Challenge: 6 Simple Starts
For a slower, richer home
If your home has felt heavy lately, if the noise, the pace, and the pressure of “keeping up” have worn you thin, this little challenge is for you. Join the slow-living rebellion!
The 6 Simple Starts Challenge isn’t about doing more. It’s about slowing down enough to notice what truly matters. It’s six gentle rhythms to help you reconnect with your home, your people, and the Lord: without adding more to your to-do list.
You don’t have to overhaul your whole routine. Just begin. One small, faithful step at a time.
TL;DR – You can download my free 6 Simple Starts Challenge here: 6 Simple Starts Checklist
1. Bake One New Thing From Scratch
There’s something grounding about mixing dough with your own hands – watching simple ingredients become something nourishing. Bread, pancakes, or granola… it doesn’t need to be fancy.
Let it remind you that God provides daily bread, both for your body and your soul.
Truth to Remember: “Man does not live on bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” -Matthew 4:4
2. Replace One Store-Bought Item With Homemade
Start small. Try a vinegar-water cleaning spray or a simple lotion that is actually JUST oil you already had in your kitchen. It’s not just about saving money, it’s about reclaiming connection with the work of your hands.
Truth to Remember: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” -Ecclesiastes 9:10
3. Go Social-Media Free for One Day
Be fully present. This one might be hard, but I promise there’s nothing online that can’t wait for just one day. Let your mind rest. Let your spirit breathe. Personally, I have never regretted doing this.
Truth to Remember: “In quietness and trust shall be your strength.” -Isaiah 30:15
4. Spend One Unscripted Hour Outside
Leave your phone inside. Don’t make a plan: just go. Wander the yard, walk the neighborhood, or sit and notice the details of creation: the wind, the birds, the slow passing of time.
Truth to Remember: “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” -Psalm 24:1
5. Gratitude Journal for 10 Minutes
Set a timer and let your pen move freely. Write down whatever comes to mind. It doesn’t have to sound profound. Gratitude turns ordinary days into holy ground.
Truth to Remember: “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” -1 Thessalonians 5:18
6. Create One Peaceful Corner
You don’t need to redecorate your whole home. Just clear one small space and make it peaceful. Maybe it’s a nightstand, a shelf, or your kitchen counter. Add something life-giving like a candle, a Bible, or a vase of flowers. Let it be a visual reminder that peace can begin anywhere.
Truth to Remember: “Let all things be done decently and in order.” -1 Corinthians 14:40
A Final Word
The goal of this challenge isn’t perfection. It’s presence.
It’s about slowing down long enough to notice the beauty already around you, and the God who’s in the middle of it all.
Whether you do one step a week or all six in a weekend, remember:
Every small act of faithfulness matters.
You don’t have to do it all.
You just have to begin.
Want to join in?
You can download the free printable version of the challenge here: 6 Simple Starts
Share your progress with me on Instagram @raychbutt. I’d love to see the simple ways you’re tending your soil and soul this week. 
