/3lg38LN
Irreversible Damage: amzn.to/42kMqvp
Terms of Service: amzn.to/3yIbizN
Digital Minimalism: amzn.to/3YTjjwe
A World Without Email: amzn.to/3YNOMjv
12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You: amzn.to/3Fqi5BK
Mystie is a homeschool mom of 5 with two graduated sons and 3 still being educated at home. She and her husband have been happily married almost 22 years and recently relocated to Idaho. She hosts a blog and several podcasts for Christian homemakers and classical homeschoolers: Simply Convivial, Simplified Organization, and Scholé Sisters.
Although she'd been off Facebook for 10 years, Instagram was still a favorite outlet until 2020. Between the algorithm manipulation, political correctness bullies, and unconstructive non-conversations, she got fed up with Instagram and decided to prove it wasn't necessary, even for a blogger and podcaster. Now that she's been off for 3 years, she realizes that posting and scrolling changed the way she interacted with her real life and she's hooked on being free of the machine.
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
📖 Get my latest book: How to Use a Planner Without Wasting Time
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➡️ Take the free daily card challenge and practice with me!
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Is social media actually social? We think of social media as a connector, but is it delivering on that promise? Or is it simply redefining what we mean when we say and think social and connection?
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
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The feeling of overwhelm is just an emotion, and we can choose to acknowledge our circumstances, but not be overcome by them.
God knows what he’s giving you. He knows your frame, he knows your circumstances. Relying on the Lord really is the only solution.
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
📖 Get my latest book: How to Use a Planner Without Wasting Time
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➡️ Take the free daily card challenge and practice with me!
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🏆 Enroll in Simply Convivial Continuing Education and get practical life management mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
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Housework isn't drudge work.
Cleaning is what we try to do as little as possible, not because we're managing our time well but just because we don't like it.
We wish someone else would clean our house. We wish there was a system that would make housework take little to no effort.
It's no wonder that, stuck in a bad attitude about cleaning the house, we never get any traction in keeping it clean.
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
Build and practice home routines that work for your family.
Learn to smile while you do them, so you are satisfied by your efforts. Housework doesn't have to be tedious.
We can enjoy keeping our household running.
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The laundry isn't supposed to be finished - so don't be surprised when there's more in the hamper after you've spent all day shoveling out of Mt. Launder-Most.
Housework isn't drudge work.
We think of cleaning the house as mundane.
Cleaning is what we try to do as little as possible, not because we're managing our time well but just because we don't like it.
We wish someone else would clean our house. We wish there was a system that would make housework take little to no effort.
It's no wonder that, stuck in a bad attitude about cleaning the house, we never get any traction in keeping it clean.
I bet I’m not the only one who has stood in the middle of the house, staring. Everywhere I looked, there was a task screaming for my attention. Every room needed to be decluttered, cleaned, and organized. It felt like there wasn’t a single thing that was the way it was supposed to be.
The to-do is so long, it’s impossible to know where to start. And that’s just the written to-do list. The mental to-do list, kept in my head, was even longer. It left me feeling a sense of impending doom. There was no such thing as catching up. I had zero chance of even knowing, much less doing, all the things I ought to be doing.
If you find yourself in a similar place, where you have multiple responsibilities, all with many duties, many tasks, some urgent, some important, many unlisted and possibly unknown, so that you feel overwhelmed by life, there is hope.
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
📖 Get my latest book: How to Use a Planner Without Wasting Time
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➡️ Take the free daily card challenge and practice with me!
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🏆 Enroll in Simply Convivial Continuing Education and get practical life management mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
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Sarah is a mom of six and grandmother of four. She lives in beautiful New England and is in her 27th year of homeschooling. She is passionate about books, decorating, hospitality, strong coffee and BBC drama. She blogs at Joyfilleddays.com where she talks about all aspects of Christian living.
