Lately I’ve been thinking about what it really means to go the extra mile. Not in the sense of piling on more work or adding more things to an already full plate. For me, it’s more about re-committing to the life I’ve already built for myself and being intentional in the little moments.

Sometimes that looks like housework. Making the bed in the morning, tidying the kitchen after lunch so dinner cleanup is easier, or sticking to my one-load-of-laundry-a-day rhythm. These aren’t new tasks I’m adding to my list. They’re small choices that make my days flow more smoothly and help our home feel cared for.

It also looks like taking care of myself. Not just brushing my teeth and calling it good, but doing my hair, putting on real clothes instead of sweats, or moving my body for ten minutes with a quick workout video. These little acts remind me that I’m worth the effort too.

And can we just talk about water for a second? Why is drinking enough of it so hard? It’s literally the simplest, most basic thing, and yet I can go an entire morning and realize I’ve only had one sad sip from my cup. Sometimes I think, if olipop were water, I’d be the most hydrated person alive.

But here’s the thing: I feel better when I make the effort. My energy is steadier, my skin thanks me, and I don’t get that mid-afternoon crash quite as hard. It doesn’t have to be complicated—I just need to actually fill the cup and keep it nearby. Still, I’ll admit, it feels like one of those everyday battles I shouldn’t be struggling with, and yet here we are.

And then there’s the atmosphere of our home. Opening the curtains, lighting a candle, or turning on some soft music like classical or jazz. It doesn’t take much, but those details set the tone and make our house feel like a place we want to be.

As a mom, going the extra mile often looks like small, intentional kindness. Complimenting each kid every day, asking if they need my help with anything, or surprising them with an act of service, like making their bed or bringing them a cold lemonade out of the blue.

And maybe the most important way of all to go the extra mile is in my faith. It’s easy for me to let prayer or quiet time with God slip to the bottom of the list, especially on busy days. But when I pause, open my Bible, or even just whisper a prayer in the middle of the chaos, it changes how I see everything else.

None of these things are big or flashy. They’re not about striving for perfection. They’re simply ways of leaning into the life I already love and choosing to show up fully in it.