Homemaking With A Full-Time Job - The Little Modern Farm

Homemaking with a full-time job may seem impossible. There are so many things to juggle at home that it can be overwhelming. However, with a few tips and smart time management, it can be done!

Check out these tips and tricks for maintaining a comfortable home no matter what your schedule is like.

Pastel well kept living room for full-time job homemaking

Becoming A Homemaker While Working A full-time Job

Oh, how I’ve longed to be a homemaker. I’ve been romanticizing staying home on our little farm for as long as I can remember.

However, because of our unique school needs, staying home just isn’t possible. I currently work full-time as a high school teacher, and before that, I was a full-time registered nurse.

Living in a rural area is wonderful, but it definitely has its drawbacks. Access to schools is one of them.

I thought that homemaking was out of the realm of possibilities for me. I was destined to struggle to keep up.

That was until I realized that you don’t, in fact, have to be a stay-at-home mom to be an efficient homemaker. It just takes some skills and a mindset change.

If you’re struggling too, here’s how it’s done.

Homemakers

Some definitions define a homemaker as someone who manages the home. This small thing changed everything for me.

Sure, most people see the homemaker as the parent who doesn’t work outside of the home, but that doesn’t have to be the case.

There are many reasons why a parent has to work. Some are single, others have financial and societal obligations, while some simply choose to have a career and a family.

No matter the case, anyone can be the manager of their home. Honestly, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.

The Secrets to Homemaking with A Full-Time Job

Full hands in and out

This is an old waitressing saying, but it rings true for the home, too. If you’re struggling to keep your home tidy, try changing this one routine.

When you leave a room, remove everything that doesn’t belong in it. This can include toys, shoes, and other items that have a home in a different area of the house.

For example, if I’m leaving my living room headed to the kitchen, I’ll return anything that belongs in the kitchen to its place.

It honestly doesn’t take any extra effort, as you are probably circling your home daily anyway.

Try getting in the habit of having full hands as you move throughout your home every day.

Routines

Learning the power of habits and routines is an important part of being a homemaker. When something becomes a routine, it doesn’t take brain effort anymore. There isn’t a dread of getting the task done. You just automatically do it.

For a while, I wanted to add bread-making to our routine. The problem was that there just wasn’t enough time during the week to make a good sourdough loaf.

I started making my loaves on Sunday afternoon after church. This gave me plenty of time to stretch and fold while also allowing the dough to ferment overnight. On Monday morning, I put the loaves in the fridge to bake later.

Bread making has now become such a routine thing for me, I don’t even have to think about it anymore. I know my measurements and routine exactly.

This is just one example of how to form habits that create a well-cared-for home. You can apply this method to anything. Maybe you could do a full load of laundry before work, or clean one room in the house every day. Small routines make a big difference in homemaking!

Minimalism

Minimalism is the KEY to a well-kept home. You can organize your way out of clutter.

Being a mom of 4, there is a lot of stuff that gets brought into the house. If I don’t keep an eye on it, the stuff accumulates very quickly.

A good rule of thumb is to get rid of an item for every item you bring in. For example, if you buy a new article of clothing, clean out one of the same type that you no longer wear.

The same rule applies to children’s toys. If new toys are brought in, be sure to donate one that isn’t played with anymore.

Try to spend some time in heavy traffic areas at least once a week. If you have a spot where you regularly drop mail, be sure to go through it frequently.

Also, keeping a handle on your clutter will make cleaning a lot more manageable. The less stuff you have to dust and organize, the quicker you can get the job done.

I was raised with a very sentimental mom who holds on to everything. For a while, I felt a tremendous amount of quilt when I would get rid of something that belonged to my children.

Now, I just think of how much brain space the item is using up that can be filled with something more meaningful.

Try to keep the same mindset when deciding to bring things into your home. That throw pillow might be beautiful, but is it worth picking up off the floor several times a day?

This switch in mindset makes getting rid of stuff so much easier.

Get Help

I get it. Sometimes it’s very hard to ask for help. You feel defeated when you can’t manage your home on your own. I’ve been there too.

