8 Things Intentional Homemakers Do Every Day

Do you want to flourish in your home? Be intentional in your everyday, mundane routines! Successful homemakers practice these habits on a daily basis.

Successful homemakers practice these habits every day! #IntentionalHomemaking #HomemakingHabits #SuccessHabits

I have good news for you: you can flourish as a person wherever you are! Any house (even if it’s not ideal), any state, any financial situation, any life season. You can experience joy, you can grow, you can bloom where you’re planted.

The key to a richly rooted life is not to let life merely happen to you, but to be specific and intentional in how you approach it.

I love exploring what intentional living looks like on a practical, everyday level–because it really can permeate every sphere in which you move. Think about your role as homemaker: it might seem pretty commonplace, and just one of the many hats you wear, but if you perform your role with intention you bless not only yourself but everyone else who comes within the bounds of your home.

I’ve watched other women whom I admire and I’ve thought about what it takes to be an intentional, successful homemaker. There are eight habits that are common among intentional homemakers, and I’m working to practice each one.

8 Things Intentional Homemakers Do Every Day

1. They Have a Morning Routine

There are a million ways your morning routine can go, but if you’re an intentional homemaker you’ll have one. Smart homemakers know that a morning routine sets the tone for their day. It oils the machine to keep you–and your home–running more smoothly in the hours ahead.

Regardless of what hour you choose to get up, make your morning routine a blend of things that:

a.) bring you joy and re-focus you as a person

b.) help you get on top of your day to minimize friction later

For help with crafting an effective morning routine tailored to your needs, check out the self-paced Make Over Your Mornings eCourse by Crystal Paine.

2. They Get Dressed Up

Intentional homemakers know that the way they dress affects their actions and attitudes. They put thought, style, and even a little pampering into their everyday ensemble.

What you wear affects your actions and attitudes! Every homemaker should make time for style.

Whether you commute to work or stay home most of the day, show respect for your job by presenting well. I’m not telling you to dress up like June Cleaver (unless you want to!), but I firmly believe that leveling up your appearance will level up your homemaking as well. Try it!

3. They Sit Down for Meals

Don’t shovel in your food on the go. When you sit down to eat you take a stand against our always-efficient, never-pausing culture that will keep you in a constant state of stress, if you allow it. 

The intentional homemaker takes time to sit. She minimizes distractions and focuses on the ones she shares a meal with (or herself, if dining alone). She enjoys her meals with all her senses and creates an atmosphere for her family to do the same.

4. They Appreciate All the Little Things

Intentional homemakers are really good at noticing things. They’ve trained themselves to be observant, not so they can criticize, but so that they can appreciateNo matter what chance or a schedule may serve up for the day, an intentional homemaker will find moments to be thankful for.

Master the habit of noticing the little things that are beautiful.

Have you ever read One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp? It’s a profound reminder and example to capture the small, simple blessings of the day and let them water your soul. Master the habit of noticing the little things that are beautiful–the smell of your baby when he wakes up warm from his nap, the way the sunlight filters through the kitchen curtains, or the taste of your first sip of coffee in the morning. Here are four of my favourite daily pleasures.

5. They Course Correct

Every woman has days when she feels like she’s blown it…and it’s only 10:00 a.m.! But intentional homemakers take responsibility and then take action. Instead of slogging on in a sour or stressed mood, they choose joy and make the best of unfavourable circumstances.

Your mundane daily actions might seem unimportant, but in reality everything you do shapes you to become either a matriarch or a martyr. The matriarch is the woman you want to be. She’s the mother or grandmother you look up to, the woman who gathers and guides her family, who makes her home a haven rather than a holding cell. The martyr is the woman you become if your default is to complain. If you have an inflated view of your contributions to the home and a bad grace about your family’s, then you’re headed for a martyr complex.

When your day is veering off course, take a few minutes to clear your head, recenter, and do the next thing with grace and purpose.

