Progress Over Perfection: Doing it all
[I write in general terms, and my statements are generalized. There will always, without a doubt, be exceptions, and I truly acknowledge that. I write based on life experience, skills, and knowledge, and I genuinely hope that you can relate and enjoy reading. — Erin]
Opening
For many years, I have consistently struggled with being able to do it all. Let me define “all” as being a wife, a mother, a college student, a cook, a maid, a laundry service, a school event coordinator, the neighborhood kids’ carpool driver, a babysitter, a sleepover host, the soccer, volleyball, and basketball mom, the drama club, band, Taekwondo, and chess club mom, the church member, the community volunteer, and the professional full-time career woman.
Yes, I did it all—but not gracefully, not perfectly, and not all on my own—and that is OK.
These are my 10 best suggestions to help you when trying to do it all.
1. Keep an Ongoing List
Most of the time, I felt extremely stressed. I wished for more help and was always trying to find ways to maximize my time. The most important thing I found that really helped was writing a list every morning.
The list was always long, and I never got everything done, but I got a lot done. Whatever I didn’t finish simply went on the next day’s list.
As a perfectionist who wanted everything done all the time, I had to start acknowledging that progress mattered—even when things weren’t perfect and everything wasn’t finished. Getting something done is better than getting nothing done.
I used to feel like the entire house had to be cleaned at once, and that it was pointless to do a few things if I didn’t have time to do everything. But I learned to see cleaning the floors, organizing cabinets, or cleaning out a closet as progress. If I could clean the bathroom on Tuesday night after work, it was a win.
2. Declutter Your Life
Consider decluttering your home, car, office, and life. I have found it to be true that the less stuff I have around, the less I have to tend to.
I am a firm believer in decluttering twice a year—once right before the holidays and once during the summer. It doesn’t matter when you choose to declutter; these times simply worked best for me because they were seasons when more items were coming into our home in the form of holiday and birthday gifts. Decluttering created room.
It is easier to maintain your life when you don’t have to spend hours digging through and sorting things before you can clean or organize.
3. Laundry Assistance
I utilized a local laundry drop-off service. At times when my children were playing sports and involved in many after-school and church activities, our household of four generated around 15 loads of laundry per week.
I know it sounds like a massive amount of laundry—and it was.
I found a local service where I could drop off the laundry and pick it up the following day. It was a tremendous help. Most drop-off laundry services charge by the pound and are not that expensive, especially if laundry products are included.
If you’re looking to be cost-conscious, wash your towels at home (since they weigh the most) and send clothing out to be done. It is so nice to pick up fresh, folded laundry that you didn’t have to do—it saves so much time.
4. Consider a Cleaning Service or Assigning Chores
I would have loved to use a cleaning service for years, but living in rural areas often meant services weren’t available. I always suggest using a cleaning service if you can afford it and find one that is reputable.
If you’re worried about cost, consider bi-weekly or monthly service instead of weekly service, where someone handles the deep cleaning. That is what takes the most time.
If a cleaning service isn’t available, consider assigning chores to family members. Like me or not, my kids grew up doing chores. They helped me tremendously over the years, and we never would have gotten through our busiest seasons without them.
I was always glad to pay for their help as well. They learned valuable life skills and have grown up to be excellent stewards of their own homes. They also learned how to earn money, that it wasn’t always easy, and that sometimes it took time. They learned to be money-conscious and manage their funds.
5. Pay for a Full-Service Car Wash
Those who stay busy often spend a lot of time in their vehicles and seldom have time to clean them.
I found a full-service car wash that was affordable and fast. Before that, I always assumed they were expensive and out of reach. Many require no appointments, so you can go when it’s convenient, and most offer monthly memberships to help reduce costs.
6. Maximize Your Lunch Break
It’s amazing how much you can accomplish during a one-hour lunch break. One reason is that you are typically alone and can focus without distractions.
Most people can eat a light lunch in under 10 minutes. You can use the remaining time to make phone calls, meal plan, order groceries, read a chapter for a college class, run to the bank, and more.
Learn what is near your workplace—dry cleaners, banks, shipping stores—and find ways to utilize them during lunch.
7. Consider a Lawn Care Service
If your finances allow, consider a lawn care service. Even on a small lot, I can easily spend two to three hours per week mowing, trimming, edging, and blowing leaves. Even more time is required when weeding, fertilizing, or pruning.
Although lawn care is seasonal, hiring help can ease your schedule significantly. There is something refreshing about pulling into a driveway with a nicely groomed yard at the end of a long day.
Coming home to an overgrown yard and poorly maintained landscaping can decrease your mood and create feelings of overwhelm.
If cost is a concern, consider bi-weekly service and share maintenance responsibilities. If you can’t afford to outsource everything, maybe you can free up half of it.
8. Network with Other Busy Working Women
I connected with other busy working moms, and we supported one another. We shared carpool duties and took turns transporting kids to sports and after-school events.
I also connected with other working moms at church to help coordinate transportation to youth events and services.
9. Look for Family, Friends, and Neighbors Who Can Help
While you may feel like you are imposing, there may be people around you who would be glad to help.
Perhaps you have a retired or widowed family member or neighbor who is lonely and looking for something meaningful to do. Asking for assistance can give them a sense of purpose.
Maybe someone nearby would enjoy babysitting or helping with carpool. Perhaps you have a single, divorced, or college-aged friend or family member who would like to earn extra money by cleaning, doing laundry, tending the yard, or running errands.
Be sure to communicate with your spouse or partner about your needs and discuss where they are willing to contribute. I have found the most success when I allow them to choose what they want to take on rather than delegating tasks. Choosing allows them to feel valued and in control.
10. Always Give Praise
Always give praise and thanks to everyone who helps you while you are trying to do it all. People need to feel valued and appreciated; otherwise, they may lose motivation.
Most importantly, give praise and grace to yourself for what you are accomplishing. Don’t be too hard on yourself for what isn’t getting done.
The main goal is to keep making progress and moving forward each day. Even accomplishing one thing per day is an achievement.
If you never start, you won’t get anywhere.
Listen to your body. If you feel stressed, rest. Take a nap, have a good cry, schedule a self-care day, or take a day off. It is OK. Trying to do it all can take a physical and mental toll.
We don’t need to be perfect—we just need to keep progressing.
Closing Comments
Committing to making progress each day—even in small ways—can make a significant difference over time.
You don’t have to be perfect. You just need to be organized and consistent to make an impact.
Celebrate your small wins and remember: progress over perfection.
You can do it all—in your own way.
