Enjoying Homemaking as a Working Mom: Life Tips!

Homemaking looks different in every season of life. Before kids, your routines might feel more flexible. After kids, your priorities shift. Maybe you are figuring out how to be a stay-at-home mom and realizing that homemaking looks different for you too.

If you’re in the same season I am – this pre-empty nester phase where you’re trying to figure out what in the world is going on – you might find yourself rediscovering something you used to love or starting to create and embrace something new.

But one thing never changes: the goal of creating a home that feels warm, welcoming, and peaceful.

This overarching vision unites us as homemakers, no matter our circumstances. It’s not about doing everything perfectly.

It’s about doing a few intentional things that make your home a welcoming place for you and your family. Here are some practical tips to help you along the way.

1. Start the Day Right (Hint: It Begins the Night Before)

A smooth morning starts with a simple evening routine. Before bed, check a few small tasks off your list. Lay out your clothes. Prep lunches if needed. Tidy up one or two key areas. These steps set the stage for a calmer start.

In the morning, try to wake up before your family. Even five minutes makes a difference. Gradually build this time into 10, 20, or even an hour if you can. These quiet moments create space for peace and focus before the day’s demands begin.

As you wake, start with prayer. Before your feet hit the floor, thank the Lord for the day and ask Him to guide your steps. Once you’re up, get dressed right away. This simple act puts you in the right mindset.

If you’re following a devotion plan, this is the perfect time to open your Bible or journal. If not, consider reading a Proverb of the day. For example, on February 5th, read Proverbs 5. This habit is simple, yet powerful.

Add a few other touches to your morning, like sipping water or doing a quick five-minute workout. These small actions help you feel prepared and grounded for the day ahead.

2. Focus on Three Things

Intentionality is key. You may have a hard time figuring out where to start on your to-do list. Think of your day in groups of three. Before you leave the house, decide on three important things to accomplish. Keep it simple. Maybe it’s packing lunches, starting a load of laundry, and thawing dinner.

At work, make the most of your lunch break. Check the recipe for dinner to ensure you’re ready. Send a quick, encouraging text to your family. Share a Bible verse or a note of gratitude to remind them they’re loved. These small connections mean so much.

When you’re heading home, plan three things to tackle after you walk in the door. Maybe you’ll wash the dishes, prep dinner, and check in with your kids.

Simple, intentional actions keep you focused and reduce that overwhelming feeling that we tend to get.

3. Let Go of Perfection

Homemaking isn’t about having everything perfectly timed or arranged. Sometimes, dinner needs to happen at 5:00, even if you’re not eating until 8:00. Preparing ahead might feel strange, but it can save you stress later.

Instead of aiming for perfection, embrace flexibility. Dinner may need reheating, and that’s okay. Your family doesn’t need a flawless meal—they need a mom who’s present and calm.

As you settle into the evening, check in with your kids. Ask about their day. What did they learn about God, others, or themselves? Share something about your day, too. These conversations build connection and help your home feel like a safe space.

4. Tackle One Thing at a Time

It’s tempting to do everything at once. Multitasking can be useful, but sometimes it creates unnecessary noise. Instead, focus on just one task at a time. If you’re folding laundry, simply fold the laundry. Don’t turn on the TV or scroll on your phone. Be present.

When you finish, don’t leave the clothes on the table or the bed. Put them away where they belong. If you have older kids, let them take responsibility for their own laundry. You can help if needed, but remember that homemaking is a team effort. Teaching your family to pitch in fosters independence and lightens your load.

When you’re working on tasks, find joy in the small moments. If you’re cooking dinner, savor the smells and tastes. Enjoy the process instead of rushing through it. These little things make homemaking more meaningful and less of a chore.

5. Create a Cozy Space

A cozy home doesn’t have to be perfect or packed with decorations. Small touches can make a big difference. Light a candle or turn on a diffuser with your favorite scent. As the evening approaches, dim the lights and turn on a few lamps for a softer, more relaxing glow.

Add blankets to your living areas or pillows to your couch. These simple additions make the space feel inviting. Decorations are lovely, but you don’t need them everywhere.

Prioritize a home that’s easy to manage and not overwhelming. Too much clutter can make your home feel chaotic rather than cozy.

6. Keep Up with Little Tasks

Instead of saving all your cleaning or organizing for one big day, tackle small tasks throughout the week. Regular maintenance keeps your home running smoothly.

For example, when you finish folding laundry, put it away immediately. Don’t leave dishes in the sink—wash them and put them away as soon as you’re done eating. If there’s something on the counter that doesn’t belong, take a moment to return it to its proper place. These quick actions prevent messes from piling up.

Decluttering works best when done in small doses. The less you have, the easier it is to keep things tidy. If your baskets or drawers are overflowing, it might be time to sort through them. Ask yourself, “Do I really need all of this?” If there’s no space for it, let it go.

One helpful rule is the five-second rule: if a task takes five seconds or less, do it right away. This could mean tossing junk mail, returning an item to a drawer, or wiping down the counter.

