How to Stay Motivated When You’re Overwhelmed with Homemaking

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Homemaking is like a revolving door. Once you’ve completed a series of chores, you turn around and even more need doing. It’s exhausting. And it can be so discouraging.

I currently live alone and just by myself, I can easily find the chores to be overwhelming. I don’t make much of a mess and yet there’s always something to clean. And I can’t imagine how it is for mothers with children.

If you’re like me, where you may or may not be currently sitting in a pile of unfolded laundry wondering how you are going to do it all, hang tight; because while I can’t come over and help you (though I wish I could), I do have a few tips that may help.

1 | Get your blood flowing!

One of the most influential things, when I do my chores and housework, is how awake I am. And I’ll be honest, I’m not always awake. I work 100 hours a week and am usually tired, but I have two hacks that keep me going.

The first is for when I’m really exhausted. I grab my favorite worship playlist on my Amazon Music account and jam out to that at the top of my lungs as I clean my house. Even if it’s the middle of the night (which let’s be real, it’s often the middle of the night between my jobs) I can still be motivated enough to get a few things around the house done before I fall asleep.

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If I’m feeling a little more awake, and I’m in need of something to motivate me for a long day of chores, then I grab my favorite Audible book and get ready for a good book. (You can grab a free audiobook when you sign up for Audible now, here.)

**Side note: Yes, I do know I’m a complete Amazon snob. LOL I have tried other services for music and audio-books but the fact that Amazon has all of these bonus offers when you get Amazon Music and Audible is what has kept me on the Amazon train. It’s affordable, practical and offers a ton of Christian resources. End of side note.**

2 | Set boundaries and give grace!

If you are overwhelmed with the mess in front of you set a few boundaries and give yourself grace. Start the timer for 15-30 minutes and focus on one task. Get that done and call it good. Then, give yourself grace if you don’t get everything you wanted done all at once.

Unless you are a little bit (okay, maybe a lot of bit) obsessive about cleaning and organization as I am, you usually won’t have the ability to do an entire project in one setting.

Understand that grace looks different for everyone. For example, today my mom came over and we tackled my storage room/porch. It was encroaching on the walkway between the outside and inside doors and was overwhelming me. We got it done, but giving myself grace actually meant working for an hour or two with no breaks and when I was done a nice piece of cake. We got the project done and I’m thrilled with how much I got rid of. That’s one room done and a billion more to go.

So know your limits and don’t push past those. You may want to have your entire house clean today, and for it to stay that way…(I know I do!) But, we both know that’s not realistic. Setting a timer or deciding on one project at a time is a great way to give yourself the reward of accomplishing something, yet not over-doing it at the same time.

3 | Look to the end result!

Why are you choosing to be a homemaker? Is it to be able to post your home on Instagram and have everything Pinterest perfect? Or is it to have a home that brings comfort, warmth and security to your family?

I’m gonna guess (and am really hoping) that it’s the second one. Our families also have a responsibility to help keep the home clean, and you shouldn’t have to do that alone; but when it comes to making your house into a home, that responsibility falls to you.

Remember that when you’re cleaning and organizing, or adding a new scent or decor to your home that you are creating memories of love and a forever ideal of home for your family. Your children will always feel that home was special because of your everyday actions. Not the big things, but the little ones.

I know this can feel like the pressure is on and if you aren’t “the best” homemaker, then your children won’t have a happy childhood, but girl, you are not that powerful. You are drawing your strength and wisdom as a homemaker from God, and not once has He ever said, “Aw, she’s messed up all of My plans!”

Know you will make mistakes, you will have a messy home and your children will make messes. But know grace is abundant for all, including the weary and overwhelmed homemaker. (That’s you girl!)

Also know that you’re not alone in this! We have an entire community of homemakers from all walks of life in our Homemaker’s Corner Facebook group. Why don’t you join us for encouragement, fellowship and so much more?!