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Something big has happened on the homestead 🐑✨

We finally brought home our first Icelandic sheep — and it feels like the start of something beautiful.

🎥 Full vlog on YouTube!
Me before sheep: normal hobbies, normal conversati Me before sheep: normal hobbies, normal conversations.
Me after sheep: would you like to see 437 photos of my sheep? ☕🐑
Our little homestead is growing 🐑✨ Meet Perse Our little homestead is growing 🐑✨ Meet Persephone (Penny) and Maple. Watching them graze feels like the sweetest start to this new chapter. 🏡🌿 #homesteadinthemaking
✨ Cozy reminder ✨ Your coffee doesn’t need a ✨ Cozy reminder ✨
Your coffee doesn’t need a perfectly curated mug to be special. That sip is still warm, still comforting, still a little moment of peace in your day. ☕💛

We don’t always need the “next new thing.” Sometimes the old crazed mug, the worn in sweater, the quiet morning—that’s where the sweetest contentment lives. 🌿

💬 Tell me — what’s your “crazed mug” in life? The simple, imperfect thing that still makes you smile?
When molting season hits and you’re just trying When molting season hits and you’re just trying to keep it together… 😅

My rude rooster is looking a whole lot less intimidating these days!
I didn’t want to go today.
I had so much to do—work waiting at home, house chores piling up, lessons we needed to get through for homeschool… the to-do list was loud and endless.

But we all needed a pause.
So I closed the laptop, left the laundry, packed the snacks, and we went.

And I’m so glad we did.

Sometimes the most important “work” we do isn’t what’s on our list—it’s the memories, the fresh air, the laughter, the reset our souls are craving.

Here’s your reminder, mama: you don’t have to earn rest, joy, or play. 
🌿 Sometimes saying yes to the pause is exactly what everyone needs.
We started Ambleside Online the day after Labor Da We started Ambleside Online the day after Labor Day, and now that we have two weeks under our belt, I'm sharing on my YouTube channel how that's going for us so far. 
Please check out the video! You can find my channel in my bio. 
Thanks so much!
#AmblesideOnline #amblesideonlineyear1 #HomeschoolingLife #curriculumreview #homeschoolcurriculum #homeschoolingjourney
I'm trying to learn to really love homemaking, and I'm trying to learn to really love homemaking, and sometimes a quick little DIY helps you to enjoy being in your space a little more, so I hit the light switch plate that's been in the junk drawer for 2 years with a little rub-n-buff magic. What small project can you do today to help you enjoy your home a little more?

Also, this is a snippet pulled from my newest (and first in some time!) YouTube video, so please feel free to check me out over there, too!

#homemakingmama #diyhomedecorideas
Proof that beauty still shows up when you’re tir Proof that beauty still shows up when you’re tired, barefoot, and just doing your best.

There was a beautiful rainbow over the homestead yesterday and I had to take a moment to stand in the rain to capture this beauty. Worth it.

I hope you remember to slow down today. Please follow for more slow & sleepy homebody moments.

#cozylifestyle #cozyhomemaking #cozyliving #homesteadinthemaking #findbeautyineveryday

The Sleepy Hollow Homestead

Homesteading, Homemaking, Homemade: The pursuit of good simple living.

When Your Home Feels Overwhelming: Simple Steps to Regain Control

April 3, 2025

When Your Home Feels Overwhelming

Feel Like You’re Living in Chaos When Your Home Feels Overwhelming?

You ever look around your house and just… sigh? Maybe even groan? Yeah, me too. It’s so easy to let yourself fall even further into the hole when your home feels overwhelming.

Right now, as I sit here writing this, I have dishes in the sink, laundry piles that just keep moving from one surface to another, and a floor that really needs to be swept. The kids’ toys are scattered everywhere, the counters are cluttered, and there’s a general feeling of chaos in the air.

Honestly? It feels overwhelming.

And when things feel overwhelming, it’s easy to do nothing. To sit there, staring at the mess, feeling like you’ll never catch up. Like you’re failing at keeping your home in order. Like everyone else somehow has it together while you’re drowning in a sea of socks, crumbs, and half-empty cups.

But let’s take a deep breath together, okay?

Because I promise—you’re not alone.

And this feeling? It doesn’t have to last forever.


First: Let’s Let Go of the Guilt

Before we even think about tackling the mess, let’s address the little voice whispering, “You should have this under control. Other moms don’t let their homes get like this.”

Here’s the truth: that voice is lying.

Everyone has messy seasons. Every single person.
Some people are just better at shoving things into closets before guests come over.

