3 Secrets to Getting Past Overwhelmed for Catholics

Many of us can agree we feel overwhelmed. In fact we are not alone.

I have struggled with disorder and being overwhelmed myself for many years.

In all honesty, you won't find any other system that will work for you.

The main problem with it is we are struggling with this from different angles. Some of us just never learned this when growing up? Others have become overwhelmed from deaths in the family and life just moving too fast. One's way isn't necessarily yours, so don't get discouraged on that...

First thing to consider is the age of your children. IF you have all of them under 8-10 you can bet you will be overwhelmed. Increasingly so the more you have. If you train your children to help you, they can be good helpers from the time they are 5 even. Taking the time when they are very young to make cleaning a bit of fun (sing a song while folding laundry!) and you'll interest your 3-5 year old to do it all the time!

Also, consider your overall health. If you are overtired from a nursing baby, infant, or not enough sleep. You will have very little chance to feel motivated. Various health conditions all can lead us to falling behind. Things to look at are procrastination, perfectionism and adrenal fatigue, to name a few. The whole idea of being overwhelmed will just pull that motivation out of you as well....with a big groan as you look at that mess over there AGAIN!

The secret to all of this.

1. Think in terms little bits. Take a corner per day, and work on that. Put on a timer. Just 15 minutes to start at first. Later perhaps 30 minutes or two hours, whatever suits your corner and you. Clean just one corner of one room. Success builds upon success.

Then, do the opposite corner of the room the next day, then the next day, and so on..Then move to the next room. And so on..

The reason why this will work is because if your house is overwhelming this will give you a very small feeling of accomplishment each day. Don't expect more, but after a few weeks, your whole house will have been cleaned recently, which brings us to Secret Number Two:

2. Keeping it in order.

The whole idea here is to start back at the first corner now once you are done the house. And clean all over again. You'll notice the second time around it is easier. Not as many things to put away, etc...And it will go easier for you. This is upkeep. As many of us know houses don't keep themselves and so it is the upkeep even if it doesn't seem so messy, do it anyhow.

You will find there are certain areas that are worse then others, like your computer station or the kitchen drop off area. Those areas should be cleaned weekly. Just take a few minutes and pick up each Monday or Fridays to keep it in order. This takes us to scheduling and that last secret:

3. Habits: Creating a habit, will save you time and effort in the long run. Some of our most mundane tasks such as emptying the dishwasher, simply happens because it is a habit. When something becomes a habit, it removes the difficult parts of it - the decision. It's all the hundreds of decisions we have to make each day that lead us to being overwhelmed. Create a habit and see how live flows easier.

Yes, it will take time and it will take effort, but training your children and allowing yourself SMALL progress will work...WITH PRAYER!

We are so overwhelmed here you can't imagine.

What is needed is perserverance, and much prayer and patience with the progress you make....God sees all, and wishes to make a Saint out of you! Good luck!

Rita is a Catholic wife and mother of seven children. She reverted back to the faith when her oldest was making her First Communion. By then, she had completed degrees in Hairdressing and Make up artistry. She went on to receive a degree in Natural Health and another degree in Art. At age 26, Rita suffered a minor stroke. With no lasting effects, this dramatically changed her outlook on life. In 1996, Rita began 'Little Flowers Family Apostolates' to reach out to other families with her new found faith. In 1999, she wrote the bestselling, 'Immodesty; Satan's Virtue', now out of print. She was editor of 'The Catholic Health Letter' for 7 years. She has been a homeschooling mom for 20+ years, and has written for various magazines. She has been honored that families have trusted her with their questions, needs and concerns over the years. She continues to write and reach out to Catholic families with her husband, Mark and their 4 boys; through http://www.littleflowersfamilypress.com/

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