Feeling overwhelmed? You’re not alone.
Here’s how to prioritize, delegate, and let go of the guilt—so your home starts feeling like a sanctuary again instead of another source of stress.
When “Losing” Still Feels Personal
I have vivid memories of sitting in a circle in my friend’s room, playing a game of Old Maid.
I remember the anxiety rising when I realized I might end up with the Old Maid card—and how upsetting it was when I did, indeed, lose a game of chance.
For those unfamiliar, Old Maid relies on random card draws. While you need to pay attention to what others are discarding, it’s still a game ruled by luck.
Now that we’re adults, we like to think we’re above getting upset by something so silly—that we can regulate our feelings when we lose a game, especially one based purely on chance like Old Maid or Candy Land. I mean, I’d have serious concerns if I saw an adult get upset over Candy Land. Monopoly, sure. But Candy Land? That would earn you permanent side-eye from me.
Even so, most of us have thrown an adult-sized fit when we lose life’s game of chance. We buy a lemon appliance. Something random breaks. We still get angry or discouraged when things don’t go our way. Sure, the stakes are higher—fires, floods, power outages, or smaller soul-sucking problems like a broken garage door—but sometimes it feels personal, almost as if the universe itself has singled us out for chaos.
You look around at the clutter, the to-do list, the sheer weight of it all… and suddenly the house feels like it’s winning, and you’re left holding that dreaded Old Maid card. (Which, by the way, what a weird concept for a game.)
Making Peace with a Mischievous Universe
I’ve been practicing making conscious decisions.
If I decide life is just too much right now and give myself permission to ignore, say, the clothes dryer, then when it finally gives up the ghost sooner than expected, I just hand over the credit card—without guilt.
I made that decision intentionally, knowing other things mattered more at the time.
That’s not failure; that’s prioritizing.
When we make peace with our choices, even the unpredictable feels less like punishment and more like participation in the messy, magical flow of life at home.
Respecting the Now & Your Future Self
Wherever you are in your home-ownership journey, take a moment to pause and ponder:
Are you willing and able to devote some time to caring for your home?
If not, are you willing to borrow from your future self and push the worry down the road?
There are legitimate reasons to do this—sickness, caring for littles, work, or just plain needing a pause.
The key is honesty: can your future self handle the deferred work?
If the answer is yes—relax. Own that choice. Find peace in it.
Then, when something breaks, you’ll be far less likely to spiral into frustration.
You Can’t (and Shouldn’t) Do It All
Here’s your permission slip: you cannot do it all.
And that’s okay.
Instead of trying to conquer every chore, spend an hour this week making a plan:
Choose your focus. Decide what you’ll maintain yourself. Use one of the many resources online to help you choose from a list—(of course, I hope you choose mine, but find the one that speaks to you).
Delegate or hire out. Identify which tasks you can realistically outsource.
Let the rest go. Accept that some things can wait.
Find Your Calm—and Keep It
Then, build a small habit: carve out a bit of time each week to learn about one task before doing it.
Watch a video, read a guide, or browse a how-to article. You don’t have to dive in right away—just start by understanding your home a little better.
It’s amazing how quickly knowledge builds confidence, and how confidence creates calm.
And when your home feels calm, you do too.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
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