How One Mindset Shift Changed My Overwhelmed Home

You’re staring at your home, and all you can see is the list.

The bathroom that needs updating. The hallway that desperately needs paint. The kitchen that’s “fine” but not really. The doors that should’ve been replaced years ago.

And somewhere between the overwhelm and the endless to-do list, you stopped feeling at home in your own house.

I get it. I’ve been there.

When my husband and I bought our home in 2019, it needed everything. New bathroom, new doors, paint, flooring, a kitchen overhaul. I’m a former real estate broker who spent 20+ years walking through homes and telling other people how to make theirs better. But when it came to my own house? I was burnt out before I even started.

Here’s what I learned: The problem wasn’t my home. It was how I was thinking about it.

One mindset shift changed everything. Not one magic organizing system. Not one Pinterest-perfect room makeover. One shift in how I saw my home, my projects, and my progress.

And that shift became four. Four simple ways of thinking that turned my overwhelmed, project-filled house into a place I actually love being.

I call it the Home Hero Jen Mindset Shift, and in this post, I’m going to walk you through all four shifts, how to apply them, and how they can change your home (and your life) without adding one more thing to your to-do list.

What Is a Mindset Shift (and Why It Changes Everything)

So what exactly is a mindset shift?

It’s simple. A mindset shift is when you change the way you think about something, and that new way of thinking changes how you feel and what you do.

You’ve probably experienced it before without even realizing it. Maybe you used to dread Monday mornings, but then you reframed it as “a fresh start to the week” and suddenly Mondays felt different. Same day. Different perspective. That’s a mindset shift.

When it comes to your home, most advice focuses on doing more. Organize this. Declutter that. Paint this room. Buy that storage solution. And sure, those things help. But if your mindset is still stuck in overwhelm, frustration, or “I’ll never get this done,” no amount of doing will make you feel better.

That’s why mindset matters more than your to-do list.

According to Apartment Therapy, one of the biggest reasons we procrastinate on home projects isn’t because we don’t care. It’s because we’re overwhelmed by the gap between where we are and where we think we “should” be.

The fix? Stop thinking about everything you need to do and start thinking differently about what you’re doing right now.

Let me show you the four mindset shifts that changed my life (and my home).

Shift #1: Small Actions, Big Impact

Rome wasn’t built in a day. Neither is your home.

When we closed on our home, I looked around and saw years of work ahead of me. And honestly? I was super overwhelmed.

But here’s what saved me: I stopped looking at the whole house and started looking at one thing. Just one.

Paint the hallway. That’s it. Not the whole house. Not even the whole first floor. Just the hallway.

And once the hallway was done, I painted the hallway doors. Then I moved to the next small thing.

‘Progress beats perfection every single time.‘

Here’s how to apply this shift:

• Pick ONE small thing today. Wipe down your kitchen counter. Paint one door. Declutter one drawer. Just one.
• Celebrate it. I’m serious. You did something. That matters.
• Repeat tomorrow. Not because you have to, but because you can.

Small actions don’t feel like much in the moment, but they add up faster than you think. Before you know it, you’ve refreshed 50 blog posts, repainted your whole hallway, or completely transformed a room. One piece at a time.

If you’re ready to start small, check out these 9 affordable home improvement ideas you can do yourself.

Shift #2: Gratitude Over Longing

This is the mindset shift that changed my entire life, not just my home.

Every morning, I wake up and start my day with gratitude. I’m thankful for my warm bed, for sleep, for the curtains that give me privacy, for the heat that keeps me comfortable. I thank God for another day, for a roof over my head, for the people I love.

I don’t start my day dreaming about what I don’t have. I start it being grateful for what I do.

And here’s the thing: my home still needs work. It’s not in the best shape. It’s not always clean. But it’s home. And I’m thankful.

When you stop longing for the “perfect” home, you start loving the one you have.

I spent 20+ years as a real estate broker walking through hundreds of homes. The ones that felt like home weren’t the biggest or the fanciest. They were the ones where people chose to be there. Where they saw what they had, not just what was missing.

Here’s how to apply this shift:

• Start your day with three things you’re grateful for in your home. Even if it’s just “I have a roof” or “my bed was warm last night.”
• When you catch yourself scrolling Pinterest wishing for more, pause. Name one thing you love about your space right now.
• Remind yourself: You get to live here. Not everyone has that.

