How to be a great homemaker? That is a question I’ve been asking for a while now. I love homemaking, I love my family, but recently, I’ve lacked motivation and feel like I can’t keep up. And its taken me a while to relearn how to be a great homemaker. Turns out, being a great homemaker isn’t just motivation, it’s not just about skills, organization, it is about your mindset. So, let’s look at how to be a great homemaker when you have no motivation left.
How To Be A Great Homemaker
When I think about a great homemaker I think about a perfectly cleaned house, a woman well dressed and made up, homemade meals, a pillar in their community. Just perfection really. That’s not me. My house isn’t dirty, but it is cluttered. Things need repaired. I am not well put together, and sometimes I’ll walk the dog in the morning to go potty in my nightgown and cowgirl boots. Plus, I hate socializing and I have a pretty deep-rooted fear of people (which I’m working on with God’s help of course).
I don’t fit any of my description of what I think a great homemaker is. Also, add in the fact we moved so I don’t go out much anymore and have many more chores since we bought a farm. It gets dull, boring, doing the same thing over and over again. There is a lack of excitement, no adventure…besides everything breaking, and you just kind of lose sight of things.
Homemaking became a chore, one that I resented. I wanted to love it again, but it just felt like I couldn’t get out of this deep rut of misery and unfulfillment. And I feel like I am not alone. You feel tired, unappreciated, needs unmet, and wonder… why am I doing this? It’s all about perspective, and I think many of us lost that.
Related: Here are some great homemaking tips that I wish I knew when I was younger.
Being A Great Homemaker Is About Change and Mindset
Once I got into that negative mindset, it was hard for me to be positive. And positivity isn’t necessarily the answer. Anyone could say “This sucks” in a peppy voice. No, rather, you have to look at homemaking differently and remember why you’re doing it in the first place, and who you’re doing it for.
I was looking at it like this:
- All I do is clean.
- All I do is cook.
- I’m tired.
- I’m alone.
- I wish people would stop asking me for things.
- Great, something else is broken.
- What else can go wrong?
- I’m bored.
- Everyday is the same.
- There is no excitement.
- Nothing is the way I want it to be.
And then add in the severe self-depreciation, and not in a joking way, it became an ugly spire of self-pity. Gross, I know. But at some point, I started doing some Googling to try to find some answers and I came across an article that talked about romanticizing your life as a homemaker. And it made sense!
I realized I was on the hot mess express with a bad attitude and in order to find joy in my life again, I had to change my mindset and my day to day activities.
Romanticizing Your Life As A Homemaker
1. Be In The Presence Of God
Our wells get empty when we refuse to take time to spend time with God. He refills our well. We need to be focused on Him so we aren’t focused on ourselves. We do all things for Him, and not man. And I think sometimes we forget where our focus should be.
2. Be Intentional and At Rest
If you’ve ever read “Captivating: Unveiling The Mystery of a Woman’s Soul” there is a section about women at rest are at their best. Needless to say, I was not a woman at rest. I was a rushing, frazzled, frustrated woman. I needed to be at rest. That doesn’t mean do nothing. That means I needed to slow down. I needed to be intentional with my time and how I filled it. I needed make sure I had time off and downtime. To appreciate my home and family.
3. Be Joyful and Cheerful
I recently learned about mirror neurons which can cause people who are watching us to mirror us in ways like our moods. And I’ve been in a bad mood as of late and have noticed the mood in my house has not been as good. Plus, I lost my joy for life. Something I never thought could happen. And I think this happens when we aren’t as close to God. As we are not supposed to complain, and we are to do all things for God, and He is the one who refills our hearts and heals our souls. So, I needed to go back to God.
4. Bring Beauty Back Into Your Life
I’m a practical woman. If it isn’t useful in survival, generally I won’t bother with it. And that’s a very practical way of life and a great way to save money. Plus, I don’t want my neighbors to judge everything I do, which they have a habit to do. Needless to say, I no longer have smell good candles, no more plug ins, no pretty flowers, or décor. And that’s fine, but sometimes having pretty things around can really change how you look at things.
I’m not saying I need to spend a ton of money as I can make a bunch of décor myself. But sometimes walking into the house and smelling a simmering pot of fruit and spices is nice and cozy. Sometimes admiring some flowers on your counter is nice. Pretty things feel fulfilling and can make things feel brighter and more romantic.
5. Take Care Of Yourself
I’m so embarrassed to admit this. I have not been dressing up. I know I wrote an article about dressing up and showing up, but I stopped. Mainly because my washer broke and washing extra clothes by hand sucks, but I didn’t see the point anymore if I was just going to cook and clean. And that’s exactly why I should. My husband and my home is worth dressing up for.
6. You Deserve Breaks
Take a break. To be a great homemaker, you have to have breaks. Small breaks during the day and even a day or two off. It may feel like you can never take a break because someone always needs to be taken care of. But there are ways to make time for breaks. Prepping meals the day before, making frozen meals an heating them up, paper plates, ignoring chores for a day. Make time to take a break.
7. Things Don’t Have To Be Perfect
We strive for perfection. Or at least I do. And sometimes that is my downfall. It’s okay to strive to do your best. But, understanding we aren’t perfect and will never be perfect can sometimes make us feel like we are chasing our tails. It’s okay to not have it all together. The point is that you tried your best. You best may be 110% one day, 95% another, and you will have some days where 10% is all you can muster, and that is okay. Give yourself grace.
8. Stop Listening To Other People
People can ruin things quickly. And they don’t always mean to. But being told what to do, how to do things, being criticized at every turn, can get tired. And it makes you want to stop doing things. It’s okay to do things the way you want to do them. You pay your mortgage after all. Don’t worry about what others say.
How To Be A Great Homemaker…Your Way
All of our homes and families have different needs and we all have a different style of doing things. And while it’s okay to take advice and learn from others, we have to do things our way. Trying to live up to others is going to make us miserable. And I feel like I learned that the hard way. Also, saving money and being practical is also great, but sometimes letting beauty in and slowing down is also okay, and makes things feel more worth it. So, if you’re wondering how to be a great homemaker, remember to slow down, find God, and bring romance back into your homemaking!
More Homemaking Posts From Homemaking For God
- Learn How To Butcher A Deer Yourself At Home
- Ideas On How You Can Create An Urban Victory Garden
- What Is An Emergency Family Plan and Why Do You Need One
- How To Make Reusable Toilet Paper
- US Medicine Shortage And How To Prepare For It
- What You Need To Know About The Upcoming Recession
- How To Prepare For Food Shortages
- Being Prepared For Disasters and The Unexpected
- Recognizing and Treating Heat Illness
- Learn To Hand Sew: How To Do Basic Stitches
Ever wonder how to be a great homemaker? Have you figured out the secrets to being a homemaker? Share them with us, we’d love to hear from you.
