A Mom’s Guide to Letting Go of Time Perfectionism

Finding Grace in the In-Between Minutes

October 28, 2024  |  5 min read

Emily Van Eps

Emily Van Eps

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I found myself doing it again yesterday – staring at my unopened Bible while my toddler played independently nearby. I had maybe five minutes, tops. “Not enough time,” I thought. “I’ll wait until naptime for a proper quiet time.” But naptime came, and the baby only wanted to sleep in my arms. 

Sound familiar?

The Time Perfectionism Trap

As a stay-at-home mom to two littles, my “free time” comes like sun breaks during a PNW winter – fleeting, unpredictable, and impossible to plan around. Some days, I get a glorious 30-minute stretch during synchronized naps and other days, it’s stolen moments while:

  • The toddler is actually playing with the toys I set out
  • The baby is content in the bouncer (for approximately 2.5 minutes)
  • A craft project entertains the toddler
  • A Bluey episode works its magic

But here’s the trap I kept falling into: refusing to start anything unless I knew I could finish it properly. The result? Going to bed feeling frustrated and defeated, telling myself I’d do better tomorrow. Tomorrow, I’d somehow find time to:

  • Read my Bible uninterrupted
  • Complete a full workout
  • Finish that devotional
  • Actually put away all the laundry
  • Respond to those week-old texts

The Mindset Shift That is Changing Things

Recently, God has been softening my heart to a new truth: He’s not waiting for my perfect quiet time. He’s waiting for my willing heart, even if it comes in three-minute increments. He is teaching me to look at my time differently. For example:

  • Three minutes of Scripture is a seed planted
  • Eight minutes of movement is stewarding our bodies
  • Two minutes of prayer is eternal investment
  • Five minutes of picking up toys is serving our family
  • One minute of deep breathing is soul care

Embracing the In-Between Minutes

Instead of sitting in the paralysis that comes from waiting for the perfect time to get something done, I’m learning to embrace:

  • The half-chapter of Bible reading that gets interrupted by “Mommy, look!”
  • The partial workout that ends when the baby wakes
  • The three-minute prayer walk pushing the stroller
  • The devotional read in snippets throughout the day
  • The worship song I can only half-sing before someone needs something

Because here’s the truth: these fragments of time add up to something beautiful when we release them to God.

Practical Ways to Use Those Precious Minutes

Instead of waiting for the “perfect” time, here are the practical ways I’m learning to use the precious pockets of time I find in my days:

For Spiritual Growth

  • Keep my Bible open on the counter – grab verses while waiting for coffee to brew
  • Download a Bible app for one-handed reading during contact naps
  • Put Scripture cards where I’ll see them (mine are by the changing table!)
  • Turn on worship music during playtime
  • Pray while doing routine tasks

For Physical Health

  • Do squats while holding the baby (she thinks it’s a game!)
  • Turn dance parties with my toddler into cardio
  • Stretch during floor playtime
  • Walk in place while prepping lunch and snacks
  • Do wall push-ups with my toddler to help her regulate her body

For Mental Well-being

  • Take three deep breaths while buckling car seats
  • Listen to uplifting podcasts during routine tasks
  • Text one friend while waiting for my grocery pickup
  • Read one page of that book during snack time

Grace in the Fragments

Here’s what I’m learning: God’s grace doesn’t come in perfect 30-minute segments. It comes in whispered prayers between toddler meltdowns, Bible verses murmured during middle-of-the-night feedings, worship songs sung during diaper changes, quick devotionals read over cold coffee, and brief moments of movement between the chaos.

An Invitation to Freedom

If you’re going to bed frustrated that there aren’t enough hours in the day, I invite you to join me in this journey of letting go. Let’s release:

  • The idea that it doesn’t count unless it’s perfect
  • The lie that interrupted time is wasted time
  • The guilt over unfinished tasks
  • The endless scroll that fills my “not enough time” moments
  • The comparison with moms in different seasons

Instead, let’s embrace the beautiful truth that something is always better than nothing. That five minutes in God’s Word is eternally better than five minutes of mindless scrolling. That moving our bodies for eight minutes honors God more than waiting for the “perfect” workout time that never comes.

Remember, every minute is a gift. Even the interrupted ones. Even the messy ones. Even the ones that don’t go according to plan.

Sometimes, the most beautiful moments happen not in the perfect hours we’re waiting for but in the in-between minutes we choose to embrace.

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalm 118:24

(Even if it comes in one-minute increments. 😉)

A Prayer for the In-Between Minutes

Lord, help us to see the beauty in the fragments of time You’ve given us. Show us how to use each minute as an offering to You, even when it’s messy, interrupted, and imperfect. Thank You that Your grace meets us not just in the quiet morning hours, but also in the beautiful chaos of life. Amen.

About the Author

Emily Van Eps

Emily Van Eps

Emily is a founder of For This House, and the middle sister to Lauren and Ally. She is a graphic design maven by trade, currently living in small-town and staying home with her two beautiful girls.  Learn more about Emily.