3 Quick Mindset Shifts for Success in Summer: from Overwhelmed to Overjoyed as a Christian Homesteading, Homeschooling Mom

These 3 quick mindset shifts come with short action steps to help you move out of feeling overwhelmed into feeling overjoyed and find success this summer as a Christian mom.

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There I sat. One week after moving and surprisingly well settled in for a family of 9 with too much stuff. I couldn’t believe how much we accomplished in a week! Yet, I couldn’t help but think of the overwhelming length of my TO-DO list..

Summer is supposed to be restful, isn’t it? Not when you homestead or suddenly have less busy children needing to stay productive. We moved at the end of May. So, the kids weren’t doing hours of school work. And, I needed to get potatoes planted, nurture all my sweet potato slips in preparation for planting, move my potted plants into the now-set-up-garden bed, figure out what else I needed to plant or buy, harvest herbs and greens that were ready. Not to mention the other things I needed to do like practice violin for an upcoming wedding, schedule rehearsals for a youth worship team, finish reading a productivity book, write and work on my blog, work on new printables…

I had a well filled-out planner listing everything that needed to be done. I felt so accomplished by filling out that planner! Until I realized it was time to actually start DOING the things on those checklists. I had no idea where to start. And before I knew it, I felt paralyzed. My motivation zapped. Completely overwhelmed and watching the clock tick.

I knew something had to change, and from experience.. I knew it was my mindset.

Hi, I’m Priscilla!

As a young, growing family facing job loss in 2013, with a toddler and a newborn baby, I wanted to learn how to grow food to supplement our rising grocery bill, but I had no experience. So, I called on my mom to help me start my first garden as cheap as possible. I remember her stewarding a small garden from time to time when I was growing up. We started one with blocks, soil, seeds, and a few starters that she helped me invest in. And that’s how I started!

Before I was a homesteading, homeschooling mom I was a professional musician and music teacher. I carried over my teaching experience into homeschooling my children, but I learned it was much different teaching your own children. And, when I started homesteading, I started with NO experience. It was something I never imagined doing. I had to do a lot of researching and learning each season. So, I know how hard it is to start homeschooling and homesteading with no experience! 

After 2020

After the events of 2020, we saw the vital need to learn to grow, raise, and store real God-given food in abundance, and continue homeschooling all of our children. We felt God had a new call and season for us. So in 2021, we left everything behind, and moved from northwest Indiana to southern Georgia. And we just got started!

How we can help you

Now, I’ve homeschooled for 11 years and have 6 children of homeschool age with 1 more in waiting. And, we established our homestead in 2021 with lots of research and no experience. We built up gardens and livestock and had a small farmstead business within 2 years. We stewarded a small farmstead by selling fresh eggs and healthy chickens to many happy customers! 

Also, we started taking and completing several homesteading courses by experts at the School of Traditional Skills, and we continue our education every year. And, I’m always looking for ways to make things more time efficient by making them simpler to do and sustainable. When things are simpler, they are more sustainable in our already full lives.

But, an unexpected turn of events landed us in a rental home in an HOA neighborhood while we search for land. We proved to ourselves that we could still homestead even with all the restrictions. We knew if we could do it, others could do it too! So, we started this blog and our newsletter to equip Christian families to live abundantly in their homesteads and homeschools no matter where they live and with no overwhelm or burn out. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY! We offer and affordable solutions, free printables, resources, and encouragement for your Christ-centered beginner homesteading, homeschooling journey.

3 Quick Mindset Shifts for Success in Summer: from Overwhelmed to Overjoyed

1. Shift from Complaining to Celebrating!-

Maybe that seems strange. But, I was SO focused on all that was left to do that I forgot to even take a minute to celebrate all that we got done in a week. However, we rested and rewarded ourselves Sunday afternoon with a family pool day. So in reality, it seems like we celebrated, but then I complained my way right back into overwhelm the next day because all I could think about was what was left to do. I had to intentionally stop my mind’s complaints, remind myself how much we accomplished, and speak out loud words of encouragement and celebration to my family.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world. Philippians 2:14-15

Action step: Take a minute to think about where you may be complaining in your mind or out loud. Pray and give those things to the Lord. Find at least 2 things that you’ve accomplished recently to celebrate and celebrate! Speak encouraging words to your family and yourself, get some yourself flowers, bake a dessert (or buy one), plan a fun day, etc.

2. Shift from Focusing too far in the future to now-

There are times we need to focus on the future. Where we want to end up helps us create the smaller goals that help us get there. However, when we are always focusing too far and on all that needs to get done, it can definitely overwhelm us. I realized that I was literally focusing on what needed to be done by August. August! But, I was living in the beginning of June!

No wonder why I was feeling overwhelmed. I was thinking I needed to get 2-3 months worth of tasks done now! When you start to feel overwhelmed by all you need to do, shift from focusing too far to focusing on what your priorities are right now. 

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

Action Step: What can you do right now that will make a difference or impact your family’s life in a positive way quickly? Maybe it’s continuing to unpack, prep some meals in advance, harvesting some healthy greens for a smoothie, decluttering or organizing that one stressful spot in your house, prepping breakfast the night before for a more peaceful morning, etc.

3. Shift to Focusing more on Purpose than Priorities–

Don’t get me wrong. Some of you have your priorities totally straight and never get it twisted! *wink* But, for me, sometimes I say (or write down) that my priorities are one thing (like my family), yet you’ll find me not wanting to be bothered while doing a million tasks (like chores). I cannot tell you how many times I have felt convicted at the end of my day for spending more time on the tasks that look like priorities instead of the actual priorities that have purpose. 

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

Action Step: So, what do you actually need to do in the midst of your overwhelm? Sometimes it’s not a chore or task. Maybe it’s spending time with a child, resting, taking care of you so that you can take care of others better, taking time to help your child breathe through their own overwhelm, encouraging a friend or family member, etc.

How are you really?:

We also need to be able to recognize if we are feeling paralyzed or overwhelmed because we are exhausted and actually just need rest instead of to do anything else on our TO-DO list. There are times that I hit this point of overwhelm because I simply need rest and haven’t been able to catch up on rest. It’s usually because I was not intentional to build rest into my routine for a time. This is also what I did during that one week of moving, unpacking, and accomplishment. 

I pushed so hard that I didn’t rest in the afternoons like I usually do daily. In fact, I don’t think I rested all week until that Sunday afternoon in the heat and fun of the pool day. And, with little ones that still wake in the night, some underlying health problems, and a full life, it didn’t serve me well to forget resting daily.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. James 1:5

The joy of the Lord is my strength. Nehemiah 8:10

How are you really? Be honest with yourself. And ask God to show you what you need. And do or get that thing. Repent, Rejoice, Rest, Bible study, a book to help with your goals, a good vitamin, magnesium spray.. whatever it is step out of overwhelm into peace and joy today.

Conclusion

I pray that if you are feeling overwhelmed that you think through these quick mindset shifts and that they help you get unstuck. We hope you’ve enjoyed this post. As always, we want to equip Christian families to live abundantly in their homesteads and homeschools no matter where they live and with no overwhelm or burn out. So, we try to provide simple solutions, resources, and encouragement to help you on your adventure.

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Resources for you:

• Overwhelmed in homesteading? Start with community and bite-sized lessons that you can take at your own pace with School of Traditional Skills
• Overwhelmed in homeschooling? Try our Free homeschool planner or get the FULL version with Bonus pages here
• Overwhelmed in general? Join our newsletter for encouragement and resources for your adventure in homesteading, homeschooling, homemaking, and more!