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Being Disciplined at Home @ AVirtuousWoman.org

Being Disciplined

This post may contain affiliate links. You can read my disclosure policy here.

Self discipline is a concept that is often easier explained than it is to implement in your life. But, being disciplined as a homemaker is one thing that will make the most difference in your life and home. Today I’m talking about what being disciplined really means.

Being Disciplined at Home @ AVirtuousWoman.org

30 Days of Intentional Homemaking: Day 12

If I’m being honest with you, self discipline is something that I have struggled with most of my life. I’m a creative, go with the flow, have fun, follow my muse kind of girl. And sometimes self discipline just doesn’t line up with my personality. However, being self disciplined is so important!

I’m more disciplined in some areas of my life than others – I think that’s normal! But, I’d like to be more disciplined.

Here’s the thing about being disciplined: basically, discipline is just something you have to decide your going to do.

Being Disciplined

Self-discipline is basically doing what you know needs to be done even when you don’t really feel like it. Not everyone struggles with self-discipline or struggles in the same way.

Like I said, I’m more disciplined in some areas of my life than others. Each one of us is different and you might be disciplined in areas of your life that I need to work on and vice versa. But, being disciplined is something we can train ourselves to be better at.

Some of us love washing dishes… not me. Ha! Some of you might enjoy vacuuming or folding laundry. A lot of you probably struggle to get the laundry washed – much less folded.

Identifying areas where we could improve on being disciplined is the first step in cultivating self discipline. For instance, perhaps you realize that you have a habit of not putting away the dishes straight away, meaning you have no place to put your dirty dishes.

Or maybe you pull clothes out of the dryer and toss them on the couch… only to fold them three days later when wrinkles have set in and the dog has slept on them.

Or maybe you find yourself struggling to maintain a daily quiet time…

We all have different lives and different schedules. So, being disciplined may look a little different for you than it does for me. But a lot of habits and chores regardless of our schedule look very similar for most households.

Discipline and Chores

If you feel overwhelmed by your household and chores seem to pile up to the point where you don’t know where to begin, then you probably need to take a few moments and make a list of things you know you could improve on.

Being disciplined is often the difference between a messy house and a tidy house. For the woman who struggles to do things immediately, chores can quickly get out of hand! Believe me, I know how tempting it is to sit down and read a book {or scroll through Facebook} instead of cleaning up right away.

I also know that putting chores off does not make those chores less painful. In fact, just the opposite is true! A lot of chores are actually more painful when we don’t do them immediately.

Washing a dish that has just been dirtied only takes seconds. Washing a dish that has dried crusty food on it take a lot of elbow grease – or time soaking. Folding laundry right out of the dryer is much more pleasant and only takes few minutes but folding three loads of cold, wrinkled, stale laundry on the couch takes what feels like forever.

related: A Time to Clean 30 Day Challenge

Being disciplined at home will help you create order and peace in your home where chaos used to reign. Everyone has different levels of comfort. Some people go nuts if there is clutter around. Others seem to enjoy having all the things every where. Most of us will fall somewhere in between the two.

The Link Between Clutter and Stress

Studies have shown that clutter causes stress, can lower children’s IQ, and even cause depression. Being disciplined at home can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed when you look around your home.

The fact that clutter or a messy house can make you feel overwhelmed, stressed, and even anxious is a huge reason to cultivate self discipline to combat those feelings.

Self discipline is the opposite of procrastination. Self discipline means that even though we could wait until morning to clean the kitchen… getting it done before bed will feel so. much. better.

I feel so good about myself and my home when I see chores through until the end – just get it done! I’ve never regretted waking up to a clean kitchen or drawers filled with clean, folded laundry. But I have definitely felt the discouragement of waking up to dirty dishes in the sink.

The truth is, as women, most of the household chores ultimately fall on our shoulders. It’s up to us to either get the job done or to delegate the chores to other family members.

I know that when my house is a mess and we have visitors pop in I feel stressed. I want my home to be warm and inviting – which is not the same as magazine perfect – and welcoming to my family and guests.

I want to encourage you to spend a little time today thinking about and even writing down a few areas of your life where you could use a little more disciple. Being disciplined only happens when we set our mind to doing it. Tomorrow we’ll talk about how to cultivate good habits and become more self disciplined.

I’d love to hear about your struggles with self discipline if you have any. Let me know in the comments below!

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About Melissa Ringstaff

My name is Melissa Ringstaff and I've been blogging here at A Virtuous Woman since 2001. I'm a pastor's wife and homeschooling mom living in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains of Southeastern KY. I believe in finding freedom from perfection and living life with purpose and I want to help you do exactly that.

