3 Ways to Feel More Productive at Home + Free Printable

Homemaking isn’t just about getting chores done—it’s about optimizing our daily routines for better efficiency and satisfaction. Simple habits, when consistently practiced, can drastically change the way we manage our homes. Today I’m talking about three fundamental habits that will help you feel more productive and actually get more done. So let’s talk about 3 ways to feel more productive at home and elevate your homemaking routines.

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I’ve been a homemaker for over 32 years now and it took me a while to get the hang of it. The 3 ways to feel more productive at home were literally foundational habits that helped me be a better homemaker.

In today’s fast-paced world, many of us find ourselves juggling various tasks at home, striving to maintain a balance between work, leisure, and chores. Surprisingly, sometimes the tiniest acts can make a significant difference in how your day turns out.

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Here are three simple yet powerful practices that can transform an ordinary day at home into an incredibly productive one:

1. Make Your Bed

It might sound trivial, but starting your day by making your bed can set a positive tone for the rest of your day. Not only does it instantly tidy up your sleeping space, but it also cultivates a sense of accomplishment.

Admiral William H. McRaven, in his famous commencement address, said, “If you make your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride, and it will encourage you to do another task, and another, and another.”

Making your bed is a foundational habit. It might take only a couple of minutes, but it requires a consistent commitment. Over time, this cultivates discipline, which can then spill over into other areas of life. If you can maintain the routine of making your bed daily, you’re training yourself to maintain consistency in other routines too.

Besides, after a hectic day, coming back to a well-made bed feels inviting and provides a sense of serenity.

2. Laundry: From Start to Finish

One of the common pitfalls of home chores is letting tasks linger and pile up. Laundry, for instance, can quickly become a daunting mountain if not managed promptly. By starting a load of laundry early in the morning, you set in motion a task that runs in the background as you go about your day.

Washing, drying, folding, and putting away clothes may seem like a lengthy process, but breaking it down into smaller chunks can make it manageable.

Hannah helping me with the laundry when she was little.

As you transition between your different chores and tasks at home, you can progress with the laundry process. By the end of the day, not only will you have a fresh set of clothes ready, but you’ll also have the satisfaction of completing a chore from start to finish.

Laundry, when left undone or half-done, not only occupies physical space but mental space too. It’s an unfinished task that lingers in the background, adding to a homemaker’s mental load. By seeing it through from start to finish, you’re clearing not just your living space but also making room in your mind for other tasks, family interactions, or some well-deserved relaxation.

You deserve to have your laundry done and put away – and out of mind.

3. Clean As You Cook

The kitchen is often described as the heart of a home, a place of creativity and nourishment. But it’s also a space that can quickly get cluttered, especially if you love experimenting with dishes. A key habit that can make cooking enjoyable and efficient is cleaning as you go.

There’s a certain mental burden that comes with seeing a pile of dirty dishes or food scraps scattered about. By cleaning up as you move through the cooking steps, you reduce the visual and mental clutter, making the process more enjoyable and less daunting.

It means that once your meal is ready, you’re not immediately faced with a mountain of clean-up, allowing you to truly enjoy the fruits of your labor.

By rinsing utensils and mixing bowls immediately after use, wiping down counters, and keeping ingredients organized, you prevent the accumulation of mess. This not only saves time post-cooking but also ensures you have a clutter-free space to enjoy your meal.

Plus, a tidy kitchen is more inviting the next time you decide to whip up a meal or snack. And I know for me, I cannot begin to cook the next meal until my kitchen is clean.

Cleaning as you go is a game changer for the home cook!

Conclusion

Productivity at home isn’t always about big achievements or monumental tasks. Sometimes, it’s about the small habits we incorporate into our daily routines. By making your bed, managing laundry efficiently, and cleaning as you cook, you set yourself up for a day filled with accomplishment, order, and satisfaction.