As a homemaker you need to know simple, actionable steps that will actually make a difference in your home.
A lot of women weren’t taught how to be homemakers growing up and then end up feeling overwhelmed at home as adults.
That’s why I put together this mini challenge I call the “Back to Basics Homemaker’s Challenge.”
It’s meant to be done on a weekly basis. You’ll focus on one habit the first week and then build upon that habit and add another simple habit the next week.
These habits are a perfect place to start if you’re feeling want to stay on top of the dishes, laundry, and meal planning.
Challenge 1: Clean your kitchen every night after dinner.
One of the best things in life is waking up to a clean kitchen! That may seem like an exaggeration, but it literally changed my life! 🙂
This week make it your goal to clean up your kitchen every evening after dinner:
- put away food
- clear plates and dishes from the table
- wipe down the table
- sweep the floor
- load the dishwasher and/or wash the dishes
- wipe down countertops
One way I simplify this habit is by letting the clean dishes air dry overnight on the counter. Also, this is a great habit to include your children!
Depending on your child(ren) age, they can help out. even toddlers can learn how to carry their plates to the kitchen and throw trash away.
My elementary age kids clear their plates, utensils, and napkins from the table.
They also wipe down the table, sweep the floor, and help with the dishes.
Challenge 2: Wash, dry, fold, and put away laundry.
This week your goal is to wash, dry, fold, and put away one load of laundry each day.
Sometimes I get some pushback on this homemaking habit.
As with any of the challenges, make this one work for you. The key is to stay on top of the laundry throughout the week.
Here’s how it works for me.
Each morning my 8 year old starts a load of clothes. Sometimes he needs my help, but he’s been doing this chore for 5 months now. He also helped me for years before that, so he’s pretty independent at this point.
We wash most all of our clothes on the cold, normal cycle. However, we separate the sheets, towels, whites, and delicates.
Some days there isn’t enough clothes to do a normal load. That’s okay. We just skip a day or do a load of towels instead.
Then I put the load into the dryer sometime midmorning. By the afternoon or evening I fold the load and everyone puts their laundry away.
If you tend to procrastinate folding your laundry, this is a good challenge for you. Only folding one load of laundry at a time is not as daunting as having to fold 10 loads!
Again, make this one work for you.
Challenge 3: Have a dinner plan early in the day.
Do you ever get to the end of the day and wonder what’s for dinner? Then you realize you are out of a key ingredient or the meat is still frozen!
This week’s challenge is to have a plan for dinner early.
Figure out what works for you. Maybe that means having a plan 24 hours in advance or the morning of.
Here’s how it works for me.
Each week, I start out with a plan of about 7 meal ideas and a general idea of which day I’ll make them.
Then each night, after I clean up the kitchen, I decide on tomorrow night’s dinner. It only takes a couple of minutes, but saves me a headache the next day.
I pull out frozen meat from the freezer and put it in the fridge to thaw.
Then I quickly check the pantry and freezer for other ingredients that are needed to complete the meal.
Sometimes I forget to do it the night before, so I’ll do it in the morning instead.
This simple homemaking habit has simplified my homemaking, saved us money, and lessened my stress.
Challenge 4: View homemaking as your job and life’s mission.
Homemaking may be your full time job, or you may have a job outside of homemaking.
But it’s important to remind yourself that your main job is caring for your home and family.
When you view homemaking as your job it will give you purpose. You’ll know that what you’re doing impacts your family, friends, and the world.
Viewing it as a job reminds you to take needed breaks. If you were to work outside the home, you would be required to take breaks during the day. You need breaks as a homemaker too. Otherwise you’ll end up getting burned out.
When homemaking is your job, you follow your own schedule/routine.
If you worked outside the home, you would have a boss telling you what schedule to keep. However, you are your own boss. You get to set your own schedule and decided what you will do with your time.
As you go about your day, think about homemaking as your job.
How will that change the way you do things?
The attitude you have?
The time you spend with your kids?
The effort you put into daily chores?
Thank you for joining me for this challenge. I hope it gave you renewed passion and motivation as a homemaker.