I'm so glad you've stopped by to visit with me. I hope we can be friends!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nycolle Woodard

    July 24, 2018 at 8:25 am

    It’s amazing that as I woke up thinking to myself - I really need to start my workout routine again that I saw your article on self-discipline. I questioned whether I was just lazy, tired or a little of both. I like the word undisciplined a lot better! Housekeeping - ughhh but clutter is truly the worse. This blog will definitely help me get started and stay motivated!! Thanks Melissa!
    Reply
    • Melissa Ringstaff

      July 26, 2018 at 8:27 am

      That's so great, Nycolle. When we feel rested it's much easier to be disciplined for sure. I've learned that I never regret getting in my workout time - ever. Even those days when I'm so tired I only do some of my usual routine. Homemaking is the same way. We'll push through together. God bless you!
      Reply
  2. Shannon

    July 24, 2018 at 11:19 am

    Hi, Melissa! I struggle with the laundry. I'm like others in the problem of washing them, drying them, then folding. Ugh... Clutter is another problem. It seems that I just move one stack to another place. When you say warm and inviting, I would like to know what you have done to make your home like this... Thank you for posting relevant information!
    Reply
    • Melissa Ringstaff

      July 26, 2018 at 8:31 am

      Hi Shannon! Those are common struggles - you are not alone for sure! I'm going to try to share more tips in the near future. In fact, today's post {up later} should help with some of that. Maybe I'll even write a dedicated post about how to make your home warm and inviting. Let me know if you have any other questions. If I remember, I'll add the link when it's live. God bless you!
      Reply
  3. Roberta

    July 24, 2018 at 12:14 pm

    This article definitely was for me but it just makes me even more anxious. I try everyday to get things done but only seem to move items from place to place. I used to not be this way when I was younger with less time then I have now. Now that I am 50, it is really discouraging to look around sometimes so basically I just sleep. I pray to God everyday that I get back in the swing of things of being a tidy woman.
    Reply
    • Melissa Ringstaff

      July 26, 2018 at 8:36 am

      Hi Roberta! I'm so sorry you are struggling. I will try to address some ideas I have for helping you be more disciplined in the near future. I do believe that reducing the amount you own will help - in other words, go ahead and have a purge of your belongings even if it seems scary. I'll talk more about this in an upcoming post but in the meantime you should check out my course, A Time to Clean: https://purpose31.teachable.com/p/a-time-to-clean-30-day-challenge. Let me know if you have any questions.
      Reply

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purposenotperfection

Freedom from perfection. 🪁
Live with purpose. ✝️
Proverbs 31 for modern women. 👱‍♀️
Wife + Mama + Homemaker + Kentucky
Life: @melissa.ringstaff