Your home doesn’t define your worth. A messy kitchen doesn’t mean you’re failing. Cluttered counters don’t mean you’re a bad mom. And let’s be real—if your home is messy, it probably means you’re living in it.

Now, let’s not go too far into the other end where we’re glorifying the mess. I’m not about celebrating the hot mess mom just because it’s relateable. We can always strive for excellence, but at the same time be struggling with the season you’re currently in. Two things can absolutely be true at the same time.

So let’s ditch the guilt and focus on what actually matters: making things feel just a little lighter.


Next: Pick the Easiest Win

When your home feels overwhelming, when everything feels like too much, don’t try to tackle it all at once. That’s a fast track to burnout.

Instead, find the one thing that will make your space feel just a little better.

When Your Home Feels Overwhelming
  • Maybe it’s clearing off the kitchen counters.
  • Maybe it’s starting one load of laundry.
  • Maybe it’s making the bed.
  • Maybe it’s straightening up the couch cushions and folding the blankets that are strewn about.
  • Maybe it’s just lighting a candle and calling it progress.

Whatever it is, start there. One small win leads to another.

Then: Set a Timer & Get Moving

If the mess is overwhelming, but you have zero motivation, try this:

⏳ Set a timer for 10 minutes
🚀 Pick one small area to tidy
🎶 Put on music, a podcast, or an audiobook
🙌 Stop when the timer goes off—or keep going if you feel like it!

Ten minutes isn’t scary. And once you start, momentum kicks in. Before you know it, you might just have a whole room looking better.


Give Yourself Permission to Take It Slow When Your Home Feels Overwhelming

Your house doesn’t have to be spotless by the end of the day.

If you’re in survival mode (new baby, sickness, busy season, or just life), then just do what you can. Some days, that might mean washing the dishes and calling it good. Other days, you might have the energy to deep-clean an entire room.

Both are okay. Both are progress.

When Your Home Feels Overwhelming

Ask for Help (Seriously, It’s Okay)

If the mess is truly overwhelming, ask for help.

  • Get your kids involved—even little ones can match socks, pick up their own toys, or wipe the table.
  • If you have a partner, communicate what you need. They might not see the mess the way you do.
  • Call a friend and say, “Hey, can we chat while I clean? I need some motivation.”

You don’t have to do this alone.


A Messy Home is a Lived-In Home

Let’s be real—a home that’s actually lived in is never going to look like a magazine.

There will always be dishes, laundry, and dust settling as soon as you finish cleaning. That’s just life. And honestly? That’s okay.

Because one day, when the house is quiet and the kids have grown, we’ll miss the mess.

(Okay, maybe not the laundry piles. But you get what I mean.)

So today, let’s take a deep breath. Let’s do what we can. Let’s let go of the guilt and embrace the fact that a messy home is just a sign of a full, beautiful life.

And if all else fails?

There’s always tomorrow.

Want more homemaking content? Check this out.

Enjoy this Post?
Check out some more content here at The Sleepy Hollow Homestead:

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    Making Space in Homemaking: How to Thrive at Home

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    September 8, 2025

Recent Posts

  • How to Get Your House Under Control When You’re Overwhelmed by the Mess

    August 5, 2025
  • Slow Decorating: How I’m Creating a Cozy, Beautiful Home Over Time

    July 12, 2025
  • How to Savor Summer: Embracing Beauty Even When It’s Uncomfortable

    July 1, 2025

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Welcome to The Sleepy Hollow Homestead : a home centered lifestyle blog

Welcome to The Sleepy Hollow Homestead : a home centered lifestyle blog

I'm Heather - a wife and stay at home mama of 3. I'm on a journey to thrive at home & cultivate a home-centered life. Join our young homesteading family of four as we start a Zone 6 garden in Indiana, turn our aging 80 acre farm into a sustainable homestead using permaculture and regenerative agricultural practices, and DIY our 1865 Colonial revival Farmhouse into the home of our dreams. Along the way we're going to DIY, garden, cook from scratch, learn to be frugal, homeschool, thrift, eat healthier, and learn to really enjoy this thing called life.
I'm thriving after a rectovaginal fistula and am passionate about physiological childbirth.
Grab a cup of coffee or tea, and get cozy: I'm so glad you're here! Thanks for visiting!

Recent Posts

  • Making Space in Homemaking: How to Thrive at Home
  • How to Get Your House Under Control When You’re Overwhelmed by the Mess
  • Slow Decorating: How I’m Creating a Cozy, Beautiful Home Over Time
  • How to Savor Summer: Embracing Beauty Even When It’s Uncomfortable
  • How We’re Living Without AC in the Midwest | No-AC Summer Survival Tips

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