Hi friend,
I don’t know about you, but these cold, wet winter days really start to weigh on me by February.
Once March hits, I’m desperate for spring.
The excitement of the New Year starts to fade, routines feel heavier, and if I’m not careful I notice myself slipping into autopilot — just going through the motions.
Which is the exact opposite of living intentional.
So I’ve been thinking about this lately.
How do we actually stay intentional… not just in January, but in ordinary weeks when life feels repetitive?
The phrase that keeps coming back to me is calm discipline.
Not the harsh, frantic kind of discipline that says “you better do this perfectly or else.”
But the kind that rests in something deeper:
The Lord created us with purpose — and He equips us to live it out.
Which means we don’t have to live hurried or frantic. We can simply focus on the next right thing in front of us.
My toddler needs a diaper change?
That’s the next right thing.
The kids are all quietly laying down for quiet time?
I have however long that lasts to get my work done — and that’s enough.
It’s time for breakfast?
Let’s fuel our bodies well so we have the energy to steward the day.
I think we sometimes assume discipline is something some people just naturally have and others don’t.
But if you are a Christian, Scripture tells us something different.
The Spirit of self-control already lives within you.
Which means discipline isn’t something we have to manufacture.
It’s something we practice.
Quietly. Faithfully. One small decision at a time.
I have a feeling calm discipline is something we’ll be talking about more this year.
One of the ways I try to practice that is through something I call Multiply the Five — staying intentional across five areas God has entrusted to us: faith, marriage, family, work, and personal stewardship.
Here’s what that looked like this past month.
(Note: Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I will only ever share things I genuinely use and love.)
FAITH
Sometimes a short message carries the clearest wisdom.
Jennifer Flanders recently shared a short read called How Can I Feel Productive as a Mom? with me and wow — it’s packed with wisdom. It’s only like 35 pages, but it reinforced so many ideas about biblical productivity and stewardship that I’ve been thinking through lately.
If you’re a mom who sometimes wonders whether what you’re doing each day really matters, this little booklet is incredibly encouraging.
MARRIAGE
Shared goals strengthen unity.
My husband and I have started sitting down more intentionally to look at our finances together. In the past I handled most of the budgeting, but with some big goals ahead (and some unavoidable new expenses), we’ve realized how important it is to approach this as a team.
We’ve been trying to make these conversations feel more like little “budget dates,” and honestly it’s been encouraging to work toward something together.
FAMILY
Simple seasonal traditions often become the most meaningful.
What are your favorite Easter traditions? I’ve been thinking about small ways to make the season special for the kids without overcomplicating things.
Instead of toys in their baskets, I tend to focus on practical things we’ll use throughout the spring and summer — items that help us get outside more and enjoy the season together, like sunglasses, swimsuits, rain boots, chalk, etc.
WORK
Focus brings far more progress than trying to do everything.
If you’re building a side income but often sit down to work and feel unsure what to do first, I’d encourage you to download my free Capacity-Based Sprint Planning Guide if you haven’t already.
It’s the same framework I used managing projects and teams during my corporate career, and it’s still how I organize my work now that I’m home with my kids.
It helps you focus on the most important work for the season you’re actually in — and ignore everything else.
You can download it here.
SELF
Sometimes the smallest swaps make the biggest difference.
If you’ve ever struggled to find a “clean” deodorant that actually works, I finally found one I’ve been using for over a year and genuinely love. Every other "clean" deodorant I've tried would break me out after a few weeks, but not this one!
It’s from a small family-owned business called Little Seed Farm, and they offer free deodorant samples (you just pay shipping) so you can try different scents before committing.
My favorite is grapefruit lemon — it literally smells like fruit loops. Oh and their sugar scrub is dreamy, like literally smells like a dreamsicle.
If you want to give them a try, this link will save you 10%.
A small encouragement this month
I recently listened to this 1000 Hours Outside podcast episode about Extreme Ownership at Home, and it really challenged me to think about how I’m leading my family day-to-day.
Not with pressure. But with responsibility.
The kind that asks: What is mine to steward well today?
If you’ve lost your spark this winter, you’re not alone.
Spring is right around the corner.
In the meantime, we can simply focus on the next right thing in front of us.
Small faithfulness is never wasted.
Cheering you on,
P.S. If you have a mom friend who would enjoy these monthly Multiply the Five emails, feel free to forward this one to her 💌
