Simplified Organization: Learn to Love What Must Be Done - Homemaking, Life Organization, and Mom Productivity Tips

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Mystie Winckler, Kate Myers, Karen Head, and Adelaide Garner discuss CS Lewis' Four Loves and the best ways for women to make and maintain friendships.

The Four Loves: https://amzn.to/3MFFa71

Building Meaningful Friendships: Insights from C.S. Lewis’s 'The Four Loves'

In this episode of the Simplified Organization Podcast, Mystie Winckler, Karen Head, Adelaide Garner, and Kate Myers discuss the importance of community and friendship through the lens of C.S. Lewis’s book 'The Four Loves.'

The conversation explores how group dynamics contribute to stable, long-term friendships and the value of camaraderie among women. Women must remember to balance close, intimate connections and broader community ties. One beautiful part of friend groups is how they bring out different facets of each individual.

00:00 The Importance of Community in Friendships
00:37 Introduction to the Simplified Organization Podcast
01:14 A Unique Episode on Friendship
02:07 Discussing C.S. Lewis's 'Four Loves'
03:42 The Dynamics of Group Friendships
07:39 Personal Experiences and Reflections
09:17 Defining Friendship According to C.S. Lewis
11:47 How Our Friendship Began
13:52 The Divine Aspect of Friendship
15:06 Conclusion and Importance of Cultivating Friendships

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Unpacking Friendship: Insights from C.S. Lewis's 'The Four Loves' – Part 2

In this episode of the Simplified Organization Podcast, Mystie Winckler and her guests, Karen Head, Adelaide Garner, and Kate Myers, delve deeper into the concept of friendship as depicted in C. S. Lewis's book, 'The Four Loves.' They explore the distinction between true friendships and general acquaintances, discussing the unique spiritual depth and co-laboring nature of genuine friendships.

The conversation touches on potential pitfalls of friendship and compares them to family and marital relationships, incorporating personal anecdotes and interpretations of Lewis's views. They conclude by emphasizing the importance of intellectual stimulation and mutual support in friendships, paving the way for a more profound connection.

00:00 Introduction to Deep Friendships
00:44 Welcome to the Simplified Organization Podcast
01:19 Exploring C.S. Lewis's Views on Friendship
02:12 Debating the Elevation of Friendship
03:49 C.S. Lewis's Life and Friendships
05:08 The Role of Friendship in Personal Growth
07:53 Friendship vs. Comradeship
10:26 The Exclusivity and Depth of True Friendship
17:08 Friendship as a Source of Support and Perspective
18:52 Conclusion and Next Steps

Mystie Winckler encourages moms to organize their attitudes and get traction at home so we are no longer overwhelmed or frustrated with homemaking. We are a community of Christian women striving to be competent, cheerful homemakers so we are fruitful, faithful, and hospitable. Subscribe for regular encouragement!

📖 Get my latest book - Simplified Organization: Learn to Love What Must Be Done
https://www.simplifiedorganization.com

🏆 Enroll in Convivial Circle and get practical homemaking mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
https://www.simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm

Get your children helping around the house: simplyconvivial.com/ehap

Mystie and Anna Laura Farnham discuss effective methods for managing kids' chores and household tasks. Learn about the Baby Step Bingo challenge, chore charts, and decluttering techniques that turn everyday tasks into engaging activities. Discover how to keep kids motivated and foster a cooperative family environment, ultimately getting more done with gratitude and creativity.

Anna Laura and her husband, Gandalf, live in Indiana and have six children ranging in age from toddler to teenager. Before kids, she earned two music degrees in oboe performance and worked in a corporate office, but she has set aside those careers to focus on being a mom and homemaker. She and her family stay busy with church fellowship, several sports, music, reading and generally being creative.

**Focus on Baby Steps:** Anna learned to tackle small tasks one at a time, like removing cobwebs or wiping down the washing machine. These small steps made a big difference, especially during hectic times like pregnancy or postpartum.
- **Gamified Chores:** Anna translated the lessons from Baby Step Bingo into practical training tools for her children. Tasks are broken into manageable chunks, and the kids get to experience a sense of accomplishment when they check off items from their bingo charts.
- **Customizing for Each Child:** Each child's bingo chart is slightly different, catering to their specific needs and capabilities. This ensures that chores aren't monotonous and helps keep the kids engaged.
- **Age Appropriateness:** For younger children, like her five-year-old, Anna uses a smaller 4x4 bingo chart and simpler tasks. This approach makes it easier for them to participate and feel involved.
- **Encouraging Early Participation:** While her two-year-old doesn't have a structured bingo chart, she imitates her older siblings and helps out in small ways, fostering a sense of contribution from a young age.

**Adding Excitement to Household Chores**

Anna finds that changing up daily routines with something like Baby Step Bingo can make a big difference. For example, before a holiday or trip, they might include tasks like vacuuming a vehicle or packing clothes in the bingo charts. This adds variety and makes mundane chores exciting.

