The Creative Life of a Homemaker
As I sit down to write this, I know a few things. There are most definitely remnants of scrambled egg on my kitchen floor that I missed when cleaning my son’s breakfast mess. There is a basket of clean laundry that has been folded for at least a week but I still can’t find the motivation to put away. And my bed isn’t made. But, I have poems to write and newsletters to send, so I am sitting down at my desk, typing away, trying to ignore the welling up of anxiety stemming from all the things I haven’t done. Oh, and I’m hungry, but I do have a snack break scheduled, so I’m hanging in there.
Today I thought it would be fun to talk about how I manage a household while also managing my creative impulses. Mostly, how do I find time for creativity in the mundane day-to-day of keeping house. And a little bit about how I set aside time for intentional creating (such as up-keeping this newsletter and writing/submitting poetry regularly). I hope that if you, too, are a creative homemaker, that you will at the very least find this relatable. If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comments. Solidarity is a very valuable thing indeed.
Without further ado, here’s my small list of some processes that have been helping me lately.
I do not “meal plan.” At least, I do not meal plan in the traditional sense. I do not liking making time to plan out meals. I do not like the stress in the grocery store of having to find every single thing that I need. Instead, I buy pantry staples, and stock my fridge. I have a very limited budget, so I buy meat that is on sale, keep things simple, and use a calculator at checkout. Then when I am home, I can be creative in the kitchen! I use what I have to come up with delicious meals. I’ve been doing it long enough that I have go-to recipes that use those pantry staples I mentioned, but not meal-planning keeps me from overspending for the sake of my menu. And I do enjoy the flexibility to cater to my cravings or creative whims.
homemade chicken pot pie with biscuits made from pantry staples I love DIY/Thrifted home decor. Right now I am in the middle of a “Year Long Thrift ONLY Challenge,” so I’m being even more strict with how I decorate my home. I save a lot of money buying furniture, decor, etc., secondhand. The payoff is also great, because sometimes it takes MONTHS to find that ideal piece for my home. By the time I get it, I know for certain that it is what I wanted, because I’ve had to really think about whether the effort is worth it. And DIY home decor is really fun, and a great way to have a creative outlet that beautifies your home. Since I’m decorating my baby girl’s room soon I’ll probably be showing that process. I’m so excited to thrift all the things!!
My dining room table- DIY centerpiece and other clearance finds Another thing I try to do for myself is to set aside time for creative pursuits. Writing poetry feels like a job to me. I need time to write. With the demands of a baby, a house, and a husband, it can be hard to find time to just sit down. Sometimes I spare an hour of Byron’s daily nap to sit in front of a blank page and write. Sometimes my husband takes Byron to do things so I can have some time. If I am here, he inevitably wants “mommy!” Even though it feels counter-intuitive to take spare quiet time for myself rather than for cleaning or tidying, I do it.
Bullet journaling really helps me stay on top of my chores though! When I know what tasks need to be done, I am less likely to waste time wandering, getting sidetracked by reorganizing an entire closet. What I love most as a creative person is the amount of flexibility it affords me. I can set up my planner exactly the way that works for me. (Plus they cost less than planners designed the way I’d want.) Sometimes I even doodle in them, making my pages oh-so-pretty. Other times… I am more utilitarian and I just scribble away.
Above all, the biggest tip I have for the creative homemaker is to give the work to God every day. My sister told me once that she made it a point to give God time in prayer before anything else, and ask that he’d bless her so she could make the most of the day she had. On the days that I sit down and follow her advice, I am more productive. One, because God is merciful and kind and blesses me more than I deserve. And also because once I’ve given the day to God in prayer, I don’t want to waste it. I want to use it for His glory. Colossians 3 says “Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, for the Lord and not for men, because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” I want to do that honor God in everything I do.
What about you? What are some things that help you be more creative in your every day life?
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