When I was growing up, I always knew that I wanted to be a mom and a homemaker. My mama worked and so did my daddy. I went to school and so did my brother. Fridays was mama’s main day to clean and run errands. She was the main keeper of the home and my brother and I never had real chores to help around the house. Mama never asked for help. However, as a child and into adolescent years, I always loved to help (at friends homes anyways) to clean and organize anything I saw that needed attention. I learned how to do the dishes and clean a bathroom.. laundry took some time…actually to this day it’s my kryptonite. Although I loved to serve those around me, it didn’t really give me an accurate picture of what it takes to be an effective homemaker while having young children around.
In order to become an effective homemaker, there are certain habits that need to be developed and practiced on a regular basis. These include things like meal planning, budgeting, organizing your home, creating routines and schedules for yourself and your family members, learning how to delegate tasks effectively, developing good communication skills with family members and other people in your life, learning how to prioritize tasks based on importance and urgency, taking time for self-care activities such as exercise or relaxation techniques, being mindful of energy conservation practices in the home environment, and having an attitude of gratitude towards all aspects of life. All these habits can help you become an effective homemaker who is able to manage their home efficiently. I have learned from friends and amazing books such as:
Habit # 1: Create a Clear Vision or Family Vision
Having a clear vision is essential for effective homemakers. A beautiful, vibrant home doesn’t just happen; it takes planning and intentional effort to get there. When creating your vision, it’s important to think long-term. Imagine looking back in ten years and ask yourself what you want the atmosphere of your home to be like then. What kind of memories do you want to have created? What kind of environment do you want your family to live in?
When I become a mom for the first time almost 10 years ago, a dear friend made me a sign with the quote “Be the mom you want them to remember.” This sign hangs in my living room till this day, encouraging me to be the mom I truly want my kids to remember. It helps me to stay the course and trust God in the sanctification process or rearing small children. This sign is a huge part of my vision of of a joyful home.
Another benefit of creating a clear vision is that it creates purpose, especially on those days where you experienced sleepless nights. It will be the guide you make all your decisions you make when it comes to homemaking. It will help you stay focused on what matters most and prioritize tasks that are necessary for achieving your goals. Having a clear vision also helps keep you motivated and inspired as you work towards creating a life giving and joyful home that your family and others feel welcomed and wanted.
Habit #2: Follow Natural Rhythms
Having a routine or a rhythm is crucial for me to stay organized and productive. I strongly encourage you to find a planner or consider bullet journaling to stay organized as well as track the needs of your family week by week. One year my tech savvy husband created me a digital calendar that we had posted in our commanstation of our home. It helped me to view weather, appointments and stay on track with homeschool task and activities. Both paper and digital planners work well. Pick one best for you.
Children also thrive on predictable rhythms and routines. My youngest especially needs healthy boundaries and this includes meal time, play time, and nap times. Who am I kidding.. all of us in our home thrive on predictable rhythms. It keeps the atmosphere peaceful as well as restful. We know when it’s time to work hard and we know when it’s time to play hard.
Habit #3: Prioritize Self-Care
As a homemaker, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day tasks and forget to take care of yourself. Self-care is essential for effective homemakers because it helps you stay energized and motivated. It’s important to make time for activities that bring you joy and relaxation such as
Habit #3: Wake Up Before Your Children
This has been one of the most challenging, not because I’m not a morning person, because I am, but I have wee little ones who wake up early too. They get “the early bird gets the worm” trait from me. Our average wake time in out home is 6am. (How I long for the days ALL my kids to wake at 7am)
Waking up before your children can be a difficult habit to develop, but it is well worth the effort. Waking up early gives you a few moments of peace and quiet before the chaos of the day begins. It also allows you to start your day with intention and focus on what needs to be done and spend that quality time with the Father and root yourself in his word. I personally find that having this time to myself helps me stay organized and productive throughout the day as well as grace filled with my children. (If your kids are early risers too, here are 5 tips to help them develop their own quite time or keep your toddlers quiet during your morning time routines.)
If you need help in developing this habit, there are many resources available. I have written an entire post about waking before your children which outlines some tips and tricks for getting started. Additionally, there is a great book called “Creating a Morning Routine” which provides step-by-step instructions on how to create a successful morning routine. Both of these resources can be incredibly helpful in helping you establish this habit and make it part of your daily routine.
Habit #4: Intentional Meal Planning
Meal planning is key to effective homemaking. It can be daunting to think about what to make for dinner every night, especially when your family is getting hungry or HANGY. The kitchen is the heart of our home, and it’s important to have a plan for meals that will nourish your family and keep them happy. This has helped me to budget and not spend more money than needed because I am too tired or have nothing planned for dinner… who am I kidding… breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.
