Great advice in here, Meredith. I am one who feels perpetually 'behind' in things, and I have already accepted that piece about the laundry that will never be all done (dirty laundry storage hacks, anyone?!) Much of what you say in here echoes what my therapist often tells me. I tend to look at everything at once, so of course I'm overwhelmed. "One hurdle at a time," she tells me. Just focus on one thing at a time. And then, dealing with the inner critic who just never lets up...
Thanks for sharing about the Epiphany blessing sign my son made. I didn't even know those were a 'thing' until he gave it to me on Christmas day. (We typically just write with chalk above the door.) It was such a surprise blessing! Hope you and your family have a Merry and blessed Christmastide!
Thank you so much Melisa! I'm sure we will, as long as I can keep my grips on "one thing at a time." Still very much enjoying our new Christmas toys! The ornaments and the measurement sign were gorgeous, too!
My house is also in tatters after Christmas and truly 20 mins (interrupted multiple times of course) is the only way we are going to get our lives together around here. Thanks for the encouragement!!
I will slowly start to put Christmas decorations away after Epiphany and usually finish around Candlemas. We got home around the 4th week of Advent, so I need my decorations up longer. The bonus of an artificial tree is that it can stay up without becoming a fire hazard at any point.
I agree on the whole 20 minutes thing. That is how I get most of my writing done.
Yes with the writing! It can feel so intimidating just to start anything... usually I start with a pen-and-paper notebook thing and then transfer the notes, which can sometimes take a good chunk of the twenty minutes anyway so feels like progress haha
Going to apply this to my bathroom! I have no problem cleaning the kids bathroom, but for some reason I have it in my mind that my bathroom will take hours to clean. So I ignore it. Eeek.
I get it! The bathroom we use is hidden away, whereas the kids' is the one that any guests will use so it ends up getting more attention just because of that... but I deserve a twenty minute effort, too!
Yes! It's been kind of encouraging to keep this in my back pocket while I walk past some task I'm not going to do right then (I bet that would take twenty minutes, etc.)
I NEEDED this. I’m still trying to wrangle goals/hopes for this year with what is actually doable/setting myself up for success and I really like this mentality. Also just nice to know I’m not the only one who struggles to do the things/feels overwhelmed and unable to start.
💖💖💖💖 I think it's also hard to remember that all of the tasks you do to take care of your little people but didn't necessarily write down also took a whole bunch of "twenty mintueses" -- it would not be an exaggeration to say I live in a constant state of overwhelm hahaha
No kidding. And it’s so hard to describe to others who don’t know/aren’t there with you that, in fact, a lot “got done” that day even when there are no physical signs (other than a catastrophic mess) that that is the case. And 100% get the “constant state of overwhelm)
Thank you for this. Working on some thoughts for the new year, and just started a header title "The Good of 20 Minutes," and brainstorming some good 20 minute tasks, inspired this post.
Your post reminded me of this one from my friend, Jen.
Did this tonight to clean the kitchen! Thanks so much. Taking this with me into my days emerging from fourth trimester with my third. We’re doing it, I tell myself! (It being life)
You're doing it! Yes, one little thing at a time! You are doing about a thousand other things that aren't getting any kind of "tracking." Hang in there.
Maybe I'll use it to clean the kitchen today, because, apparently, it has to be 20 minutes more than just once 😅
Thank you!!! Yes you too! So many things not tracked. I chuckle back to myself as a FTM who tracked every feed by the minute (it helped at the time but I truly haven’t even considered it once this time). Among all the other life things!
