How To Be a Productive Homemaker
Perfection is a productivity killer. When we aim for perfection, we miss the mark every time. We're left feeling empty and unaccomplished. With a standard this high, day after day, it becomes quite the yoke. Letting go of this burden will help you become a more productive and joy-filled homemaker.
This can weigh so heavily on us that it actually prevents us from growing and building character as mothers and homemakers. We become ashamed of our lack of "measuring up", so we fail to give our best and resist meeting with God due to guilt. We must recognize our place.
The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
Proverbs 14:1
If you want to be productive as a homemaker and learn to come out from under the pressures placed on you, either by yourself or by others, consider carefully these ideas for aiming high without feeling defeated.
Pray each morning
We need to be filled with His strength every morning before our day begins. God is our lifeline for endurance. We need to constantly be connected to the Spirit so that we are building our homes up rather than tearing them down.
Our day-to-day happenings are what makes up our life and the lives of our children. Prayer should absolutely be a large part of it.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Romans 8:26
Work the Plan
Though we don't want to be overly rigid about following our plan, we still need to have one. Knowing what to do and when to do it will save precious time and guess work.
The only way to make the plan work, though, is to work the plan. Set your priorities at the top and work your way down. Decide which days you'll deep clean, menu plan, file papers, and so on.
Don't be afraid to change what's not working. Each season of your life will require some changes here and there. This is YOUR plan. Tailor it to your family's needs.
Purge Often
One of the best ways to keep the cleaning aspect of homemaking simple is by purging often. Do not hang onto things you do not need or do not use. The more stuff we have, the more time we need to spend maintaining that stuff.
I always consider what's more important - fostering relationships or fostering stuff. Both take time but only one has value.
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2
Practice Routines
Developing habits is no easy feat, especially for those of us who have a rebellious side against schedules and routines. We need to resist the temptation to we scrap the schedule when we don't follow it perfectly.
Developing a daily schedule takes practice. Everyday practice. A routine helps us to get vital things done everyday. They also offer major stability to a household, and security for your children. Even if it doesn't play out perfectly today, wake up tomorrow and walk out the routine anyways. Relationship with Christ should weave through your routines and your life.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:9
Be Flexible
We can miss important moments when we focus too much on just getting our to-do lists completed. When we prepare ourselves for interruptions, we are less likely to become frustrated by them, but instead, embrace them as part of God's plan.
Our first priority as moms is to raise our children in the Lord. We can hurt this course if we constantly become frustrated with them for "upsetting our plans". The plan is merely a tool. Don't allow it to control you.
In his heart, a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9
Let Go of Perfection
Perfection does not exist the way we think it does. Working ourselves up because we cannot do everything perfectly is nothing but a waste of precious time and energy. Jesus died for the very reason that we could not live up to these standards. That doesn't mean we shouldn't put in effort! Yes! We should put in our best efforts. And where we fall short? Jesus fills that gap.
Homemaking is holy work because it's serving the ones we love. But it won't save us nor condemn us. It's a part of life that we can either embrace and work well, or fight every step of the way.
..for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24
Persevere
The key to all this productivity besides the aforementioned, is to keep pressing on. To not give up no matter how hard things get or how many times they go awry. Staying on course is the key to winning the race in the end.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
Being productive isn't about putting out more work in less time. It's about walking in the calling God has for you, and slowing down to embrace the moments you're in. Part of being productive is being present.
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