I saw it in my friend’s eyes, pregnant with her fourth baby and three others under four. I remember being there once and when I looked around accomplishing “all the things” felt impossible, but I could choose to seize the demands that only took a minute.
Dinner. I could choose to stop in the chaos, take out chicken from the freezer, put some teriyaki on it, and set it in the fridge to thaw — because it only took a minute.
Doing those small things can keep the rhythm of our days going. If it only takes a minute, do it right away.
Last week, I went to a conference and getting out of town sometimes makes you wonder if you should ever leave again. One day in between meetings, I ran home quickly throughout the day, and although there was a lot to be done, I chose to only do the things that took a minute. At the end of the night, the big mess was still there, but the laundry was switched, the dishes loaded, done, and put away. None of it had been done in hour chunks of time, as I would have liked…but in little bits over the day.
As the fall routines begin to become mundane, doing the small tasks right away will keep things in better order. Lay clothes out the night before, make lunches, or even stop to put something in your calendar rather than trying to remember it. Text the babysitter, click on some music to pour positive things into your ears, or drop to your knees quickly to pray for your kids.
When we free our eyes and mind of small pieces of clutter, tucking a few accomplishments under our belts, it frees our gaze.
If it only takes a minute, do it right away.