ALSO i have to tell you, i just did a 20 min timer of laundry folding and I do think there’s something special about the 20 minute amount. Longer than 15 min so enough to actually get a good chunk done. And feels productive as wel as freeing when stopping at or around the 20 min mark. Thank you again :)
(And I realize you wrote all of that in your essay I’m more just marveling at it with you!) I’m just so happy to be hanging out in the nice middle of too quick 15 minutes and the soul crushing length of a 25 min pomodoro lol
Oh wow! Just came across this essay (which I absolutely love) which led me to your page and a gasp, because you’re the author of the book that I read daily to my children! What a lovely surprise. Nice to “meet” you. We love your stories of the saints! ❤️
Hello! It's wonderful to "meet" you, too, and by extension your family! I'm so glad that you and your children are enjoying the "little blue book" as it's referred to around here. It's always so encouraging to hear that families are reading it together, that was my hope for the whole project!
For me the barrier is often simply not feeling *capable of starting*, which this method drastically helps with too! Finish that *whole* task? I couldn’t possibly do that! But just start it? I can do that!
Thank you, Victoria! I also sometimes think it's about the time I have, but I have plenty of time. I just need some way to organize it -- and, honestly, three solid rounds of "twenty minute" things is considered an extremely productive day, what with the things I need to do that I don't list out...
I was just telling my husband that the *little* house projects that take only so much time, tackling a very small area, are still so satisfying. So yeah I loved everything about this post.
For me, I need to apply it more to my own physical and spiritual care..... and.... writing. Small things add up. Any progress is better than none. But somehow I think any of those things only matter if I have, in my mind, HOURS of time. hahahahaa
Yup, with the writing... it's helpful to remember that twenty minutes that elicited 100 words only are still as good as twenty minutes that elicited more, because #habits (looking forward to more Haley writing in 2026 🎉)
Also this is my best friend I've never met or talked to (dumbell = as good as a kettlebell)
What if the tree is *about* to be gone because I need to uh, pack up the decorations so we can MOVE HOUSES.
*sets hair on fire and runs out of house, a la Denethor*
Will employ 20 minute timer ad nauseum over next 2 weeks of chaos.
a la Denethor 😅😅 (am I laughing or am I crying)
Great advice in here, Meredith. I am one who feels perpetually 'behind' in things, and I have already accepted that piece about the laundry that will never be all done (dirty laundry storage hacks, anyone?!) Much of what you say in here echoes what my therapist often tells me. I tend to look at everything at once, so of course I'm overwhelmed. "One hurdle at a time," she tells me. Just focus on one thing at a time. And then, dealing with the inner critic who just never lets up...
Thanks for sharing about the Epiphany blessing sign my son made. I didn't even know those were a 'thing' until he gave it to me on Christmas day. (We typically just write with chalk above the door.) It was such a surprise blessing! Hope you and your family have a Merry and blessed Christmastide!
Thank you so much Melisa! I'm sure we will, as long as I can keep my grips on "one thing at a time." Still very much enjoying our new Christmas toys! The ornaments and the measurement sign were gorgeous, too!
My house is also in tatters after Christmas and truly 20 mins (interrupted multiple times of course) is the only way we are going to get our lives together around here. Thanks for the encouragement!!
anytime, friend. Hang in there!
I will slowly start to put Christmas decorations away after Epiphany and usually finish around Candlemas. We got home around the 4th week of Advent, so I need my decorations up longer. The bonus of an artificial tree is that it can stay up without becoming a fire hazard at any point.
I agree on the whole 20 minutes thing. That is how I get most of my writing done.
Yes with the writing! It can feel so intimidating just to start anything... usually I start with a pen-and-paper notebook thing and then transfer the notes, which can sometimes take a good chunk of the twenty minutes anyway so feels like progress haha
Going to apply this to my bathroom! I have no problem cleaning the kids bathroom, but for some reason I have it in my mind that my bathroom will take hours to clean. So I ignore it. Eeek.
I get it! The bathroom we use is hidden away, whereas the kids' is the one that any guests will use so it ends up getting more attention just because of that... but I deserve a twenty minute effort, too!
That’s our house setup too! I’m going to tackle today after church.
This is SO true. It’s also actually amazing how many little cleaning tasks you can get done in 20 mins!!