Melissa Ringstaff
Not gonna lie. 2020 was a hard year. And not just Not gonna lie. 2020 was a hard year. And not just because there was a pandemic. Our family has faced many trying times in the past but 2020 gave us some doozies.  I’m looking forward to a new year. The beginning of the new year always feels like a fresh start to me. It feels like HOPE.  But the truth is, whatever heartaches and hardships you and I were facing on Dec. 31 will most likely still be there on Jan. 1.  That’s why it’s hard to keep New Years resolutions. It’s easy to feel motivated for a few days or a couple weeks until we realize life hasn’t really changed and things are still hard.  But if we want to see real change it takes hard work and real effort. It takes showing up every day - even when it’s hard.  Whether that means working on your fractured relationships or setting healthy boundaries or cultivating self disciple... whatever that hard thing is that you need to work on ... it will only get better if you work on it.  We aren’t promised an easy life. But we are promised an “Ever Present Help in times of trouble.” Psalm 46:1  *
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#faithblogger #faithfulness #faithandfamily #bibleverseaday #christianbloggers #dailyverses #christianlife #jesuscalling #shereadstruth#proverbs31women #proverbs31life #10virtues #daughteroftheking #jesuslovesme #womenoffaith #faithquotes #proverbs31
We’re coming into the new year with all the same We’re coming into the new year with all the same problems we had in the last year. And that’s okay! Life doesn’t have to be perfect to still be amazing. Perfectionism is a joy stealer. Let’s determine to enjoy life right now in all its messiness.  I believe you can find freedom from perfection and the confidence to live your life with purpose. #purposenotperfection  #christian #Jesus #love #quotes #quoteslife #quotestoliveby #godisgood #votd #lifequotes #inspirationalquotes #life #motivationalquotes #inspiration #bible #bb #bestoftheday #happiness #wordofgod
🏠 Being a homemaker is such an important role. 🏠 Being a homemaker is such an important role. It’s a ministry to your family and all who enter your home.  But I want you to know: You don’t have to be perfect. ❤️  There’s a fine line between teaching your children to be neat and insisting on perfection. No one can meet that kind of standard and it can be detrimental to the emotional health of your family.  What we want for our homes is to provide a space that is neat and clean enough that your family and friends feel comfortable and well loved.  There is freedom in accepting the fact that you’re not perfect. Not to make excuses for slovenliness - but to give yourself grace.  It’s when we recognize our weakness that we find ourselves reaching out to Jesus to receive the power that comes only from him. As homemakers, when we can find grace for the moment when we accept His Gift.  “But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage. Ezra 9:8  Let His Grace wash over you, cleanse your weary heart. Homemaking isn’t about creating a perfect space. It’s about creating a home where loved ones feel cared for and nurtured. 
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#proverbs31 #proverbs31woman #purpose31 #10virtues #homemaking #homemakingministries #happyhomemaking #homemaking101 #cleanhome #cleanheart #fromchaostocalm #housekeeping #cleaningroutine #inspiredhome #makingahome #lovewhereyoudwell #homemaker #homebody #biblicalHomemaking #wearethehomemakers
❤️Your attitude about homemaking matters.⠀
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A homemaker by definition is someone who manages and makes a home. 🏠⠀
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But, anyone can clean and organize a home. ⠀
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☑️ Homemaking is about more than checking off the items on your to do list.⠀
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Learning how to be a homemaker means you learn how to make your home feel like haven of peace and love. You seek out ways to make your home feel inviting. You work at it.⠀
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There is no easy button for homemaking. There are easier, more efficient ways to do chores, but the chores still have to be done. If you live in a house, you will create the need for the house to be tidied every day and cleaned on a regular basis.⠀
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Having the right attitude about homemaking is the first step in learning how to be a homemaker.⠀
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The good news is, even if you’ve been struggling with your homemaking, you can always go to God and ask Him for help. ⠀
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He sees the unseen work of your hands. And He loves you very, very much. He wants to help you succeed. ⠀
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#proverbs31 #proverbs31woman #purpose31 #10virtues #homemaking #homemakingministries #happyhomemaking #homemaking101 #cleanhome #cleanheart #fromchaostocalm #housekeeping #cleaningroutine #inspiredhome #makingahome #lovewhereyoudwell #homemaker #homebody #biblicalHomemaking  #youngwife #housewife
🙏 If you’ve found it difficult to have a regu 🙏 If you’ve found it difficult to have a regular time with Jesus every day, you’re not alone. Lots of busy Christian women struggle to find time for a daily prayer and devotion time. ⠀
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But I still want to encourage you to start your day with God! ⠀
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⏰ If it’s hard to spend 30 minutes in the morning for a quiet time, I want you to remember you can still begin your day with God – even if that means saying a short prayer before your feet hit the floor in the morning.⠀
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✝️ I also want to encourage you to memorize this verse:⠀
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“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.⠀
Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.” Psalm 143:8 📖⠀
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In the morning you can recite this verse and say a prayer. It doesn’t have to take a long time. Although – if you do have time – you will be greatly blessed by spending more time in prayer and devotion.⠀
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📌 Free Printable Morning Prayer Prompts on the blog today: https://avirtuouswoman.org/morning-prayer-prompts/  #linkinbio ⠀
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🏠 As a homemaker, one of my goals is to be inte 🏠 As a homemaker, one of my goals is to be intentional with how I plan our days. I love any opportunity to create a good memories at home for my family and guests. ⠀⠀
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📌 If you're looking to make this holiday season really special, you need to be intentional. Goodness knows 2020 has had a lot of ups and downs. And maybe you feel like it's been mostly downs. ⠀⠀
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🎄 But the holiday season is a chance to focus on celebrating the life we have right now. Things don't need to be perfect for us to celebrate life right now!!⠀⠀
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☑️ Inside the pages of my Purpose 31 holiday planner, you'll find 8 weeks of planning and cleaning all laid out for you. Recipe pages, journaling pages, and more - 120 pages total. ⠀⠀
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✏️ The Purpose 31 Holiday Planner is by far one of the most popular resource I produce each year. ⠀⠀
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Thousands of women have downloaded it over the last four years I've offered it.⠀⠀
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So, even though it's early still, you can go ahead and downlaod it. Print it out and then set it up so you're ready to go.⠀⠀
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I usually take my holiday planner down to Office Depot and have them spiral bind it with a plastic cover for about $5.00. This year, though, I just bought a new 3 ring binder at Walmart, printed off extra cover pages to slip in the clear sleeve, and created a binder with it. ⠀⠀
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📌📌📌 If you use the planner this year, be sure to share and tag me in your photos! ❤️⠀  Download: https://avirtuouswoman.org/holiday-planner/ #linkinbio
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#proverbs31 #proverbs31woman #purpose31 #10virtues #homemaking #homemakingministries #happyhomemaking #homemaking101 #cleanhome #cleanheart #fromchaostocalm #housekeeping #cleaningroutine #inspiredhome #makingahome #lovewhereyoudwell #homemaker #homebody #biblicalHomemaking #christmas #holidayplanning #planningaddict #plannercommunity #freeprintables #thanksgiving #christmastree  #plannerobsessed
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