It's a new week and I'm sharing some things I do to make it a cheerful one around our home! I recently read a quote that really got me thinking by the German poet Goethe:
"Cease striving for what you would like to do and learn to love what must be done."
It's true that homemaking has some mundane tasks, but that doesn't mean we have to be miserable while doing them. If it must be done, let us endeavor to make them as pleasant as possible! This requires a mindset shift, but here are some ideas for finding joy, contentment, and even pleasure in the daily tasks:
Plan a special sit down meal.
This is something we try to do at least once a week and the kids will remind me if we haven't! They love the special touches added to a meal like this....the candlesticks, the instrumental music, the nice glassware, fabric napkins and table setting. Their eyes just glimmer with delight on these evenings, and special meals like this often linger on with games or great conversation. Don't worry though, I'm not talking filet mignon here...it can be any meal that your family will enjoy! This is more about intentionality and going the "extra mile" once in a while to create an intimate ambiance for everyone to enjoy. Even if you are empty nesters or live alone, invite a friend over and treat them to a special evening of connection without the distraction of electronics. If there is anything the past two years have taught us all, it's that we need human connection. Life can get very busy, but carving out this quality time for you and your family is so worth it. If you have young children, this is also a great way to teach simple things like setting the table, polite manners and basic meal time etiquette. If you have older children, it is a wonderful opportunity to have meaningful conversation and eye contact without having to compete with technology!
Choose your media wisely.
We are the gatekeepers in our homes, and our hearts too. How do you want your home to feel? Peaceful and joyful? Loud and overwhelming? Most of us are greatly affected by the noise around us. If the T.V. or news is always on, it may be adding an unnecessary stress that you don't even realize you have learned to live with. For me personally, if I have the "blahs", worship music can help pull me out of it. Or if I am dreading a certain task, listening to upbeat music or a podcast can get me moving. When we work toward creating a restful and life giving atmosphere in our homes, we won't be feeling the need to escape it all the time.
Wake up to a clean kitchen.
This is a delayed gratification discipline that always pays off in the morning! Don't you love waking up to a clean kitchen?
You may not have the kitchen of your dreams, but I promise you will enjoy it so much more when it is tidy!
This is a practice that I have come to value more and more over time. It is so easy to plop down on the couch after dinner and leave my kitchen a mess...but I ALWAYS regret it and feel discouraged as soon as I enter the kitchen the next morning. I'm sure you can relate! The first step in the"Fly Lady" cleaning method is "shine your sink". It is amazing how one simple habit can propel you into a smoother day.
Make task this more enjoyable by lighting a candle and listening to music while you work :)
Treat yourself to flowers.
One of my favorite little touches in homemaking is keeping fresh flowers on the dining table. Usually it is something I have clipped from the yard, but if nothing is blooming, I will clip greenery or pick up a $4 bouquet at the grocery store. It brightens my spirits each time I see it, and motivates us all to keep the table "clutter free"!
A load a day keeps the mountain away.
One load of laundry a day. That means...
washed,
dried,
folded
and PUT AWAY!
This is another "Fly Lady" practice. Anyone have a bad habit of leaving clothes in the washer, dryer or in piles all around? I certainly do! But I have been trying to start a load every morning. We are a family of 5 and so occasionally I am doing a second load of linens, but usually just one will keep things manageable. Little by little, the mountain of laundry disappears, and so does the panic of kids looking for baseball socks on Saturday morning and your husband looking for underwear. Haha!
Bonus tip: This is completely unnecessary but if you're into decor and aesthetics, swap out your ugly plastic laundry baskets for thrift store wicker baskets or metal wire hampers from a store. It will inject a little beauty into the mundane ;)
I hope these ideas help to inspire and motivate you this week as you set about your important work in the home. I am cheering you on!
Until next time!
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