6. They Work Towards Their Goals

Intentional homemakers aren’t constantly distracted by the never-ending “urgent.” They have long-term goals, and they come closer to meeting them on a consistent basis–daily, if possible. They take one small step towards their goals every day, even if they can only spare a few minutes.

Think about the goals you want to accomplish in the next year or five years. Do you want to learn to be a better cook and get more efficient in the kitchen? You could work on efficiency by setting a timer while you prepare supper, or improve your cooking by making mashed potatoes every week until you master them.

Do you want to start a profitable blog? You could spend 20 minutes per day writing, or devote 20 minutes at bedtime for reading an eBook on marketing.

Answer emails and keep the bathroom clean, but don’t forget to set aside time for big picture improvements.

7. They Maintain Their Home (in manageable chunks)

Intentional homemakers stay on top of routine tasks by keeping them routine. Every day they do something to contribute to an orderly home, rather than waiting until the to-do tide rises past high water mark. They wash the dishes like a responsible adult, do laundry, complete a weekly cleaning task–they might have different housekeeping schedules, but they do what needs to be done.

Do routine homemaking tasks every day to keep your home in order.

I had a breakthrough when I realised how my own psychology affects the way I manage my home. When you figure out how you tick, you’ll do a much better job keeping your home running smoothly, too.

[question]By the way, if you want some high-impact ways to make your home look more tidy (even when you’re short on time), be sure to grab my free “cheat sheet” here![/question]

8. They Have an Evening Ritual

Intentional homemakers don’t follow up a purposeful day by frittering away their precious evening hours. They don’t binge-watch Netflix until they stumble bleary-eyed to bed! Instead, they spend their evenings in pleasant pursuits that nurture mind, body, and relationships. (Here are 9 ideas for that!) As bedtime draws nearer (and they do have a bedtime!) they engage in a wind-down ritual that wraps up the day and prepares them for restful sleep.

[question]Now it’s your turn to weigh in! What do you think are some of the habits and qualities of an intentional homemaker? Which ones are you working on right now?[/question]

Here are 8 qualities of an intentional homemaker.

51 Comments

  1. I learned a long time ago that any of us can get into martyr mode if we allow ourselves to. Wives and mothers do contribute a lot to the household. I find that when I begin to believe my contributions are greater than those of others’ in my home, I remind myself that I chose this life and would choose it again. I love my role as homemaker although I have many other roles too.

    1. I have to do that, too–remind myself that this homemaking role is one I dreamed of! My attitude and actions in this role are the biggest factor in whether or not I enjoy it and learn to excel.

  2. Great tips! I’m working on being more intentional about managing my housework so that it doesn’t pile up…. literally!

    1. That’s great! If you haven’t read them, yet, two of my favourite housekeeping books are How to Manage Your Home without Losing Your Mind, and The House That Cleans Itself. Both really made me rethink the way I approach housework and home management!

      1. I’m still working on following a daily routine I’ve created. I have a daily/weekly cleaning list I put together and still find myself going and randomly cleaning whatever’s in front of me! So the hard part for me and I have no idea why, is checking my planner frequently and following any kind of schedule or routine. I came up with a plan, organized my planner and that was as far as I went with a routine. I love the idea, I get excited about it but haven’t yet managed to hang on to it.

  3. I learned from the Fly Lady years ago, Never go to bed with out first making sure your kitchen “sink shines”! Meaning your kitchen is clean, much easier to wake up to a clean kitchen…

    1. That’s excellent advice. I read (I think it was in The House That Cleans Itself) that you should think of your kitchen sink as the last dish. Wash all the dishes, and then do just one more–wipe your sink!

  4. Thank you! I was reminded and reroute in what I’m called for in this Season of my life. Have worked for 12 years and stopping to be a trailing spouse and stay at home mom is a big shift of gears for me. But I really want to Intentionally excel in this homemaking aspect of my life ☺️

  5. Thank you,
    Much like the Flylady way of doing thing. Dressed to shoes.. morning & evening routine.

    thanks for all your wonderful posts..

