Fireside Chat Ministries

By: Mandie Nelson

You know those days you have when life feels a little mundane, but you don’t really have the time – or energy! – to get out of that rut? 

Yeah, me too. 

So, I’ve assembled a list of my top seven easy little life hacks to put a little flavor into even the most “blah” kinda days. See if any of these interest you and do let me know what you end up trying!  

1. Change your location. I work from home, and I live in a small-ish apartment. So you can imagine that by about Tuesday afternoon every week, I’m ready to climb the walls. I’ve learned to break up my week, if not my day, by just changing my location! I can get the same amount of work done at a library or coffee shop as I can at my apartment, so why not refresh the scenery a bit? 

Maybe you don’t work from home, or you’re a SAHM and can’t exactly leave the kiddos at home and go for a cup of coffee. Try just taking a different route home. Or take the kids to a new park you haven’t tried before. Just changing the scenery can be so good for the soul. And studies show it helps keep our brains fresh, as we have to take in new environmental signals in unfamiliar settings. So get going and change up your setting for a bit. It’s free! 

2. Try a new recipe. There are SO many great recipes out there, and some of the yummiest new things I’ve made aren’t complicated at all. Try searching the web for “simple” or “easy” in front of the food or drink you’re interested in making. 

For instance, if hot chocolate sounds good, type “simple hot chocolate” into your search browser, and you may be surprised! I discovered the very best hot cocoa I’ve ever made that way. Turns out, it’s just cocoa powder, milk, salt, and sugar. Isn’t that crazy?? The homemade stuff doesn’t have all the yucky chemicals and preservatives in it, and you can feel good about yourself for trying something new. It won’t be long before you’re experimenting with variations, too. Soon you’ll have your own perfect concoction that you won’t know how you lived without! 

3. Clean up time! If you’re anything like me, you’d rather go to the dentist – in a snowstorm – than clean out your closets (or kitchen drawers, garage, basement, etc.), but I’ve found a way to make a game of it. I bet myself that I can round up one bag of clothes to donate before, say, my husband gets home from work. If I succeed (he’s almost always impressed!), then I treat myself. A treat doesn’t have to be extravagant…maybe it’s a piece of dark chocolate, or a self-pedicure with a pretty new polish.  

I almost always “win” when I bet myself, because I want that treat! But even if I don’t make it under the deadline, I try again the next day, or make sure I take out TWO bags the next time. The point is, I’m breaking up a giant, boring task into manageable chunks that don’t feel overwhelming. Start by setting a timer and cleaning out one area (like the dreaded kitchen junk drawer) for five minutes. If you can fill a small bag with trash in five minutes or less, you win! Time for that reward! 

4. Take a nap. Okay, moms out there…I can hear you laughing from here. But I mean it. Rest isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. Even if you’re the worst napper out there – like my best friend Tiff…she couldn’t nap if she tried! – there is value in just. taking. a. break.  

Give yourself 20 minutes. Set a timer if you need to, and explain to your family that you will be unavailable for those few short minutes (obviously, within reason…don’t leave your kiddos unattended if they’re too young to care for themselves). But you may be surprised. Older kids and other caregivers will be alright for a few minutes without you! And they can watch the littles. Go ahead and find a quiet spot and shut your eyes (set an alarm if you’re worried). You can even lie down in your car. Even if you don’t sleep, get quiet and notice your breathing. Take note of anywhere in your body that you’re holding any pain or tension and make a mental note to give your body more care in that area. Just…rest. 

5. Do a little extra self-care. I love self-care days! I don’t take those days often enough, but even if I don’t have time to take a whole day off, I can almost always find ten minutes to paint my nails or color in my journal. Again, it doesn’t have to be extravagant. Just 10-15 minutes taking extra care of yourself goes a long way in keeping life….well, fun.  

Try something silly, even! Last Christmas, I bought myself some scented silly putty. It sounds ridiculous, but if I’m having a stressful day or feel a panic attack coming on, that peppermint-scented silly putty is in my arsenal of grounding tools. There is a lot to be said for mindfulness, and self-care tops the list. Whatever makes you smile; take a few minutes and do that. You are worth it! 

6. Send an encouraging word to someone who might need it. You don’t need me to tell you that life is hard. Someone you know is probably struggling, right now. Take a minute and close your eyes. Think about alllll the people you know and love. Whose image popped into your mind? That’s the person who needs the encouragement.  

It takes less than 60 seconds to send a quick text: “I was thinking about you today.” Or, “In case no one told you today, I think you’re a rock star!” You’ll be amazed at how a kind word at the right time can make someone’s day. It may actually change their life (more on that later). And if you have a few extra minutes, pray for that person. Or send them a handwritten note. Who doesn’t love getting mail (that isn’t junk or bills)? Bonus points if you seal the envelope with a silly little sticker.😊 

7. Say a prayer of gratitude. Sometimes it’s a little too easy to look at allllll the work we have left to do or get anxious by just looking at the big stack of bills that still need to be paid. But here’s a little secret: those bills and those chores will always be there. Why not take a moment to shift our perspective?  

Having a house to clean means we have a roof over our heads and probably even a soft bed to sleep in at night. Owing money on a car loan means we have transportation to get to where we need to go each day. It’s probably climate-controlled, too, for comfort. Full laundry baskets mean we have people around us to love and care for. Life isn’t perfect…that’s for sure. But one thing I do know. We get this one life, and it goes by quicker than we can imagine. They say we take around 22,000 breaths a day. Join me in taking one or two to thank God for this beautiful, crazy, messy life we have. Someday it will be our last.  

Love,  

Mandie ❤