Getting Started With A Homemaking Routine

I’ve always been a routine person. Like, capital R Routine. I make our bed the same way every morning (pillows fluffed and karate chopped just so), I have a preferred vacuuming day, and I’ve been known to time my laundry cycles with absolute precision. There’s something about rhythm and predictability that feels like a deep breath for my brain.

But even as someone who thrives on structure, homemaking routines can still get…slippery. Life’s busy. Work piles up. People need things. The dishwasher needs unloading (again—like seriously, how many people live here?). It’s easy to go from “pleasantly organized” to “how did the house completely fall apart between Tuesday and Thursday?” …But that’s reality, even for me.

The truth is, even if you love a routine, homemaking still takes intentionality. It’s more than just checking boxes—it’s creating systems that nurture your space and your spirit. The kind of rhythms that don’t just make your house cleaner, but make it feel more like home.

A Gentle Start to Homemaking

If you’re craving some calm structure—or just want to stop feeling like your house is yelling at you all the time—here are a few easy rhythms to try. Nothing rigid. Nothing overwhelming. You don’t need to restructure your entire life to do this—it’s just enough to help you feel like, “I got this.”

1. Start with a Reset (15 Minutes Tops)

Every morning or every evening, pick a time to do a quick reset. This isn’t a deep clean—it’s a “make things feel okay” sweep. Fluff the pillows, run the dishwasher, wipe the counters, take the trash out before it overflows. You’d be shocked how much clarity 15 minutes can give you. I like to do this in the evening before bed, so that when I come out for coffee at 4:30 a.m., it’s tidy (and I can enjoy my coffee, in the dark, peacefully, ha!).

2. Pick a Weekly Anchor Task

Try assigning one ‘bigger’ thing per weekday. Think…

Monday – dust + vacuum day
Tuesday – bathroom refresh
Wednesday – catch up on laundry
Thursday – fridge cleanout (yes, you’re throwing out that weird container today, hopefully before trash day)
Friday – sheets + towels

It’s shockingly satisfying to know, “Oh, today’s __ day,” instead of trying to do everything at once (usually hogging up the whole weekend) or…forgetting entirely until it becomes a full-on crisis.

3. Use Your Evenings Wisely (But Softly)

I’m not saying scrub your baseboards at 9 p.m. (unless that’s your jam). Just take 5–10 minutes after dinner to put the kitchen to bed. Wipe the table, sweep crumbs if needed, maybe light a candle. Get the coffee ready for tomorrow and finish up that load of laundry you know you left in the dryer. It doesn’t just reset your space—it helps reset you for tomorrow. Then you can start each day fresh.

Also, leaving a clean sink at night is basically a love letter to your future self. You can thank me for this tip later ([email protected] anytime you want to chat, haha)

A Few Things Not Everyone Does (But Maybe Should)

Let’s normalize the slightly old-fashioned things that make a house feel truly cared for. Not perfect—just loved.

Open your windows. Air the house out. Even for five minutes. It’s amazing what a breeze can do.
Polish your wood furniture. Or at the very least dust it once a week. It brings back the warmth and gives the room that “someone cares” glow.
Wipe the baseboards. Not every day. But maybe every other week? It makes such a difference.
Have a house scent. Not in a “buy all the candles at Target” way. Just one scent—lavender, citrus, cedar—something that feels like your home. Bonus if it’s from an oil or a simmer pot.
Restock your ‘nice things.’ Candles, toilet paper, hand soap. Nothing makes me feel more like a functioning adult than having extras on hand when I need them. #preparedness=happiness

And If You’re Feeling Behind…

Let me say this as someone who has definitely had cereal crumbs on the couch and a mysteriously sticky floor more than once—homemaking is not about perfection. It’s about grace. And intentional care.

There’s no gold star for having the shiniest floors, but there is something pretty powerful about creating a home that feels good to come back to. One that supports you. That reflects your values, and one that comforts your people.

So if you’re thinking about getting started homemaking, don’t wait for Monday. Just pick one thing today. Fluff the pillows. Fold the laundry. Put on a hype playlist and make your bed. Sometimes just pretending you’ve got your life together is the very thing that actually helps you get it together. Funny how that works. 😁

What’s one little homemaking rhythm that’s been making your life feel better lately? Or maybe one you want to start? I’d love to know.