  6. Almost everything you said here was what my now 82 year old mother told me when I decided to marry and become an intentional housewife. I’ve always found my life rewarding and strived to be the best I could be. These are great suggestions and they WORK! Thanks for sharing!!!

    1. You’re very welcome…and thank you for sharing your experience! Life is very beautiful, and we can add to the loveliness by being intentional wherever we’re planted.

  7. Great thoughts! Wish more women around me valued the role of intentional homemaker. It’s not that they don’t care for their homes or families it’s just that they don’t see it as “enough”. In a culture that is loosing it’s value on the intentional home-thanks for using your voice!

    1. I absolutely understand this struggle! I graduated with my Masters, started my career, and then decided I wanted to stay at home and care for the home and eventually raise and homeschool our children. I was constantly having to defend my choice to others, even my own relatives, who didn’t understand that my husband and I have goals to eventually start a farm as well. It seems like society is constantly saying that women should do whatever makes them happy, but so many people automatically assume that being a stay-at-parent doesn’t count. For now, I’m a homemaker, and I’m happy with my decision.

      1. That’s interesting, isn’t it? I think caring for the home is such beautiful, fulfilling, life-giving work, and I hope I’m part of a new generation who wants to revitalize that concept. Many of our readers here are, too! That is great that you are happy and confident in your decision.

    2. Thank you, Amy! I agree–women in our culture keep overloading themselves and adding “To Dos” to their lives. I think being more intentional with our homemaking will lead to a simpler, more peaceful path.

  8. Wonderful blog! I was a stay-at-home mom and homemaker for 20 years. Looking back, I wish I would have been more intentional in the beginning. now that I have been back in the workforce, I long to be back in my home. Caring for my family, my farm, my home. I would give anything to go back in time. I just want the younger women to embrace their time at home. Enjoy creating the home your family deserves. Love your babies unconditionally. They grow up and move away before you know it.
    Love, from one who has been in both worlds.
    Tina

    1. Dear Tina, thank you so much for that advice and encouragement. It is so good for me to hear from someone with your perspective! Sometimes we homemakers get swamped in the everyday urgencies and forget the bigger picture.

  9. I really appreciate this post – it is super practical, realistic and encouraging (unlike a lot of fluff I come across on Pinterest that doesn’t offer real, actionable suggestions!) I think my favorite is “They Course Correct” – this one is CRUCIAL! Thanks for sharing this! 🙂

    1. Thank you, Traci! I come across so many of those “fluff” posts on Pinterest, too! I want my posts to go deeper, and I’m glad you found it to be that way(:

    1. Thank you. It’s something that I’ve really been think about in my adult life. I want to be intentional about the type of legacy I set!

  10. Thanks for the reminder of the difference between being a matriarch and a martyr. Definitely a good thing to remember on the hard days!

  11. Elsie, great post–I’m Pinning it now. Whether one works outside the home or in, in a paid job or not, it’s good to remember that our environment shapes us so we need to shape it! Having a clean and tidy home is more important than having a magazine-layout, trendy home. And the work that goes into it IS important and worthwhile work. ~ Jean

    1. Thank you, Jean! Since managing my own home, I’ve become keenly aware how important place is to me. It’s a responsibility but also a gift to be able to shape that place and be intentional in my actions towards that!

  12. This was the perfect read for me today! I’m a firm believer that each day we make a choice as to what kind of day it’s going to be. That being said, we need to make it a conscious decision. Some days instead of choosing to make it it a joyous day, I just let the day unravel of its own accord instead. (Never a good idea, of course). Reading this today was such an affirming reminder of why I do what I do and how grateful I am that I’m able to be a full time homemaker .
    Thanks so much for the perfectly timed reminder.

    1. I’m so happy this post found you at just the right time! I, too, love being a homemaker, and I don’t want to take that gift for granted!