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
📖 Get my latest book: How to Use a Planner Without Wasting Time
amzn.to/3CcRzuy
➡️ Take the free daily card challenge and practice with me!
simplyconvivial.info/todo-list
🏆 Enroll in Simply Convivial Continuing Education and get practical life management mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm
February is the Declutter Challenge month inside Simply Convivial Continuing Education! Come do Ten Minute Transformations with us all month and get a sticker prize pack at the end of the month! Enroll today: simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm
Duster I used: amzn.to/40odk4I (it's on sale now!)
Pomodoro Timer I use: ticktick.com/r?c=5u8jqfr9
You don't have to feel overwhelmed by normal family life at home. You can be calm, confident, and competent. All you have to do is organize your attitude first, not your closets.
📖 Get my latest book: How to Use a Planner Without Wasting Time
amzn.to/3CcRzuy
➡️ Take the free daily card challenge and practice with me!
simplyconvivial.info/todo-list
🏆 Enroll in Simply Convivial Continuing Education and get practical life management mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm
The best thing to declutter is other people's stuff, right?!
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
📖 Get my latest book: How to Use a Planner Without Wasting Time
amzn.to/3CcRzuy
➡️ Take the free daily card challenge and practice with me!
simplyconvivial.info/todo-list
🏆 Enroll in Simply Convivial Continuing Education and get practical life management mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm
Ashley didn't realize how distractible she was until the details of life started piling on with motherhood. She shares her journey to walk in faithfulness despite herself in today's episode.
Ashley is a former English teacher, and current homeschool Mom of three elementary age kids. She shares about her favorite Biblically-based, Charlotte Mason inspired homeschool resources and tips on her YouTube channel Joyful Noise Learning. Ashley loves to make people laugh and to inspire others to live from the joy of Jesus among the noise in life and homeschooling.
Ashley's channel: youtube.com/@JoyfulNoiseLiving/featured
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
📖 Get my latest book: How to Use a Planner Without Wasting Time
amzn.to/3CcRzuy
➡️ Take the free daily card challenge and practice with me!
simplyconvivial.info/todo-list
🏆 Enroll in Simply Convivial Continuing Education and get practical life management mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm
Questions tackled:
Katherine: How do I find time that doesn't seem to exist for cleaning when cooking, homeschooling, and managing all of the special needs always loom larger?
Lydia: Feeling discouraged when I clean and then it’s dirty again 5 minutes later … all the time…
Elizabeth: How do you keep up with homemaking during early pregnancy?
Missy: How do I delegate chores to the children without overwhelming them?
Ricki: How do I build a pause into my day?
Pamela: Why do I unconsciously resist the routines that would make life easier?
🏆 Enroll in Simply Convivial Continuing Education and get practical life management mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm
Simply Convivial equips women to cheerfully manage family life, even when things don’t go as planned.
Conquer home chaos, to-do list overwhelm, and personal discouragement so you can joyfully serve God in all your callings.
📖 Get my latest book: How to Use a Planner Without Wasting Time
amzn.to/3CcRzuy
➡️ Take the free daily card challenge and practice with me!
simplyconvivial.info/todo-list
📖 Get my latest book: How to Use a Planner Without Wasting Time
amzn.to/3CcRzuy
➡️ Take the free daily card challenge and practice with me!
simplyconvivial.info/todo-list
🏆 Enroll in Simply Convivial Continuing Education and get practical life management mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm
Ashley didn't realize how distractible she was until the details of life started piling on with motherhood. She shares her journey to walk in faithfulness despite herself in today's episode.
Ashley is a former English teacher, and current homeschool Mom of three elementary age kids. She shares about her favorite Biblically-based, Charlotte Mason inspired homeschool resources and tips on her YouTube channel Joyful Noise Learning. Ashley loves to make people laugh and to inspire others to live from the joy of Jesus among the noise in life and homeschooling.
