Homemaking is the art of making a house a home. At least that’s the way I view my homemaking profession. Sure, I want all the cute decor and pretty furniture, but I also want a healthy atmosphere for my family. One way I can support the physical health of my family is with these healthier homemaking baby steps.
There are lots of ways you can make your home a healthier place.
I’ve narrowed it down to four areas that should cover most areas of homemaking: mental, emotional, spiritual and physical.
The first three areas are going to depend on you and your family.
But the last area of physical homemaking is more tangible and black and white so I’ll share a little extra. Just because the physical health of your home is usually the easiest to deal with, don’t skip over these first three areas.
By prioritizing mental, emotional and spiritual health in your home, the physical healthier homemaking baby steps may fall into place more easily.
4 Areas for Healthier Homemaking Baby Steps
1. Mentally Healthier Homemaking
I want my home to be a safe place for my family’s brains to relax. Let their minds unwind and just be.
A home that is organized and somewhat clean is one way to put my husband’s mind at ease when he comes home from working. He can relax in peace and use his mental energy for reading the news and catching up on the latest farming breakthroughs.
It’s amazing how much an organized home helps my toddler, too. Many times I forget to have my son pick up the toys in the living room before going to bed.
The mornings he comes out to a chaotic living room, he just wants to be in my arms or clinging to my legs. On mornings when he comes out to a clean living room, we read a few books and then he wanders off to play with his toys.
2. Emotionally Healthier Homemaking
Emotional health of our home is mostly up to my husband and me as parents. The way we interact with each other can be sensed and witnessed by our child. The way we interact with guests in our home will also be learned by our son.
It is also up to us the parents to nurture, train and make our son feel emotionally safe. Both through words and actions.
Being a stay at home mom, I have a great opportunity to provide an organized, warm and welcoming atmosphere to the rest of my family to help lessen frustrations. This will also free up emotional mental space in the minds of other family members for more important things.
Read More: 13 Action Steps for When You are Unmotivated
3. Spiritually Healthier Homemaking
We are spiritual beings.
I am a Christian and have put my faith in Jesus Christ for my eternal salvation. It is on the principles of my faith that I live my life and therefore align my homemaking priorities with.
If I am spiritually healthy, I can carry out my daily tasks with greater ease. My attitude will be better and my patience will be longer.
By modeling to and guiding my family, I give them the opportunity to discover their place in this world through their intimate Creator. I demonstrate devotional time and prayer. I demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Nope. I’m not perfect. Never will be.
But with a healthy walk with my Savior, I’m free to learn and grow from my imperfect self and free to be more vulnerable in my humanity.
Read More: The One Thing that will Make You the Best Homemaker
4. Physically Healthier Homemaking
I saved this section of healthier homemaking for last on purpose.
Have you ever heard the expression “There can be a happy donut just as easy as there can be a sad salad.” I have no clue who shared this nugget of truth, but it hit me hard when I heard it.
I can run around all day having a healthy home by external appearances, but if my home is a rotten place mentally, emotionally and spiritually – no amount of health food and removing toxins is going to make a healthy home.
For help with this part of your homemaking, sign up for my Five Day Healthier Homemaking email challenge!
Healthier Homemaking Baby Steps
1. Get Rid of All Sugary Drinks
I know, this one’s a doozy. Water really does taste great with a squeeze of lemon. And tea can be enjoyed for its flavorfulness rather than its sweetness.
It may take a while to kick the taste buds that crave the syrupy sweetness, but give it time. Soon you’ll be chugging water, straight up on the rocks.
Consider a filter pitcher
Read More: How to Make Kombucha
2. Fresh Air Every Day
Make a point to open a window in several rooms throughout the day. With modern homes being so tight and well built, it is even more important to allow fresh air to come in.
Even in the dead of winter. Even in the sweltering summer.
3. Bye Bye Conventional Cleaners
Kick them to the curb.
Most conventional cleaners aren’t safe to inhale or absorb through your hands. Leverage the power of vinegar and baking soda for your cleaning needs.
Try your hand at making your own or find a brand you trust. Young Living has a whole line of safe cleaning products. I know, they look expensive, but there are so many hacks to diluting these products to make them cheaper than other “natural” options.
Otherwise, I like to add Young Living oils to my homemade vinegar cleaner.
Read More: Genius Household and Beauty Uses for Vinegar
4. Purify Your Air
Depending on where you live, indoor air quality can be worse than outdoor air quality.
Yikes!
Sure, you can grab one of these air purifiers
If your budget can’t afford a purifier, no worries! Houseplants do the trick. Snip some starts from a friend, buy some at the greenhouse or check the clearance section at a department store.
Place a plant in each room in your house for purification and decoration.
5. One Meal a Day from Scratch
Preparing a meal from scratch is usually healthier, cheaper and more fulfilling. An easy meal to start with is breakfast.
Try your hand at fried eggs or oatmeal. Fry some bacon and cut up some fruit and Voila! Breakfast.
If you are just starting out on your cooking journey, keep it simple. Salt and pepper are your best friends.
And ground beef. Did you know you can cook FROZEN ground beef in the Instant Pot
So be real with yourself.
Where do you need to start on your healthier homemaking journey? If it’s with this last section of physical stuff, great!
But if you need to take some time and shift the mental, emotional and spiritual health first, be diligent to that.
You might be surprised at how this physical category of homemaking falls into place easily after supporting your home and family in the other three areas.
Being a homemaker truly is the greatest profession on earth. And my desire is that you cherish your role. Go slow. Learn from those who have gone before. Glean from those beside you on this journey.
Try not to get overwhelmed.
Use these healthier homemaking baby steps to give your home a healthy kick in the pants.