Welcome to the Simplified Organization Podcast - 15 minute conversations with real moms about managing our homes and family life cheerfully to the glory of God. We can actually enjoy housework and love being homemakers when we focus on truth and work with gratitude.

00:00 Introduction to the Simplified Organization Podcast
00:32 Meet Anna Laura Farnham
01:15 Baby Step Bingo: A Game-Changer for Homemaking
03:04 Implementing Baby Step Bingo with Kids
03:48 Chore Charts and Rewards
07:54 Customizing Bingo Cards for Each Child
13:47 Gamifying Household Tasks
16:07 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Mystie Winckler encourages moms to organize their attitudes and get traction at home so we are no longer overwhelmed or frustrated with homemaking. We are a community of Christian women striving to be competent, cheerful homemakers so we are fruitful, faithful, and hospitable. Subscribe for regular encouragement!

📖 Get my latest book - Simplified Organization: Learn to Love What Must Be Done
https://www.simplifiedorganization.com

🏆 Enroll in Convivial Circle and get practical homemaking mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
https://www.simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm

Baby Step Bingo starts today: https://simplyconvivial.com/babystepbingo/

Gracie shares her experience with the 'Baby Step Bingo' challenge from the Convivial Circle community. They discuss how small steps can make a significant difference, particularly during life transitions such as expecting a new baby. Misty and Gracie explore how structured activities can enhance family productivity and joy, and they emphasize the importance of gratitude and personal choice in homemaking.
00:00 Introduction to the Simplified Organization Podcast
00:39 Meet Gracie Madwick: A Homeschooling Mom of Nine
01:35 Baby Step Bingo: A Fun Family Challenge
02:36 Implementing Baby Step Bingo in Family Life
04:30 Adapting Baby Step Bingo for Different Ages
06:08 Celebrating Success with Family Prizes
06:47 Adjustments and Iterations of Baby Step Bingo
07:40 Postpartum Pause and Future Plans
10:26 Mom's Baby Step Bingo: Thank You Notes
11:47 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Mystie Winckler encourages moms to organize their attitudes and get traction at home so we are no longer overwhelmed or frustrated with homemaking. We are a community of Christian women striving to be competent, cheerful homemakers so we are fruitful, faithful, and hospitable. Subscribe for regular encouragement!

📖 Get my latest book - Simplified Organization: Learn to Love What Must Be Done
https://www.simplifiedorganization.com

🏆 Enroll in Convivial Circle and get practical homemaking mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
https://www.simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm

Amie shares her inspiring journey from being a daydream planner stuck in perfectionism to becoming a doer who embraces progress over perfection. Join us for Community Coaching: https://shop.simplyconvivial.com/socc

In this episode, Mystie Winckler sits down with Amie Garner, a wife, homeschool mom of 5, and long-time member of Convivial Circle. Amie shares her inspiring journey from being a daydream planner stuck in perfectionism to becoming a doer who embraces progress over perfection.

Together, they discuss:
✅ How perfectionism holds us back (and how to overcome it).
✅ The power of interval planning to create sustainable routines.
✅ Why taking baby steps—even when it feels too slow—leads to real change.
✅ How to adjust your plans with life’s unpredictable seasons.

Amie’s transformation is a testament to the value of starting small, sticking with it, and giving yourself grace along the way. If you’re overwhelmed by clutter, routines, or unrealistic expectations, this conversation will inspire you to stop daydreaming and start doing.

🔗 Ready to move from overwhelm to action? Learn more about Convivial Circle and Simplified Organization Community Coaching here:

Mystie Winckler encourages moms to organize their attitudes and get traction at home so we are no longer overwhelmed or frustrated with homemaking. We are a community of Christian women striving to be competent, cheerful homemakers so we are fruitful, faithful, and hospitable. Subscribe for regular encouragement!

📌 Timestamps
00:00 – Intro to Amie Garner
02:00 – Recognizing perfectionism as the real struggle
06:15 – Why plans don’t need to be perfect (or permanent)
10:30 – How interval planning gives freedom and flexibility
15:00 – The power of baby steps: starting small and iterating
20:00 – Overcoming hard moments without giving up
24:00 – Final encouragement for perfectionists

🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with someone who needs encouragement in their homemaking and productivity journey!

#SimplyConvivial #OvercomingPerfectionism #ProductivityForMoms #HomemakingTips #IntervalPlanning #OrganizeYourAttitude #FromDaydreamerToDoer

📖 Get my latest book - Simplified Organization: Learn to Love What Must Be Done
https://www.simplifiedorganization.com

🏆 Enroll in Convivial Circle and get practical homemaking mentorship so you don't have to be overwhelmed anymore:
https://www.simplyconvivial.com/stop-overwhelm