Ashley's channel: youtube.com/@JoyfulNoiseLiving/featured
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
📖 Get my latest book: How to Use a Planner Without Wasting Time
amzn.to/3CcRzuy
➡️ Take the free daily card challenge and practice with me!
simplyconvivial.info/todo-list
🏆 Enroll in Simply Convivial Continuing Education and get practical life management mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm
We all feel distracted and scattered at times. But that doesn't stop the work from piling up. We need to have some solid strategies for digging in and making progress.
Today's Simply Convivial episode has 5 tips to stay on task at home -
5 ways you can turn on productive mode and get things done even when you're easily distracted and scattered.
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
📖 Get my latest book: How to Use a Planner Without Wasting Time
amzn.to/3CcRzuy
➡️ Take the free daily card challenge and practice with me!
simplyconvivial.info/todo-list
🏆 Enroll in Simply Convivial Continuing Education and get practical life management mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm
Will a new system, a new planner, a new chore chart make it all better? Nope. But there is something that will. Or, rather, Someone who will.
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
📖 Get my latest book: How to Use a Planner Without Wasting Time
amzn.to/3CcRzuy
➡️ Take the free daily card challenge and practice with me!
simplyconvivial.info/todo-list
🏆 Enroll in Simply Convivial Continuing Education and get practical life management mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm
The best antidote to perfectionism is to pray. Being in prayer is fruitful and most necessary to our spiritual walk and fighting sin in our lives. We should be thanking God for everything we have been given, and asking him to make us aware of our sinful desires.
So ask God for grace, ask to be reminded of his perfection, ask for an increased awareness of his holiness and ask that God’s goodness and faithfulness would be manifest in your home even when things are not perfect. God delights to answer these prayers.
Bethany Barendregt is wife to Alex and mama to their five kids ages 6-14. She works from home as founder/creative director for Women Encouraged and hosts their podcast, and occasionally helps as a substitute teacher at her kids’ Classical Christian school. She currently serves at her local church in women’s ministry, planning and leading Bible studies and keeping women connected in God’s word through various means. Bethany is passionate about Bible literacy and enjoys writing and speaking to share hope for everyday life, but she would love nothing more than to sit down for a cup of coffee with you and talk about how the gospel changes everything.
Find Bethany online:
http://bethanybarendregt.com
instagram.com/bethanyjbarendregt
women-encouraged.com
instagram.com/womenencouraged
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
📖 Get my latest book: How to Use a Planner Without Wasting Time
amzn.to/3CcRzuy
➡️ Take the free daily card challenge and practice with me!
simplyconvivial.info/todo-list
🏆 Enroll in Simply Convivial Continuing Education and get practical life management mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm
White presents a defense of the Trinity for the layman, but a competent, interested layman. His goal is not egghead precision, but doxology - You cannot rightly love God if you do not know God as He has revealed Himself. It is also a defense for those who love Scripture and are perhaps uncertain about a concept whose name is not found in Scripture.
White not only defends the doctrine of the Trinity from Scripture and from early church history (showing it was not a later development), he explains why having a shorthand name for complex doctrines is useful and necessary.
What struck me about the book is that about half the book is actually on the deity of Christ. White goes to great lengths parsing John 1 and other passages to refute Christological heresy and confusion. His intended audience is Christians, yet he saw the need was primarily to make plain that Jesus is both fully God and fully man.
I most appreciated his point that difference in function is not inferiority. To say there's a distinction is not saying there's inferiority. Somehow this blows modern categories. Equality is not sameness. Distinctions between equals is possible and is even glorious. If we understood the unity in diversity within God Himself, we'd be poised to understand unity in diversity and glory in difference between male and female, who together image God.
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
📖 Get my book: The Convivial Homeschool: Gospel Encouragement for Keeping Your Sanity While Living and Learning Alongside Your Kids
amzn.to/3w4ZKFj
➡️ Take the free daily card challenge and practice with me!
simplyconvivial.info/todo-list
🏆 Enroll in Simply Convivial Continuing Education and get practical life management mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm
Sometimes our housekeeping routines are hard to manage because we don't even know what kind of a project it is.
