There are days when everything feels like too much.
The baby’s crying, the toddler’s dragging toys across the floor, there are dishes piled high, and I haven’t even had a moment to think—let alone clean. In those moments, I don’t deep clean. I don’t declutter the whole house.
I do a reset.
Just one. Just enough to breathe again.
Here’s what my 10-minute reset looks like—and why it saves my sanity more than any planner or productivity hack ever has.
🕯 Step 1: Pick One Room. Just One.
When I’m overwhelmed, I start small. I pick one space—usually the kitchen or living room—and mentally say: this is what I’m tackling.
No multitasking. No bouncing between five different rooms. Just one space until it feels better.
🧸 Step 2: Toss Toys + Clear Visible Surfaces
If it’s the living room:
- I throw toys into bins, baskets, or even laundry hampers (whatever’s closest).
- If it’s the kitchen: I clear the counters and load the dishwasher or pile things neatly.
- I don’t overthink it—the goal is visual peace, not perfection.
Even just clearing one surface gives me momentum.
🧼 Step 3: Wipe Something Down
There’s something therapeutic about a clean surface. I grab my heated mop (yes, even for countertops) or a cloth and my go-to spray and wipe down:
- The kitchen counters
- The bathroom sink
- The coffee table
Visible cleanliness = mental clarity, especially when I can’t fix everything else.
🔒 Step 4: Shut the Door (Literally)
This sounds dramatic, but if I reset the boys’ room or the living room, I shut the door behind me when I’m done.
Even if the rest of the house is still chaos, that one clean room becomes a retreat. A small win. A deep breath.
🎧 Step 5: Audio + Attitude Shift
During my resets, I almost always put something in my ears—a podcast, a sermon, even a 3-minute encouragement clip. Something to shift my mindset while I move my hands.
Favourites include:
- Sermons by Martyn Lloyd-Jones or John Piper
- A quiet instrumental playlist
- Reformed mum podcasts for short biblical encouragement
It helps remind me that I’m not just resetting a room—I’m resetting me.
🌿 Final Thoughts
Resetting the house isn’t about impressing anyone. It’s about making room for peace—for you, your children, and the home you’re building.
10 minutes is often all I can manage. And honestly? It’s enough.
One room. One surface. One quiet moment of order in the middle of motherhood chaos.
If you’re in that space right now—overwhelmed, overstimulated, unsure where to start—try a reset. Just one.
Shut the door when you’re done. Then breathe.