For years my husband has suggested a family menu and this year I am determined to make one. (get your FREE family meal planner template here)
Meal planning allowed me to save time and money by shopping for ingredients in bulk and preparing meals ahead of time. I could also ensure that my family was eating healthy meals with balanced nutrition. Meal planning also gave me more time to spend with my family since I didn’t have to worry about what we were going to eat each night. It was such a relief not having to stress over dinner every day! Habit #5: Establishing a Cleaning Routine
Establishing a cleaning routine is essential for effective homemaking. It can be overwhelming to think about all the tasks that need to be done around the house, but having a plan and breaking it down into manageable chunks makes it much easier. I like to break my cleaning routine into daily, weekly, and monthly tasks.
Daily tasks include things like making the beds, doing dishes, and wiping down surfaces. Weekly tasks might include vacuuming, mopping floors, and dusting. Monthly tasks could include deep cleaning the bathrooms, washing windows, and scrubbing the oven.
Having a plan for when to do each task helps me stay on top of my cleaning routine and ensures that I don’t miss anything
Habit #5: Declutter and Simplify
Decluttering and simplifying your life can be a daunting task, but it is an important one. It takes consistency to make it a habit, so you need to set aside time each day or week to declutter. You can’t just do it once and think that you have it all under control; you need to make it part of your routine. Put it on the calendar, have a set day or do it at the same time daily. This will help ensure that you are consistently decluttering and simplifying your life.
When you start to declutter and simplify, focus on one area at a time. Start with the most cluttered areas first, such as closets or drawers, then move onto other areas like countertops or shelves. Take everything out of the space and sort through what is necessary and what isn’t. Donate items that are still in good condition but no longer serve a purpose in your home. Throw away anything that is broken or unusable. Once everything has been sorted, put back only what is necessary and organize them into neat piles or containers for easy access when needed. Decluttering often will help keep your home organized and free from clutter for maximum organization! I totally recommend the book “Organized Simplicity” to help you on your journey.
Habit #6: Create a Budget
Creating a budget is an essential habit for effective homemaking. It can help you stay on top of your finances and ensure that you are not overspending. Start by writing down all of your income sources and expenses. This will give you an idea of how much money is coming in and going out each month. Once you have this information, create
Habit #6: Have A Cleaning Schedule
Having a cleaning schedule is an important habit to have, especially when you have a large family. I know this from experience, as I have learned the hard way how quickly things can get out of hand, especially if you don’t stay on top of it. A consistent cleaning schedule helps keep everything in order and makes sure that nothing gets neglected.
I try to do a load of laundry every day so that we always have something clean to wear. This also helps me stay on top of other tasks like vacuuming and dusting, which can easily be forgotten if not done regularly. It may seem like a lot of work at first, but having a regular cleaning schedule makes life much easier in the long run!
Habit #8: Avoid Procrastination
Procrastination is a habit that many of us struggle with. It can be hard to break out of the cycle of putting off tasks until later, but it is an important habit to develop if you want to be successful. Avoiding procrastination means doing things now instead of later. This can be difficult for some people, as it does not come naturally. However, by making a conscious effort to avoid procrastinating and taking action on tasks right away, you can make great progress in achieving your goals.
I have personally struggled with procrastination in the past, but I have worked hard to make this habit a part of my life. I have realized that tomorrow will be pretty much the same as today and that I won’t actually have more time then. By avoiding procrastination and taking action now, I have been able to make great progress towards achieving my goals and dreams. It has been worth all the effort I put into developing this habit!
Habit #9: Ask For Help
Asking for help is an important habit to develop, especially when you are feeling overwhelmed. It can be hard to admit that you need assistance, but it is essential in order to maintain your sanity and keep up with all of your responsibilities. When a friend offers to take your child for a few hours, say yes! This will give you some much-needed time to yourself or time to focus on other tasks. Similarly, if someone offers to bring over a meal or have you over for dinner, don’t hesitate to accept their offer.
It is also important to learn how to delegate tasks and say no when necessary. Make sure that your children have their own chores and are expected to do them well. If there is something that you dread doing or know isn’t your skill set, consider hiring someone else who can help you out with it. Asking for help doesn’t make you weak; it makes you smart and shows that you value yourself enough to prioritize self-care.
Habit #10: Embrace A Joy Filled Spirit
Embracing a joy filled spirit is one of the most important habits we can cultivate in our lives, yet it can be one of the most difficult. It requires us to resist the urge to complain and instead exude love, grace, and joy in our homes and to those around us. This doesn’t mean that we won’t have bad days or that our plans won’t fall apart or that our laundry won’t get done. We know that life isn’t perfect and there will be times when things don’t go as planned. But by embracing a joyful spirit, we are showing others what it means to have the love of Christ in us.
We can do this by being intentional about finding joy in the little things throughout our day—the smell of freshly brewed coffee, a hug from a loved one, or even just taking time for ourselves to relax and recharge. When we focus on these small moments of joy, it helps us stay positive even when life gets hard. We can also practice gratitude for all the blessings in our lives—big or small—and use them as reminders of God’s goodness and faithfulness. By doing this, we can cultivate an attitude of joy and harvest an atmosphere of grace we welcome and dwell with the people we love.