How many times have you sat at the table with your calendar and a notebook, listing out what needs to be done, looking at the lay of your week, and determining what should happen when?
You create a plan to get all the housework done on a consistent basis so nothing ever gets out of hand.
The first week, you work your plan. It seems to work – mostly – except that it takes more time than you thought. That’s ok. You know that if you stick with it for a few more weeks, not only will it not take you as long, but you’ll also gain the upper hand in your home and eventually things will be mostly clean, most of the time.
There’s only one problem.
You don’t stick with it for a few more weeks.
Here's why it's so hard to make and keep a set of routines consistently.
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
📖 Get my latest book: How to Use a Planner Without Wasting Time
amzn.to/3CcRzuy
➡️ Take the free daily card challenge and practice with me!
simplyconvivial.info/todo-list
🏆 Enroll in Simply Convivial Continuing Education and get practical life management mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm
Sometimes our desire to do well at our vocations turns into a desire for perfectionism which leaves us discouraged and defeated. Bethany gives us the truth straight: perfectionism is idolatry we must repent of and replace with worship of our Creator. You're not going to do yourself any favors if you cling to idols. Perfectionism leads us into pride and a critical spirit and all manner of other sins. It is not the same thing as a high standard or a love of excellence - both of which must remain submitted to God's Word.
Bethany Barendregt is wife to Alex and mama to their five kids ages 6-14. She works from home as founder/creative director for Women Encouraged and hosts their podcast, and occasionally helps as a substitute teacher at her kids’ Classical Christian school. She currently serves at her local church in women’s ministry, planning and leading Bible studies and keeping women connected in God’s word through various means. Bethany is passionate about Bible literacy and enjoys writing and speaking to share hope for everyday life, but she would love nothing more than to sit down for a cup of coffee with you and talk about how the gospel changes everything.
Find Bethany online:
http://bethanybarendregt.com
instagram.com/bethanyjbarendregt
women-encouraged.com
instagram.com/womenencouraged
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
📖 Get my latest book: How to Use a Planner Without Wasting Time
amzn.to/3CcRzuy
➡️ Take the free daily card challenge and practice with me!
simplyconvivial.info/todo-list
🏆 Enroll in Simply Convivial Continuing Education and get practical life management mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm
It is not unusual to make progress for 2-3 weeks in January on those big goals and then peter out. By the end of February, it might have been weeks since you thought about those goals.
No worries – after all, there’s still most of the year ahead, right? You can pick those goals back up when X is over.
That kind of thinking is what got you to this place where you haven’t thought about your goals at all for 2-3 weeks.
How are we going to stay consistent with our goals with an on-again, off-again pattern? That’s not consistency and it’s not motivating.
To stay consistent with goals we don’t need more motivation and we don’t need more grit. Instead, sticking with your goals comes from attention and awareness.
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
📖 Get my latest book: How to Use a Planner Without Wasting Time
amzn.to/3CcRzuy
➡️ Take the free daily card challenge and practice with me!
simplyconvivial.info/todo-list
🏆 Enroll in Simply Convivial Continuing Education and get practical life management mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm
Karen continues her story of battling and overcoming depression as a homeschooling farm-wife mom.
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
📖 Get my latest book: How to Use a Planner Without Wasting Time
amzn.to/3CcRzuy
➡️ Take the free daily card challenge and practice with me!
simplyconvivial.info/todo-list
🏆 Enroll in Simply Convivial Continuing Education and get practical life management mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm
simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm
Decluttering the stuff is really the least important kind of decluttering we can do. With more time at home around our families that will become evident. We might think that our problem is that everyone has too much stuff and if we just solved the stuff problem, then we’d get along, then we’d not be irritable, then life would be good.
The first thing we actually need to declutter is our attitude. Yes, I like to say we need to organize our attitude, but decluttering is often the first step in getting organized – with attitudes as well as stuff. And we can take a similar process, as well.
