The holidays are over, but let’s be real—for many families, the chaos doesn’t magically disappear. Life ramps back up with school, work, and endless to-dos. It’s easy to feel like you’re running in a hamster wheel, chasing the elusive dream of calm. But here’s the good news: with intentionality and a little goal-setting, you can navigate the chaos and reclaim time for what matters most—your family.
Finding Encouragement for Your Family Amid the Chaos
In this post, I’m sharing practical ways to find encouragement for your family during these hectic seasons. By setting clear goals, prioritizing time together, and focusing on stewardship of both money and time, you can bring a sense of order and joy back into your home.
Why Family Goal-Setting Matters
Life doesn’t slow down after the holidays; in fact, for many of us, it ramps up. If we’re not careful, we can fall into a vicious cycle of busyness that leaves little room for meaningful family time. That’s why goal-setting—even on a small scale—is so important. It’s not about perfection but about aligning your priorities with your values.
Here’s what goal-setting looks like for my family:
- Quarterly Budget Goals: My husband and I sit down to map out our finances, ensuring we’re on the same page about spending, saving, and giving.
- Family & Marriage Goals: We decide what we want to focus on for the year—whether it’s adding more family game nights, scheduling one-on-one time with each child, or planning date nights for us.
- Church Goals: As a pastoral family, we also outline what we hope to see happen in our ministry.
Goal-setting helps us stay grounded and keeps us from chasing the next shiny thing without considering the cost—financially, emotionally, and spiritually.
Encouragement for Your Family Goals
Here are a few practical ways to set meaningful family goals that lessen chaos and foster connection:
- Set a Regular Family Night: Whether it’s devotionals, game nights, or movie nights, pick one evening a week to focus solely on family time. This intentional rhythm strengthens bonds and creates lasting memories.
- Eat at Home More Often: Home-cooked meals don’t just save money—they also provide an opportunity to connect over the dinner table. With inflation making dining out even more expensive, cooking at home becomes an act of stewardship, both for your finances and your health. You control what goes into your meals, and it’s a great chance to involve your kids in the process.
- Teach Stewardship:
- Money: In our family, we’ve started teaching our kids the importance of financial stewardship. Each child has a savings goal of $500 for the year, and we’ve provided them with their own savings tracker—just like the one we use at church but scaled for their goal. Alongside saving, we teach them to tithe, give offerings, and save at least 20% of what they earn or are gifted. This principle helps them understand not just how to handle money but how to honor God with it.
- Time: Encourage kids to manage their schedules well, balancing activities with rest and responsibilities. For us, this includes limiting media and device time. We’ve set firm limits and added security measures to help our kids stay on track. This encourages them to pick up a book, use their imagination, or engage in productive activities. By avoiding the trap of endless scrolling or gaming, they learn to use their time wisely and avoid wasting entire days on devices.
- Chores Without Rewards: While I do believe in rewarding my kids when necessary, I also require some specifics when it comes to earning rewards. They need to go beyond the scope of what is expected to earn money. This teaches them to think creatively about how they can contribute and find ways to earn extra. You might be surprised at the unique ideas they come up with when given the chance to think outside the box. Teaching your children to help around the house without expecting something in return fosters a spirit of teamwork and responsibility.
- Build a “Comfortable” Home: Your kids may love going places and hanging out with friends, but there’s no place like home. Focus on making your home a space of peace and rest. When there’s less chaos, everyone feels the difference.
Biblical Encouragement for Chaotic Seasons
Scripture offers plenty of wisdom for families navigating busy seasons. Here are a few verses to inspire and ground your family:
- Proverbs 24:3-4: “By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.”
- Philippians 4:6-7: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Consider instituting a family prayer time or reading these verses together during your weekly family night. For additional resources, check out the Faith Foundations: Building Spiritual Traditions post on my blog, where I recommend a family devotional to guide you. You can also directly access the devotional through the link provided in the post.
Family Encouragement and Resources
Bringing order to chaotic seasons starts with small, intentional steps. Whether it’s sitting down for a family dinner, setting a budget, or simply taking a deep breath and praying together, these moments add up to something powerful.
To help your family save money and make mealtime easier, I’ve created a resource called “15 Frugal Family Meals.” It’s a donation-based guide filled with budget-friendly, comforting recipes that make eating at home simple and enjoyable. The donation model allows this resource to remain accessible to everyone, while supporting the continued creation of helpful content.
Eating at home isn’t just about saving money; it’s about creating a space where your family can connect and thrive.
How Do You Tame the Chaos?
What do you do to bring order and encouragement to your family during chaotic seasons? Share your tips and stories in the comments below—I’d love to hear them! And don’t forget to share this post with someone who might need encouragement during a chaotic season.
Remember, your family is watching. How you handle life’s busyness will shape their habits and attitudes. Let’s be intentional together in choosing what matters most.
Remember, I’m always praying for you, even if I don’t know who you are!
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