Yes! It's been kind of encouraging to keep this in my back pocket while I walk past some task I'm not going to do right then (I bet that would take twenty minutes, etc.)
I NEEDED this. I’m still trying to wrangle goals/hopes for this year with what is actually doable/setting myself up for success and I really like this mentality. Also just nice to know I’m not the only one who struggles to do the things/feels overwhelmed and unable to start.
💖💖💖💖 I think it's also hard to remember that all of the tasks you do to take care of your little people but didn't necessarily write down also took a whole bunch of "twenty mintueses" -- it would not be an exaggeration to say I live in a constant state of overwhelm hahaha
No kidding. And it’s so hard to describe to others who don’t know/aren’t there with you that, in fact, a lot “got done” that day even when there are no physical signs (other than a catastrophic mess) that that is the case. And 100% get the “constant state of overwhelm)
Moving a mountain begins with a small stone
Thank you for this. Working on some thoughts for the new year, and just started a header title "The Good of 20 Minutes," and brainstorming some good 20 minute tasks, inspired this post.
Your post reminded me of this one from my friend, Jen.
https://jenpollockmichel.substack.com/p/post-script-october-2-2023
Amazing! I'd love to read it! And Jen's thoughts are so on point, thank you for sharing her essay!
Did this tonight to clean the kitchen! Thanks so much. Taking this with me into my days emerging from fourth trimester with my third. We’re doing it, I tell myself! (It being life)
You're doing it! Yes, one little thing at a time! You are doing about a thousand other things that aren't getting any kind of "tracking." Hang in there.
Maybe I'll use it to clean the kitchen today, because, apparently, it has to be 20 minutes more than just once 😅
Thank you!!! Yes you too! So many things not tracked. I chuckle back to myself as a FTM who tracked every feed by the minute (it helped at the time but I truly haven’t even considered it once this time). Among all the other life things!
ALSO i have to tell you, i just did a 20 min timer of laundry folding and I do think there’s something special about the 20 minute amount. Longer than 15 min so enough to actually get a good chunk done. And feels productive as wel as freeing when stopping at or around the 20 min mark. Thank you again :)
(And I realize you wrote all of that in your essay I’m more just marveling at it with you!) I’m just so happy to be hanging out in the nice middle of too quick 15 minutes and the soul crushing length of a 25 min pomodoro lol
Oh wow! Just came across this essay (which I absolutely love) which led me to your page and a gasp, because you’re the author of the book that I read daily to my children! What a lovely surprise. Nice to “meet” you. We love your stories of the saints! ❤️
Hello! It's wonderful to "meet" you, too, and by extension your family! I'm so glad that you and your children are enjoying the "little blue book" as it's referred to around here. It's always so encouraging to hear that families are reading it together, that was my hope for the whole project!
The way you talk about the 20‑minute mentality makes so much sense — sometimes the barrier isn’t lack of time, it’s just not knowing how to start.
For me the barrier is often simply not feeling *capable of starting*, which this method drastically helps with too! Finish that *whole* task? I couldn’t possibly do that! But just start it? I can do that!
Thank you, Victoria! I also sometimes think it's about the time I have, but I have plenty of time. I just need some way to organize it -- and, honestly, three solid rounds of "twenty minute" things is considered an extremely productive day, what with the things I need to do that I don't list out...
I was just telling my husband that the *little* house projects that take only so much time, tackling a very small area, are still so satisfying. So yeah I loved everything about this post.
For me, I need to apply it more to my own physical and spiritual care..... and.... writing. Small things add up. Any progress is better than none. But somehow I think any of those things only matter if I have, in my mind, HOURS of time. hahahahaa
Yup, with the writing... it's helpful to remember that twenty minutes that elicited 100 words only are still as good as twenty minutes that elicited more, because #habits (looking forward to more Haley writing in 2026 🎉)
Also this is my best friend I've never met or talked to (dumbell = as good as a kettlebell)
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=workout+with+roxanne