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
📖 Get my latest book: How to Use a Planner Without Wasting Time
amzn.to/3CcRzuy
➡️ Take the free daily card challenge and practice with me!
simplyconvivial.info/todo-list
🏆 Enroll in Simply Convivial Continuing Education and get practical life management mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm
This video is a collection of clips from our Simplified Organization Community Coaching Kickoff workshop on December 29.
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
📖 Get my latest book: How to Use a Planner Without Wasting Time
amzn.to/3CcRzuy
➡️ Take the free daily card challenge and practice with me!
simplyconvivial.info/todo-list
🏆 Enroll in Simply Convivial Continuing Education and get practical life management mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm
Karen tells her story about falling into depression, how it affected her, and how she finally began recovering.
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
📖 Get my latest book: How to Use a Planner Without Wasting Time
amzn.to/3CcRzuy
➡️ Take the free daily card challenge and practice with me!
simplyconvivial.info/todo-list
🏆 Enroll in Simply Convivial Continuing Education and get practical life management mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm
Gemma was nervous to ask her husband what he thought of her homemaking and the state of their house, but when she got over her fear and asked a simple question, she was stunned and encouraged at his response.
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
📖 Get my latest book: How to Use a Planner Without Wasting Time
amzn.to/3CcRzuy
➡️ Take the free daily card challenge and practice with me!
simplyconvivial.info/todo-list
🏆 Enroll in Simply Convivial Continuing Education and get practical life management mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm
The messes are an opportunity to live out the gospel. When we do more, there will be more mess and more sin. That means there's more repentance and restoration - which is only possible at all because Christ came in the flesh and paid the price for our mess and sin.
Walk through this 4 step process with Mystie on reevaluating your attitude about the extra of Christmas so you can be the festive atmosphere of your home and make Christmas a glorious celebration that causes your family to be a shining gospel light.
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
📖 Get my latest book: How to Use a Planner Without Wasting Time
amzn.to/3CcRzuy
➡️ Take the free daily card challenge and practice with me!
simplyconvivial.info/todo-list
🏆 Enroll in Simply Convivial Continuing Education and get practical life management mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm
If a messy house stresses you out and you're not looking forward to the day after Christmas, come to the followup, part 2, of this workshop on Monday, December 19: crowdcast.io/e/make-christmas-festive/2
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
📖 Get my latest book: How to Use a Planner Without Wasting Time
amzn.to/3CcRzuy
➡️ Take the free daily card challenge and practice with me!
simplyconvivial.info/todo-list
🏆 Enroll in Simply Convivial Continuing Education and get practical life management mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm
Gracie is a west coast California girl transplanted to the wheat fields of the Midwest. She loves her God-given callings of daughter of the King of kings, wife to her husband, Stephen, and mother and teacher to their eight children. Some of her greatest joys are time spent home educating her children, a good family read aloud, toddler antics, and a hot cup of British-style black tea!
Before Gracie joined Simply Convivial, she felt chronic overwhelm and discouragement in addition to stress from trying to keep up but not having the tools or mindset to properly approach family home life.
Gracie needed a sense of control and a set of skills, and she found those through the Simplified Organization courses.
She learned that when implementing new practices in any area of life, it's hard to see our own growth. Growth is slow. It's not overnight. It's hard to notice where we've grown. So it's helpful when we can get outside input. Gracie would ask her husband because she knew he has seen her grow through this process.
Gracie said: "Simplified Organization is not just self-help. There's a lot of self-help out there where you just kind of grab what you want. But the way you've structured Simply Convivial and the community coaching program is always reminding of of what God wants for us and what He calls us to."
Women are the backbone of society, so we must be free from cultural lies & personal guilt and have the freedom of good habits and self-control so we can build God-honoring families and communities.
📖 Get my latest book: How to Use a Planner Without Wasting Time
amzn.to/3CcRzuy
➡️ Take the free daily card challenge and practice with me!
simplyconvivial.info/todo-list
🏆 Enroll in Simply Convivial Continuing Education and get practical life management mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm


