Slow Homemaking Routines for Happier Homemakers

Simple and actionable tips for slow homemaking that will help you to ditch the pressures of rushing so you can truly enjoy your homemaking.

Lately I’ve been in a rut. I’ve been struggling with a lot of self-doubt with regards to my homemaking. I had all of these GRAND intentions for the New Year (sparkling clean house, hearty, from scratch meals, all of the home-sewn goodness….). And when it didn’t all happen right away I was feeling down in the dumps.

I was doing everything that I thought I should: I planned my days in my planner, woke up early, had a serious cleaning schedule, but something was still missing! I wasn’t getting most of my big goals done AND I just wasn’t….. happy! Every day was feeling like a race to the finish and when I didn’t get everything on my mile long to-do list completed I was upset with myself.

Now tell me, have you ever felt like this?

Something had to change. After a lot of thought, an inspiring blog post on a friend’s site, and a few cups of tea in the late evening, I realized something.

Homemaking is not a race. Its not an end-all-be-all. Its a constant thing that we are going to be doing for the rest of our lives (which I am so thankful for).

Most of the time I really enjoy being efficient and productive. I even have a post HERE on increasing your productivity as a homemaker. AND I have a productivity for homemakers ebook for my email subscribers HERE. BUT, I think its important to note that there is more to homemaking than just productivity and efficiency. Let me repeat that, there is more to homemaking than just productivity and efficiency.

Homemaking is meant to be ENJOYED! And savored. And breathed in. Its carefully setting out a vase of fresh flowers, just because. Homemaking is taking the time (and I mean really taking the time, not rushing through it) to fold your growing family’s laundry. Its that afternoon sun coming in through the windows when everything feels golden and peaceful.

Do you want to know how you can create a simple and old-fashioned homemaking routine, just like Ma Ingalls? Do you want to find time to make sourdough bread and garden and clean your home like grandma did? Do you want a slow, simple, wholesome home life? Click HERE to get my all-in-one guide to Old-Fashioned Homemaking for the Modern Woman!

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed or rushed to get it all done, I want to encourage you practice slow homemaking for a spell. See how much happier and more content it can make you!

RELATED: Homemaking 101: Ultimate Guide for Beginners

How to Practice Slow Homemaking

Incorporate a few of these slow homemaking practices into your daily routine if you’ve been feeling rushed and out of sorts.

Do Things Yourself, Stop Letting Something Else Do Everything

Now, I am thankful for modern conveniences, don’t get me wrong. Dishwashers, vacuums, dryers, they’re all wonderful. BUT, when used too often I feel like they take away the satisfaction of a little elbow grease and a job well done.

These conveniences promote the idea of getting things done quickly just to move on to the next thing. Why do we have to rush through our homemaking tasks? Why can’t we do them ourselves? Here are a few things you can start doing yourself, even if its just every once in a while.

Hand wash your dishes. Even better, make your own dish soap bar AND THEN hand wash your dishes.

Spend an afternoon hanging your laundry on the line. It will be fresher, and you’ll feel like you’ve taken a step back into a different era.

DON’T use your instant pot for every meal. Enjoy the process of actually making a meal from start to finish (even if it takes a few hours), just like grandma used to.

Make some food from scratch, like homemade yogurt, crusty bread, and your favorite granola. Take your time and really learn the recipes.

Use a good old-fashioned broom where you can, even if it’s just to sweep off your front porch.

Put Out Fresh Flowers (Or Whatever Else You Fancy)

I’m a big believer in fresh flowers. I may not have the trendiest house on the block (hello popcorn ceiling and brown paneling), but I can clean it up, set out a vase of sunflowers, fluff some pillows, and it will sure be welcoming.

Flowers make you pause! They’re reminiscent of days past. They’re sweet, and old-fashioned, and purposeful.

They show that you care about your home, and its not another thing on your to-do list. A vase of fresh flowers is slow and intentional.

If you don’t have fresh flowers available to you, or it’s not the right time of year, work with what you can. Cut a few evergreen branches in the winter, or bring in small pumpkins in the fall.

Know What Your Priorities Are For A Clean Home and Be Satisfied With Them

A cluttered and dirty home doesn’t make anyone feel good, lets be real. Slow homemaking isn’t about not cleaning or not doing your job. Its just about not rushing through it like everything is something to check off a to-do list.

Take a few minutes to decide what the priorities are around your home to make it feel clean for you. I’m not talking about deep cleaning. What tasks can you complete in an afternoon that will make your home feel clean and fresh?

This can include putting the dishes away, picking up the toys, and sweeping the kitchen floors.

RELATED: 15 Minute Tidy-Up Routine

Now, if you want a slow day, get your priorities done, and be satisfied with that! Don’t feel like you have to do more. You don’t always have to be ahead of the game. Use your extra time on occasion to practice some slow homemaking activities….

Have Slow Homemaking Activities

If you enjoy having things to do and you don’t want to feel lazy, incorporate some slow homemaking activities into your routines. These are things that might usually be thought of as a waste of time. But they don’t have to be!

For example, you can keep a written recipe book and update it often! There’s nothing wrong with calling up your Aunt Marie and asking her for her banana cream pie recipe. AND THEN taking the time to write it down.

I don’t know how many times I’ve called or texted my mom for a recipe, felt too rushed or like I didn’t have time to write it down in my recipe book, and then had to ask her again for it another time. Crazy!

Take your time at the grocery store! Don’t use the grocery pick-up options. What’s the rush? Think about how grocery shopping used to be in days-gone-by. It was a fun and enjoyable experience that was treasured! Grocery shopping was a time to get out and socialize with your community, smile at your friends and say hello to your neighbor.

Sit down at the table and EAT meals with your family! Make dinner-time and conversation a priority.

Sew new cloth napkins for your table or an apron for a friend. Sure you could save time by buying both of those from the store, but where’s the fun in that? Just because it saves time doesn’t make it more valuable. Sometimes the value is in actually doing it.

So, are you ready to practice slow homemaking from now on?

I think as a society we’ve had it ingrained in our minds that we need to always be in a rush. Don’t believe that anymore! There is value in the mundane tasks and there’s value in savoring each moment.

I hope you can find a good balance of productivity with your homemaking, and remembering to slow down and set out that vase of sunflowers.

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