No one sets out to have a chaotic home. Given their preference, most people would choose a home that runs efficiently, with plenty of room for everyone to live in peace and harmony. Somehow, that’s not always the case. Sure, there are moments when everything has a place, and everything is in its place but then there are moments when everything seems to be in chaos. Why is that?
Life has a way of ever changing. There are seasons when life’s easy and things tend to flow and then there are times when life feels overwhelming everything feels hard. That’s usually the time our homes suffer and before long, the place we were meant to refresh and relax becomes an added source of stress.
There are plenty of reasons why your home may be in chaos, some of the typical reasons are
- Significant life changes
- Illness or injury
AND
- Overwhelm
Significant changes in life create chaos- Life is supposed to be a series of changes. Nothing ever stays the same for long. Some changes are welcome, like a new baby, while others may be unwelcome like losing a job. Whether for better or worse, changes can affect the peace in your home. When you experience a significant life change it can feel like your home takes the brunt of it. You may not have the time or energy to stay on top of things and before you know it, things feel out of control.
What to do about it- If you are experiencing a significant change in life, be kind to yourself. Consider getting some outside help if needed. Allow friends and family to support you. If you know you are going to experience an interruption, plan ahead. Making meals that freeze or scheduling someone to come and assist you with household chores, running errands, or shuttling kids can help keep your home in order.
Illnesses and injuries can disrupt peaceful homes- There’s not much worse than being ill or injured. It takes time to heal or to support someone who is healing. You may be completely unable to manage the needs of your home at the same time. That means things can fall into chaos quickly. From piles of laundry to unpaid bills, many things get put on the back burner.
What to do about it- Your health means more than your to do list. It’s ok to focus on your healing or supporting someone else while they recover. Once the acuity is over, you can tackle the laundry and the power bill. Do what must be done and modify what isn’t a top priority. Enlist family and friends whenever possible to help out. Most people want to be part of your support system when you face an illness or injury.
Overwhelm happens in and out of the home- Overwhelm is a chief reason people feel chaotic at home. Whether it’s work-related or something else, overwhelm can chip away at your peace. When you feel in over your head it’s hard to pay close attention to the efficiency of your home. Until things feel more in control, it may be hard to find peace at home. That’s normal.
What to do about it- If you are overwhelmed, it might be a good idea to take things slow. You may need to lower your standards for a time and focus on one or two small things you can do each day to keep the peace in your home. One day that could look like take out and paper plates and another day it might look like gathering for a family meal with your loved ones making deep connections.
There are a lot of reasons why homes become chaotic. For the most part, many are temporary and require small adjustments to work them out. Be kind to yourself and assess what you, your family, and your home needs to keep the peace so you can refresh and relax even when things aren’t going the way you’d like.