These small steps make a big difference in the overall feel of your home. They don’t take a lot of time and you feel so much better waking up to a clean kitchen. Well, I do anyhow. 

7. Simple Decor for All Seasons

Decorating doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. You can create a cozy atmosphere with items that work all year round. Battery-operated candles in lanterns are a great option—they’re timeless and add a soft glow to any room. Choose pillow colors that feel neutral but warm. You can swap them out with seasonal options if you want, but there’s no need to if they work well as-is.

A single candle on the dining table is simple and beautiful. Add a small pot of greenery or two, and you’ve created an inviting space. During winter, you could store the greenery and replace it with something seasonal, like a little pine arrangement.

But remember, less is more. A few intentional pieces go a long way toward creating a homey vibe.

It doesn’t take much time to clean up when there isn’t a lot to actually have to clean up. Try to keep that in mind when decorating or thinking about not having enough time for what you want to do. 

8. Homemaking Looks Different for Everyone

Homemaking isn’t a one-size-fits-all activity. What works for your family might look completely different for someone else’s. That’s okay. Every family dynamic is unique, and homemaking is about creating a home that reflects yours.

Maybe for you, it’s baking a batch of cookies on Sunday and baking a few each evening after work. Maybe it’s enjoying the process of cooking dinner while inviting your kids or spouse to join you. You could try a new recipe together, laugh over a failed dish, or make a family favorite.

But let’s be real—some days are rushed, and there’s no time to savor the process. That’s okay, too. Homemaking doesn’t have to be perfect.

Being present in the little things and recognizing the blessings—like the food on the table or the people around it—can help shift your perspective.

9. Avoid the Comparison Trap

It’s so easy to scroll through social media and feel like your efforts don’t measure up. But remember, you’re seeing someone else’s highlight reel, not their everyday reality. Instead of aiming for perfection, focus on what works for your family. 

It might be as simple as a cozy blanket on the couch or a handmade quilt draped over a chair. Maybe you keep the same pillows and throw out all year long because they’re practical and comforting. That’s what makes your home special—pieces that hold meaning or serve your family well.

Repurposing old items is another way to bring charm to your home. Maybe you have a dish or vase that your grandmother always used. It’s not just the object itself that matters; it’s the memories tied to it. Your family will appreciate those same things over time because they’ll see the comfort and predictability they bring.

10. Enjoy the Simple Moments

Homemaking doesn’t have to be elaborate to be meaningful. Some of the sweetest memories come from the simplest things. I still remember sitting at the table with my grandpa, sharing a bowl of Cheerios. It wasn’t a fancy meal, but it was time spent together. That’s what made it special.

Focus on the small, intentional acts that create a sense of home. Light a candle while you cook dinner. Lay out a quilt for family movie night. Sit down with your kids for a snack or a chat about their day.

It’s not about the size of the gesture—it’s about the love behind it.

11. Make Homemaking Doable

Homemaking is about creating a space that feels welcoming, peaceful, and livable—for you, your family, and anyone who steps inside. That doesn’t mean everything has to be spotless or perfectly styled. It just means finding rhythms and routines that work for you.

Being intentional and having some basic time management skills in place can help you find these routines. 

Do you have a good evening routine in place, but need a little help with your morning routine? Have you thought about making some adjustments to your afternoon time so that you have an afternoon routine that runs a little more smoothly?

You don’t have to buy all new things or spend hours decorating. Work with what you have. Repurpose items, cherish the memories attached to them, and focus on creating a space you love.

Homemaking is less about having the “perfect” home and more about making it a place where you and your loved ones want to be.

A lot of people find out that they have more time for their family members and for what they want to do when they have less “stuff” to manage. Less stuff means that there is less to organize, less to put away, and more space for what you do have. It is okay to not fill every nook and cranny with things. 

12. You Are Important

You really are. There is only one you and God made you for your family. It’s not always easy. 

The work week is busy. Child care can be expensive. There are a lot of household chores. Maybe you feel like you are missing out on the most important thing by holding a full-time job. Perhaps your young children are a lot of work (surprise) and you aren’t sure if what you are doing even matters. It does! Raising children to love the Lord and to do his will is eternal work and what you’re doing is so important. 

Every time you prioritize family prayers, snuggle your small children, put your “important work” to the side, do the grocery shopping, stop what you are doing when they walk in the door, you are engaging in the most important work every.

Raising your children and teaching them about love, selflessness, patience, prioritizing, gentleness, and the love of Jesus is important. Super important!

You are your husbands partner. You know how to pray for him, you know how to support him, and working together to take care of the home is a big part of family life. Maybe you love to have all the homemaking work done before he gets home or maybe you enjoy cleaning up together.

Seasons will change, rolls will change, and family responsibilities will change, but creating a home that is cozy, warm, and welcoming will probably always be at the top of your list and one of the best ways to show love to your family. 

So be patient with yourself. Be flexible. And most importantly, enjoy the process.