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Changing Your Habits to Maintain a Clean Space #ATimeToClean

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Changing Your Habits to Maintain a Clean Space @ AVirtuousWoman.org

We’re on the last week of our 30 Day Challenge! Does your heart feel lighter? Does your home look better? I certainly hope so! I know it hasn’t been an easy journey.

Change can be really hard – especially when we are so set in our ways. Often, bad habits linger long after we have worked to change them and they can creep back into our hearts and space much too easily if we’re not careful.

Changing Your Habits to Maintain a Clean Space

No one likes to admit they have a bad habit, even when they do. I know I have more bad habits – or less than ideal habits – than I’d like to admit! Sometimes I think about how much harder I make life for myself because of those bad habits! If the end goal is to maintain a clean space in your home, we need to focus on creating new, better habits that will benefit our homes instead of making things harder. Admitting you have a bad habit is truly the first step in changing your habits in order to maintain a clean space.

Pray about it

Ask God to help you identify areas in your mind and heart that need changed. When you have a bad habit, and don’t know how to go about changing it, praying is always the first step. When you want to change your habits to maintain a clean space, always pray about it first. Sometimes we fail to realize how God is present in every detail of our lives. Nothing is too small or unimportant that we can’t ask God to help us. God is so willing and ready to help us change! The Bible tells us that “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

He is there just waiting for us to ask! So pray about changing your habits everyday until you see victory in that area of your life!

Don’t give up after one shot

Did you know it takes several days to even form a habit? To change a bad habit, it’s going to take time and perseverance. Perseverance is a skill we all need to hone in on. I try hard to teach my children to persevere through trials and changing your habits is a trial! If you fall back to old habits, don’t give up – try again! I love the verse from 1 Corinthians 10:13:

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Even when you want to give up or return to your old ways, God is there holding your hand the whole way. It can take up to 28 days to create a new habit. 28 days! That means that you have to really be committed to creating new habits over the long haul. Don’t give up.

Don’t try to change everything at once.

It’s important to realize that as much as we’d like to change everything we see wrong with our homes, our lifestyle, and more, realistically speaking, trying to change too much at once is overwhelming and will ultimately hinder our ability to create a new, better habits.

Take baby steps. Focus on one or two areas that you’d like to change and as you see progress you can work on new areas of change.

Changing Your Habits to Maintain a Clean Space @ AVirtuousWoman.org

Change the way things work in your house

So, you’re trying to maintain a clean space, but you have a few bad habits. For instance, let’s say your child is terrible about picking up her things when she’s done using them. It’s really up to you to teach her to be diligent about putting her things away. One of my favorite tools for teaching younger kids to clean up is the Uh-Oh Bucket. It works great! For example, if you find a toy in the middle of the floor, your child has to earn it back by doing a chore of your choice.  Or perhaps you struggle with negative thinking. You can change this habit by praying frequently and focusing on positive thoughts when you catch yourself thinking negative thoughts. You might also want to put sticky notes with inspiring verses around your house to help you remember to focus on positive thoughts.

What to do from here

Spend time in prayer about your bad habits. Whatever they may be. Perhaps you need to pray about the bad habits of family members too. Everyone working together can help maintain a clean space.

Pick and choose your battles. While a clean space is ideal, this won’t always happen, especially if you have children. Focus on doing the basics every day and work toward creating new routines that will help you maintain your space over time.

Keep working at it. Nothing changes over night. Let go of the guilt and choose grace. You’re only human and aren’t going to be perfect. Remember this. Let God help you carry this load, you don’t need to do it on your own.

You can do this!!

What’s one habit you’d like to see change in how you approach housekeeping in general?

Today’s Goal

  • Pick up a journal and write down your thoughts about what He has shown you or print my free prayer journal.
  • Choose an area in your home you want to tackle.
  • Fill at least one bag or box full of stuff to give away.
  • Take a picture of your bag. Share it on Facebook, or Instagram – use hashtag #atimetoclean2017 {optional}
  • Leave a comment below about what you chose to get rid of and anything else God has laid on your heart.
  • Do your best to wake up early tomorrow and spend time in prayer. Use your prayer journal.

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