Special Note: This article is part of an intentional home series by Davonne Parks. To view the rest of the articles in this series, go here.

One of the worst lies we can tell ourselves is that it’s too late. For example, we waste the morning on electronics and berate ourselves for not accomplishing needed tasks, and then we turn our defeated faces back to the brightly lit screen.

But it’s not too late. As long as we have breath left in our bodies, it’s not too late to begin making good choices.

“The Lord redeems the life of His servants; none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.” Psalm 34:22, ESV

When we waste time on electronics, we can put the computer away and set our phones out of reach, then immediately get to work on a more important task. It’s not too late. Just start where you are. It’s okay to take breaks and to make imperfect progress. Regardless of how busy you are, don’t wait until the next big event, or next month or even next year. Now is the time to start.

“She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” Proverbs 31:27, ESV

Here’s how to keep a clean {enough} home even when you’re really busy:

1) Just do something.

Consider what needs attention in your home right now. Maybe it’s a load of laundry, or the dishes, or the living room. Don’t try to do all of the tasks – simply choose the one thing that is most needed in this moment.

Now, do that one thing.

Many days, you may be able to complete more than one housekeeping task, but even when you can’t accomplish more than one small thing, cleaning just a little bit each day will help a surprisingly large amount with keeping your home in decent condition.

2) Put it away, right away.

As soon as you’re done using an item, put it back where it belongs before moving on to the next thing. Simple to do. Easy to forget!

3) Don’t clean alone!

If you’re not making the messes alone, then you shouldn’t be cleaning up the messes alone! Even very small children can be trained to stack plastic cups from the dishwasher and put toys back into a toy box.

Sometimes it probably feels like it’s easier to clean the house ourselves than to have our kids help. But, it’s very important to teach our children to take care of their own things, so let’s invest time to train them on simple tasks. Doing so will also pay off big-time when they’re actually able to clean the kitchen or do laundry without help.

4) Have more than one cleaning day per week.

I used to have one big cleaning day each week. Then a friend told me her family does housework on Tuesdays and Saturdays. This caused an epiphany moment for me – cleaning up 3 days worth of mess is way easier than cleaning a solid week’s worth!

My family has been using a similar method for a few years now, with great success.

I want to encourage you to consider where you can fit an extra cleaning session in each week, too. While this may initially sound like more work, just try it for one month. If you don’t like it, you can always go back to your old routine, but then again, you might love it and become hooked on this idea like I am!

5) Buy convenience foods or cook in bulk.

Sometimes it’s worth picking up a rotisserie chicken, a frozen pizza, or a package of hot dogs to pair with a vegetable for a quick dinner.

Another thing my family did that helped us during a very busy season was to cook one huge meal on the weekend. Whether it was a pot of potato soup or chili, a crock-pot full of roast and vegetables, or several pounds of grilled chicken, having extra food in the fridge was a huge relief and time-saver throughout the rest of the week.

6) Pay someone!

While having a professional housekeeper can be a fantastic thing for some families, it’s simply not practical for others. Fortunately, there are ways to receive help that are a little easier on the budget.

For example, I paid a teenage girl to help in my home one afternoon a week when my kids were smaller. She did everything from school projects and babysitting to cooking and laundry. Once my children were old enough, I began occasionally paying them a little cash to help with extra chores.

7) Embrace Imperfection

Our houses may not always be as clean and organized as we’d like, but we are so blessed to have homes to live in, items to enjoy, dishes to eat on, clothes to wear, and people to love. And while we should be good stewards of our possessions, we also need to be okay with just doing our best even when our best is less than perfect.

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” Colossians 3:23-24, ESV

Personal Thought/Application Question: What is one improvement you will make in order to maintain a clean enough home during your current season of life?

Davonne Parks believes that your role at home is valuable and she wants to help you thrive in your environment. Click here to receive immediate access to the FREE printable library she created just for you.