Gratitude doesn’t mean you stop improving your home. It just means you stop hating it while you do.

Shift #3: Embrace “I Get To”

This one’s simple, but it’s powerful.

Every time you catch yourself saying “I have to paint the hallway” or “I have to clean the kitchen,” stop. Reframe it.

“I GET to paint the hallway.”
“I GET to clean the kitchen.”

Same task. Completely different energy.

It shifts you from obligation to opportunity.

Because here’s the truth: not everyone gets a home to care for. Not everyone has a space they can make their own. You do. And that’s not a burden. That’s a gift.

As a former Real Estate Broker, I’ve seen people lose their homes. I’ve seen people desperate to find one. I’ve seen buyers walk into a house and cry because it finally felt like theirs.

Your home isn’t something you HAVE to deal with. It’s something you GET to love.

Here’s how to apply this shift:

• Every time you say “I have to,” pause and reframe it to “I get to.”
• Remind yourself: This is YOUR space. You get to decide what it looks like, how it feels, and what happens here.
• When a project feels heavy, ask yourself: Would I rather have no home to care for at all?

This shift doesn’t make the work disappear. But it makes it feel different. Lighter. More purposeful.

Shift #4: Reset Before Leaving

This is the hardest shift. I’m not going to lie to you.

Because it’s not just about resetting your space. It’s about letting go of the past.

I’ve seen it over and over again in my real estate career and in my own life. We hold onto things because we’re holding onto a time that’s gone. The hand prints your kids made in clay when they were five. The wall art from 10 years ago. The paintings they made in elementary school that you can’t bear to throw away.

And I get it. Those things mean something. They remind you of who your kids were, who you were, the life you had.

But here’s the truth: your home should reflect who you are NOW, not who you were.

This is where the decluttering mindset comes in. It’s not about throwing everything away or being ruthless. It’s about making space for the life you’re living today, not the one you’re clinging to.

According to Simple Intentional and Salt and Lavender, one of the biggest mental blocks to decluttering is emotional attachment. We think letting go of the thing means letting go of the memory. But it doesn’t. The memory is still yours. You don’t need the clay hand print to prove your kids were little once.

Here’s how to apply the decluttering mindset:

• Before you leave a room, reset it. Put things away. Tidy up. Leave it better than you found it.
• Let go of one thing that’s keeping you stuck in the past. Just one. Start there.
• Ask yourself: Does this item reflect who I am today, or who I used to be?

If letting go feels hard, you’re not alone. I talked about taking a walk down memory lane and how emotional it can be to go through old photos and memories. And if you’re ready to start decluttering without the overwhelm, this guide will help.

How to Apply the Home Hero Jen Mindset Shift in Your Life

Okay, so you’ve got the four shifts. Now what?

Here’s the thing: you don’t have to do all four at once. In fact, please don’t. That’s the opposite of what this is about.

Pick one shift to practice this week. Just one.

Maybe it’s Small Actions, Big Impact. You commit to doing one small thing every day and celebrating it.

Maybe it’s Gratitude Over Longing. You start your mornings naming three things you’re grateful for in your home.

Maybe it’s Embrace “I Get To.” You catch yourself every time you say “I have to” and reframe it.

Or maybe it’s Reset Before Leaving. You let go of one thing this week that’s keeping you stuck in the past.

Start with the one that feels easiest. Or the one that feels hardest. Either way, start with one.

Because here’s what I know after 20+ years of walking through homes and working on my own: You don’t need to have it all figured out today. You just need to start.

This mindset shift isn’t about doing it perfectly. It’s about doing it at all.

One shift. One day. One small thing at a time.

Your Mindset Shift Questions Answered

Your Home Hero Jen Mindset Shift Starts Now

You don’t need a perfect home. You need a peaceful one.

The Home Hero Jen Mindset Shift isn’t about doing more. It’s not about adding another thing to your already overflowing to-do list. It’s about thinking differently.

It’s about choosing one small action today instead of drowning in everything that needs to be done.

It’s about waking up grateful for what you have instead of longing for what you don’t.

It’s about saying “I get to” instead of “I have to.”

And it’s about letting go of the past so you can make space for the life you’re living right now.

Start with one shift. Just one.

Your home, and your heart, will thank you. 💛