Anchored, Not Overwhelmed: A Faith-Filled Way to Reclaim Your Home (and Your Peace) This Holiday Season

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A Quick Note About Melissa + Anchored with Purpose

Before we dive in, I want to honor Melissa and her ministry. Melissa Wilkinson created Anchored with Purpose for the woman who feels like she’s holding everything together… but also quietly wondering where she went.

Her message is faith-forward, family-centered, and practical in the best way—and that’s why this conversation felt like such a natural fit. She helps women build rhythms that bring them back to what matters: Jesus, their people, and the purpose God planted in them.

This blog is the “home version” of that same heartbeat.

Because sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is clear a surface, create a system, and finally make room to exhale.

Why Holiday Clutter Feels So Overwhelming (It’s Not Just “Too Much Stuff”)

Holiday clutter isn’t just more stuff—it’s more decisions.

More mental load. More visual stimulation. More undone piles you’re stepping over while trying to make magical memories.

And if you’ve ever walked into a room and immediately felt your shoulders tighten… you’re not imagining it.

In our conversation, I shared a quote from UCLA research that stopped me in my tracks:

“Women who have issues with clutter have the signature pattern of cortisol that is associated with people who have chronic fatigue, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a higher risk of mortality.”

That matters because when your stress hormones are elevated, it’s harder to be still. Harder to focus. Harder to feel patient with your kids. Harder to sit with God and actually hear Him.

Your nervous system is maxed out.

And clutter can quietly keep it there.

Your Home Can Be a Sanctuary (Even If It’s Loud Right Now)

One of my favorite invitations in Scripture is simple:

“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

Stillness doesn’t require a Pinterest-perfect house. But it does require enough breathing room—physically and emotionally—that you can settle.

I approach organizing like self-care.

Because modern life is noisy. Our stuff is noisy. The packaging is noisy. The constant input is noisy.

And God’s voice is often gentle.

So when we clear even a small pocket of clutter, we’re not just tidying.

We’re making space for peace.

“When you clear the clutter… you can hear your soul, you can hear God speaking to you.”

“Start Where You’re Stuck”

If you only take one thing from this post, let it be this:

“Start where you’re stuck.”

When you’re overwhelmed, the temptation is to either:

• try to fix everything at once, or

• shut down and do nothing.

Organizing with G.R.A.C.E. is different. It’s small, strategic, and compassionate.

Here’s what I recommend:

1. Close your eyes and “walk through” your home in your mind—room by room.

2. Notice what space makes you feel anxious, defeated, or irritated.

3. Start there. Not because it’s the “right” place, but because it’s the place stealing your peace.

It might be:

• the kitchen counter that never clears

• the entryway pile that screams at you every time you walk in

• the kids’ exploding bedroom floor

• your desk

• your closet

• the laundry situation (you know the one)

Start where the stress is loudest. *Unless it’s photos and memorabilia.*

That’s your first step.

The G.R.A.C.E. Method: A Faith-Filled Framework for Reclaiming Your Space

G.R.A.C.E. is my organizing method, and it’s intentionally gentle. It’s built for real life—babies, busy schedules, and seasons where you’re doing your best.

Here’s how to use it as a holiday-season reset:

G — Gather (Goals, Supplies, and the Space Itself)

Gather these four things:

1) Gather your goals.
Ask: How do I want to feel in this space?
Not “What should it look like?”—but “What do I need this to do for me?”

Examples:

• “I want mornings to feel calmer.”

• “I want to stop apologizing for this room.”

• “I want my kitchen to feel like a place I can breathe.”

• “I want my kids to be able to clean up without me hovering.”

2) Gather donation options (that fit your real life).
Pro tip from the interview: choose donation locations that are already along your normal route, because otherwise the bags sit in your trunk for two weeks… and then quietly crawl back into your house.

3) Gather supplies.
A few basics:

• trash bag

• donation bag/box

• a Sharpie

• Post-it notes

• the timer on your phone

4) Gather everything from the space.
Yes, this is the “pull it all out” moment. You will make a big mess—but in return you’re getting clarity.

A — Acquire (Only What Supports the Life You’re Living Now)

This is the fun part—but it’s also where people overbuy.

Acquire doesn’t mean “buy a million containers.”

It means: add what you need to support the goals you gathered.

You might acquire:

• a few matching bins

• drawer dividers

• labels

• a simple basket for incoming holiday mail

• a better hamper system

• hooks by the door

You can also acquire things for adding design:

• a fresh coat of paint

• wallpaper on the back of a closet

• a lamp that makes a corner feel warm

• a small candle that turns your kitchen into a sanctuary at night

Acquire what supports peace—not what adds pressure.

Add an Element of Display:

Splurge on fun ways to display your accessories! I love to showcase hats, wallets, purses, shoes, jewelry, memorabilia, and artwork. If aesthetics are important to you, this is a must. There are tons of ideas on Pinterest or Instagram, but here are some of my favorites!

C — Cultivate (Create “The Dance” That Works for Your Family)

This is where your home becomes yours.

In the episode we talked about cultivating your “dance”—your rhythms, your patterns, how your family actually moves through a space.

“Sometimes people have their water glasses way far away from where you actually fill up your water… don’t do that. Put it where it’s easier for you.”

That is cultivating.

It’s function.

Ask:

• What do we do here every day?

• What slows us down?

• Where do things naturally land?

• What would make this easier for me tomorrow?

Cultivating takes time. Systems take repetition. That’s normal.

What If You’re Emotionally Attached to an Item(s)?

First: you’re not alone.

As we talked about in the interview, we assign meaning to objects. We attach memories to things. We fear losing the moment if we lose the item.

But here’s the truth:

You don’t lose the memory by releasing the object.

You carry it.

If you’re nervous about forgetting, try this:

• take a photo of the item

• write a short note about why it mattered

• store it in a digital album

• share it with a family member if it’s meaningful

Also: releasing can be easier if the item is going somewhere that blesses someone else.

In the episode, we talked about praying over where items should go—because sometimes God makes the “next home” of an item feel clear in a way that removes guilt.

When something does feel heavy, you’re allowed to slow down and do it with intention.

That’s anchored living.

The Real Goal: A Home That Supports Your Calling

A peaceful home won’t fix everything… but it makes it easier to live.

Easier to show up for your family and friends. Easier to be present. Easier to pursue the dream God gave you. Easier to rest.

Easier to show up for…YOU!

Jesus didn’t ask you to hustle your way into peace.

He invites you into it.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Sometimes the most practical way to respond to that invitation is to clear the counter, reclaim the room, and give your mind less to carry.

Want Help Getting Started?

If you loved this approach, you’d absolutely love connecting with Melissa and her Anchored with Purpose community—especially if you’re craving faith-based encouragement for your daily rhythms and bigger dreams.

And if you want to go deeper into the G.R.A.C.E. method, my book Reclaim Your Space with G.R.A.C.E. walks you through this exact process in a quick, easy-to-read way (the kind you can finish in pockets of time—because that’s real life).

If you’re local (or want to bring me to you), you can also explore in-person or virtual organizing support through my website and Instagram.

You don’t have to do this alone.

“It’s okay to ask for help.”

And you don’t have to choose between a home that functions and a heart that feels anchored.

You can have both—one gentle step at a time.

Featured Quotes from the Interview

Use these as reminders when you feel overwhelmed:

“Start where you’re stuck.”

“I believe our homes are supposed to be little sanctuaries…”

“When you clear the clutter… you can hear your soul, you can hear God speaking to you.”

“Women who have issues with clutter have the signature pattern of cortisol…”

“Stop… even if it’s literally just for like five minutes… enjoy the blessings God’s given you.”