Eventually, you’ll realize that in order to be your best, you may need an extra hand. This can look different for everyone.

A friend of mine has someone pick her children up from school every day and work on homework with them in the afternoons until she gets home. She says this small thing has been life-changing for her.

She no longer dreads going home and getting homework done. She can get home and start spending time with her family in more meaningful ways.

For me, having someone clean my home a couple of times a month is so helpful. I work five days a week and don’t want to spend my weekends cleaning. This way, I can do small tasks throughout the week and keep my home manageable.

There are lots of different ways to ask for help. For you, this may look like hiring a laundry service or a lawn service. You could also get a tutor for your child who needs a little extra help with schoolwork.

Whatever your need is, you shouldn’t feel guilty for asking for help. We all need community when it comes to having a happy home!

Be Content

Being content with where you are in life is one of the hardest things of all. The drive for more will quickly overwhelm you and make you unhappy.

I firmly believe that social media has added fuel to the fire that we aren’t enough. We tend to think we need more, need to be more, or need to do more in order to be happy.

This simply isn’t the case. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Some of the happiest people are content with what they have.

Learning to love where you are and what you have in life is the key to managing a successful home.

You will be amazed at how much joy you’ll have when you quit striving for other people’s lives.

I struggled with wanting to come home full-time for many years. But once I realized I could still be the mom I wanted to be and maintain my home while working, it made me so much more content.

I’m no longer scheming up ways to get what I think I’ll need to be happy. I just accept the reality that I have and enjoy it the best way I can.

Try not to buy things for a month. You can look around your home with fresh eyes and be thankful for your little spot on earth. Joy isn’t about more, it’s about loving what you already have.

Change Your Mindset

Having the right mindset is important when you are homemaking while working a full-time job.

It’s important to remember that homemaking is making a comfortable environment for your family. You want to home to be a welcoming, comfortable, safe place for those you love the most.

You can accomplish this without being at home full time. Your attitude and mood will set the tone in your home far more than being spotless with from-scratch meals.

Simply being present and loving those around you will create a welcoming atmosphere.

Try changing your mindset from the things you can’t do to the things you can. Focus on what’s important to you and your family.

If eating together at the table is more important than cooking at home, try your best to make it happen.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I be a homemaker while working a full-time job?

Being a homemaker while working a full-time job requires you to prioritize what’s important to you. If you love keeping a tidy house, you might need to ask for help in other areas, like cooking.

Focus on the part of homemaking that brings you the most joy and do that well.

Is it possible to do it all, homemaking and working full-time?

No, it’s not possible to do it all. There are definitely areas of your home that are going to take a back seat to what you prioritize.

The key to being a happy homemaker is to realize that you can’t do everything. There are always going to be areas that you can’t keep up with.

If the people in your home are happy and loved, you are doing a great job as a homemaker.

Helpful Tips For Homemaking with a Full-Time Job

Break chores down into smaller chores.

Instead of cleaning all day, clean and tidy one room at a time. It’s much easier to do one room a day than to try to squeeze your entire house in on your day off.

Multi-task when you are able to.

If you’re in the bathroom while your kids bathe, take some time to wipe down the bathroom.

Throw on a load of laundry while you’re cooking dinner.

There are so many things you can do simultaneously, so you don’t get behind.

Delegate tasks to other people in your home.

This is key, especially if you have a large family like mine. Let everyone in the house help out with chores. Delegate certain things every day to a member of your family.

Kids love having a responsibility, and it teaches them valuable life skills.

If you don’t have children, share responsibility with whomever you live with. This will ensure that you are all working together to create a happy home.

Final Thoughts

Homemaking is possible while working a full-time job. The secret is defining what homemaking means to you and focusing your efforts on what’s important.

This isn’t going to look the same for everyone, so create a life that’s unique to you!

If you enjoyed this article, please share it!

More From The Farm

Modern homesteading has seen a resurgence since the pandemic lockdown days. It’s a lifestyle that seems to draw people in. The lure of old-fashioned farming methods and homemaking is very romantic. However, can modern conveniences and homesteading share the same space? I certainly believe they can.