Tea Towels Rescued My Sanity and My Life

Tea towels rescued my sanity and my life. I went from overwhelm to order, all because of some ancient routines and weekly rhythms hand-stitched into sack cloth.

In the Beginning

Ages ago, when I was initially setting up house for the first time, I struggled with all the things required of a “good housewife”. I was finishing up my senior year of college (I went back to school at 23) and balancing design projects on top of keeping a house clean and making gourmet meals (hahaha) just about did me in.

In my newlywed, adult life, I quickly realized that keeping an entire house clean by yourself was a daunting task (and there weren’t any children yet!). I began to scour books and websites for anything that would help me get and stay on track and without feeling overwhelmed. Little did I know, I was my own worst enemy in this department. My expectations were perfection, which we all know is a lie. I was trying to be the very best at all the things, instead of being the very best me.

FLYlady

I initially found The Slob Sisters. Their book was more entertaining with a few nuggets of truth tossed in, but nothing fit really meshed with me. Something felt off. That led me to FLY Lady. Her perky personality and no-nonsense approach was appealing, albeit still a bit overwhelming with all the routines and checklists and reminders. I had index cards out the wazoo for daily, weekly, monthly, and quarterly tasks. It allowed me to envision an ideal for how I wanted my house to run and the steps needed to make it happen, beginning with her mantra – Finally Loving Yourself (FLY). I was hyper-organized, but I knew I needed something different.

Days of the Week

I needed my life and my routines simplified. Enter the Days of the Week. Yep, just like you’ve seen on tea towels in your great-grandmother’s kitchen. I began to wonder if I could set up a weekly rhythm versus a laundry list (pun intended) of endless household chores. So, I started with the weekly rhythms from long ago, stitched into those tea towels. The rhythms that were essential to life, that allowed for an intentional structure and flow.

• Mondays – Laundry
• Tuesdays – Ironing
• Wednesdays – Mending
• Thursdays – Market/Shopping
• Fridays – Cleaning
• Saturdays – Baking
• Sundays – Rest

Then I adjusted them to my life, with a few adaptations over the years, especially as kids entered the scene. My weekly rhythm ended up looking something like this:

• Mondays – Laundry
• Tuesdays – Desk (planning, budgeting, etc)
• Wednesdays – Master Bedroom/Bathroom
• Thursdays – Errands
• Fridays – Kids’ bedrooms/bathroom
• Saturdays – Outside/Family Day
• Sundays – REST

Daily, I straightened the den, the schoolroom and cleaned the kitchen thoroughly before bed. Was I tired? Um, heck yes, but it all worked like a well-oiled machine, plus I had built-in time for myself each day. Notice the bold and capitalized REST! I could focus on the theme for that day and let go of any guilt about the rest of the house because I knew there was time set aside to focus on the areas that needed my time and attention.

I had index cards in a cute file box for monthly tasks (organizing, seasonal decor, etc), quarterly endeavors, and annual reminders. It really worked. But at some point, in the midst of a divorce, going back into the workplace, and rediscovering myself, all that went by the wayside. There was simply too much going on inside my head to keep up with it all. The cards felt demanding and superficial. Why bother?

Tea Towels Save the Day

I needed a reboot. Those trusty tea towels were my saving grace. I began to focus on one small area a day, something that would have an impact without draining me mentally or physically. Then I allowed myself to give that task my full attention and intention. Was it laundry? I took time and care and did it well; put my soul into it. I hand washed dishes versus letting the dirty ones pile up in the dishwasher. And over the years, I’ve learned that all the cards and routines and checklists don’t add up to a beautiful house or a welcoming home, if the people inside aren’t happy and at peace. What really matters at the end of the day is this question, that I still ask myself when I begin to feel overwhelmed:

Is my home serving me and those I love or am I a slave to my home?

Because while I long for a Southern Living inspired house, what I really want is a gracious and cozy home. Full of our personalities. Full of love and grace. And that grace extends to me, too.

New Rhythms

These days, my weekly home rhythm is simplified. Gone are the full days of cleaning, replaced by a simple framework that allows for flexibility and spontaneity. Now that my kids are pretty much out of the house, I’ve moved from a manager’s schedule to a maker’s; focusing more on setting aside blocks of time for creativity and less on plowing through a seemingly endless list of to-dos.

One major change I’ve made in the past few months was to switch my REST day to the beginning of my week, versus the end. It’s a small, but intentional, shift. I look ahead at my week and choose where to put my energy. I pour into myself and make sure my spirit, my mind, and my body are rest and well-fed before I pour into others. I’m not perfect with it, but I’m getting better!

Your turn

No matter what your daily life requires, routines and rhythms greatly impact how we manage the time and the resources we’ve been given. Do your routines and rhythms work for you? Does your week flow or does it feel like you’re endlessly running on empty and flitting from one thing to the next? Maybe it’s time to reevaluate your schedule. Maybe a thoughtful and intentional weekly rhythm would allow for some much-needed rest, some creativity, some fun!

I’d love to know what routines and rhythms are working for you. Do you prefer checklists or does the thought of blocked time sound like more your speed? Want some books on routines and rhythms? Check out the Bookshelf. Have you signed up for our FREE library exclusive to subscribers? I’m constantly adding resources to help you Cultivate Extraordinary. I’d love to have you join us!