  13. Goodness, I feel like I need to print this and put it in my bullet journal to start my day with! Thank you for such a great, direct post!
    I’m sort of starting over in this journey on many levels and just now creating my new way. I’m on my 3rd marriage, after 2 abusive ones I’m finally married to my high school love. We are about to close on our new house to be able to get back to homesteading. Combined we have 8 children with #9 on the way … my oldest 3 are adults :o. I’ve never been allowed to be the homemaker/housewife as I’ve longed to, my job just downsized so we are taking this time to shift to me being home ♡
    With this new life, being home, I have to come up with routines so my day will be intentional and productive!
    Right now I use a bullet journal to track what needs to happen in a day from appointments to chores. I try to start and end my day with it to know what’s ahead, adjust things I may have not done today or mark things I did early. I meal plan for the month here as well.
    I have lots to figure out still on how to best run our house but it’s a start 🙂

    1. Thank you, and I’m so glad you found the post helpful! It sounds like you have many good things ahead of you!

      I’m familiar with the bullet journal concept, but I’ve never actually done it. I have my “list journal,” combined with my planner, which works well! But a bullet journal sounds so fun I might need to try it sometime.

  14. This is great:) I struggle with the getting dressed part. I figure why make more dirty laundry!

    I always think about June Clever – could you imagine lol

    My best friend makes herself feel good everyday (as a homemaker) and I admire that in her.

  15. Oh how I needed this reminder today. I am a homemaker and consider it to be my calling. It is a gift and a privilege to be at home caring for the ones I love. Right now with this COVID19 thing going on I am also providing childcare for my grandchildren. I have to be honest here lately I’ve had some pretty stressful days, but I can see after reading your blog post being more intentional could alleviate a great deal of stress. Thank you. I’m saving the post to refer to in the future. I’m sure I’ll need reminding again.

  16. Oh no, I think I tipped over into Martyr mode a while ago and now struggling to get out. Thank you for a great read! I WANT to be a matriarch and it’s how I envision myself, but the reality is so far from that. Will be turning off my computer after this and setting to work.

  17. Great post, lots of good info however I don’t think there is anything wrong with watching Netflix at the end of the day. Kinda comes across as a bit judgmental even if it wasn’t intended to.

    1. Oh no! Sorry it came across that way. Of course sometimes watching a movie or show in the evenings is a perfectly fine way to enjoy time with family members or on your own! What I meant with that phrasing ‘They don’t binge-watch Netflix until they stumble bleary-eyed to bed’ refers to the times when we OVER-indulge (like be gluttonous with food, except in this case with TV) and stay up past a time that is healthy. When we do that, we suffer and our family suffers the next day because we’re tired–and a vicious cycle can start.

  18. I came across this today, and I really needed it. I have also fallen into the martyr syndrome and what I really want to be is matriarch! So very much! And I’ve struggled to get back out of this way of thinking… and yet, I know this new year 2022 the Lord is showing me that He is doing some new things, and I believe He wants me to be a matriarch and that He will help me to get to that place, I’ve been there, I’ve been full of Joy. You’re right, when we focus on what we bring and the joy of serving our families there is peace. It’s when I start feeling like my husband or my teens don’t appreciate what I do (and some times, maybe they don’t… but one day they’ll look back and be thankful like I was when I reached adulthood) that I get into self pity and that’s never a good thing. I’m going to mark this page and go through each number starting tomorrow when my kids go back to school! Thanks so much for this! Blessings!

    1. You’re welcome, Jenny, and thank you for leaving this comment! I hope January has been a great start for you in this regard and that you “keep on keeping on” in the year ahead! When my mother passed away suddenly last May it made me so grateful all over again for what she gave to our family. We have often felt a bit lost and untethered without her…which is hard, but is a testament to what an anchor she was and how she embodied what a true matriarch can be.

  19. This article was great! I have become a foster parent to twins and have returned to being a stay at home mom to them. This has always been my calling (with a few other callings while I was an empty nester) but this is where I love being. It was a wonderful reminder to stop living in the world of rushing. I have found myself losing joy in what I do daily and feeling like my house is a mess because I am inadequate, I am not. I just needed to be reminded of how to take time in each day to reconnect to my old self. Thank you very much for sharing and being open and venerable with us.

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