Homemaking As A Millennial- 5 Useful Practices And Tips

Growing up, it was always made abundantly clear to me that as an adult I was to be a career woman. More precisely, I was not supposed to be just a homemaker because then I would not be living up to my full potential. I guess this wasn’t something unique to me. For the past few decades, most little girls across the world have grown up with the idea that homemaking is not something to brag about.

I went on to complete my education and entered the world of corporate. In my twenties, I had achieved most of what I had aspired to. I was working at a cushy job and was financially independent. Homemaking still seemed to be a foreign thing to me. And yet, during this time, the words of one of my teachers intrigued me. My professor was of the opinion that there is no greater career in this world than that of a homemaker!

Life Happened

Life usually doesn’t unfold as we expect it to. In my case, I found myself half a continent away from my home country after marriage and without a traditional job. For a while homemaking became my only occupation as I embarked upon the journey of setting up a new home with my husband. Honestly, I was full of resentment for I had never imagined myself as “just a homemaker”. But boy was I wrong in my assumptions.

I did learn the hard way that homemaking is perhaps the most challenging job out there. However, it is also the most satisfying one when done with dedication. I eventually figured that being a homemaker made me way happier than my previous jobs. But that’s just me. Everyone is different and has specific wants and needs out of their lives.

What remains constant in all this is that homemaking is one of the oldest jobs out there and it will keep on playing an important role in our lives for a long time. So, why not make it a little easier, manageable, and perhaps more enjoyable along the way?

Millennial Homemaking

I am not even sure whether millennials like me even think of this as homemaking. The world is changing at such a breakneck speed that it is kind of difficult to keep a track of how things are perceived. But whatever we may wish to call it, homemaking in the present era is a mix of both modern conveniences and traditional wisdom. Striking a balance between the two is very crucial to achieve effectiveness.

To that effect, here are 5 useful homemaking tips and practices that I have garnered from personal experience. As a millennial who is always on the move and working now as a freelancer, I find these to be really helpful in my life. I hope that you find some inspiration here as well.

1. Approach It Like A Job

The biggest mistake I made when starting my journey of homemaking was not to treat it just like any of my previous jobs. Yes, homemaking is a legitimate job and if you approach it as anything less during the present times, you will be at the risk of running wayward.

Make it a point to wake up at a specific time. Put in some effort to look presentable, even if you are planning to spend the entire day at home running chores. Well, nowadays, we are spending most of our time at home. That doesn’t mean that we should spend our days like slobs. I am not saying that you need to put on a power suit while tackling your homemaking tasks. Just make sure to clean up and be tidy.

When you think of your role as a homemaker to be another job, you can bring a specific structure to your day. This is especially useful if you are someone who thrives in the discipline.

2. Create Routines

Routines are the key to productivity. Understand what works best for you and your family and then create routines around that. You can carve out smaller 5 to 15-minute routines for your morning and evenings. Or you can go for detailed regimens that list out all your to-dos if that is your jam.

Related Read: My friend Mansi from Simple Inspired Blog has written this awesome piece on essential cleaning tools for frugal homemakers. Do check it out!

3. Meal Planning

Many people vouch for meal planning. Before I included this in my daily homemaking life, I thought that it was overrated. But once I started this practice, I can surely say that it is a game-changer, especially if you want to save time in your busy life. Whether you like to cook elaborate meals for your family or try to get your work done in the kitchen as fast as possible, meal planning will benefit you.

It does take a little time when you first start with it. But with time, you will become more adept at the whole process. By dedicating some time to the planning and then prepping the key components for your week’s meals, you will be able to save a lot more time throughout the week.

And let’s be honest here, planning for and cooking meals is the single most time taking part of our homemaking duties. If we can optimize this part then it will be overall beneficial.

4. Schedule And Compartmentalize

Gone are the days when homemakers were always trying to be at the beck and call of their family. Millennial homemaking is all about taking care of the home and family while making time for personal and professional work. An effective way of striking this balance is by adopting a method of scheduling for and compartmentalizing various tasks.

To that effect, make sure to have some kind of demarcation of time for carrying out various chores and tasks. When you have little kids, this can be quite challenging. But hey, we can try. For others to respect our boundaries, we have to put them up first. And while it might not always be feasible to stick to schedules, having them in the first place will create a semblance of decorum. Moreover, this practice can allow you to feel less harried on crazy days.

5. You Do You

Finally, there is no one size fits all. This is the most important thing to remember. Just because something is working for one person does not mean that it will work for you. Each one of us is different in our habits and behaviors. Needless to say, this will translate into how we tackle our homemaking duties as well.

Take some time to understand what makes you productive and happy. Carve out a process that is unique to you. And most importantly, refrain from comparisons.

Important Yet Unpaid!

A few years ago I had come across this intriguing article that attempts to figure out the real salary of a homemaker. I now understand my professor’s wisdom much better. It is a bit sad when people say that they are ‘just a homemaker’. For, the value of homemaking cannot be possibly measured in terms of monetary gains.

As millennial homemakers of the modern generation, our challenge lies in honing the art of juggling our careers, families, home, and our hobbies. But as with everything in life, time and practice always make us better.

Peace.

Do you have any related experience or story to tell? Please share in the comments below. I would love to hear from you.