A Homemaker’s Daily Schedule

Every homemaker’s daily schedule will look a bit different, but sometimes it helps to see how someone else structures their day. Here’s a peek into my current personal schedule.

When people find out that I’m a homemaker, they often want to know what my day looks like. I think sometimes they’re wondering what exactly homemakers do all day!

Does being a homemaker mean I have unlimited amounts of free time? Do homemakers just sit around eating bonbons and feeling bored?

Hardly! Homemaking never gets boring!

I’ve had many jobs in my life, but being a homemaker has been the most challenging as well as the most rewarding career ever.

One thing I’ve learned is that having an orderly home doesn’t just happen. It takes a lot of planning and intentionality. A  schedule helps me with that.

A Homemaker’s Daily Schedule

For me, it helps to have a daily schedule to follow. This helps me to be intentional with my days rather than just drifting through life.

And just because I advocate the use of a schedule or routine, that doesn’t mean that I follow my schedule perfectly. I never do. Things come up, kids get sick, life happens.

But I still like to have a basic framework for my days to help me get closer to accomplishing my goals.

A schedule also eliminates lots of decision fatigue. If you already have a basic plan for the day, you don’t have to wonder what you should do first thing in the morning. You’ve already got that planned out.

My Current Schedule

Recently, I updated my schedule for the new year. My hope is to make my days as productive and intentional as possible.

And, I hope to make some progress on my goals for this year.

RELATED: 7 Habits of Highly Effective Homemakers

My goals include being an intentional mom (spending one-on-one time with the kids), as well as personal and home goals.

As a homeschool mom, you’ll see our homeschool time reflected on the schedule. If you don’t have kids at home during the day, you could have more homemaking, cleaning, and project time scheduled in during that time.

There’s also time for exercise, cleaning tasks, cooking, and one-one-one time.

Here’s a basic outline of my current schedule (again, this is my goal but I don’t always succeed!):

• 6:00-9:30 Morning Routine (my current morning routine includes Bible and prayer time, reading time, exercise, showering, and morning chores)
• 9:30-1:30 Homeschool Learning Time with kids
• 1:30-2:00 Lunch
• 2:00-4:00 Projects (decluttering and organizing, creative projects, baking, or online work)
• 4:00-5:00 One-on-One Time with kids
• 5:00 Start Dinner
• 6:30 Dinner
• 7:30 Evening Routine
• 11:00 In Bed

About the Schedule

You’ll notice that my morning routine takes several hours at the beginning of my day. During this time, I’m reading, praying, exercising, taking a shower and getting dressed, and eating breakfast.

I also have time for working on a few cleaning tasks early in the morning. In addition to making the bed and straightening the master bedroom, I also have a few cleaning jobs to work on, based on what day of the week it is.

Now that my kids are older, this morning routine works for me. Back when I had only younger children, I couldn’t have had such a long morning routine like this.

That’s why I’m continuously adjusting my schedule. As our life seasons change, the schedule and routines change with it.

While I’m doing my morning routine, my kids who are still at home have their own reading and prayer time. Then they make their breakfast, take care of their breakfast dishes, and start on their independent school work.

The time slot designated for “projects,” is the time for working on DIY projects, big cooking or cleaning projects, sewing or crafting, and online work.

Our evening routine includes things like cleaning up from dinner, family devotions, and other family activities.

My husband works in the evening, so we carry on without him until a couple hours before bedtime. Then he stops work and reads aloud to the younger kids before bed.

Weekend Schedule

The schedule above is for Monday through Friday. Our Saturdays look a bit different. My husband and I both work Saturday mornings, and we may do grocery shopping or another family project later in the day.

We try to have a rest/family day (and ideally do a device fast) on Sundays.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read my disclosure here.

My Homemaking Planner

I like to transfer my schedule into my daily planner (this is the planner I’ve been using for the past two years).

I feel like it’s the best planner for homemakers, because it also includes helpful checklists. Read my review of this planner here.

 

How to Make a Schedule

Now that we’ve talked about some of the ways a homemaker’s daily schedule can be beneficial, you might be wondering how to make one that actually works!

Here’s my simple process for How to Make a Schedule.

For some homemakers, it works better to focus on a simple daily routine, rather than a rigid schedule.

I put times on my schedule just to use as a guideline, but we often don’t follow it exactly.

One thing I always keep in mind is that the schedule is just a tool to help us to be more productive. It’s not my master.

If things don’t go according to plan, due to sickness or other factors beyond my control, that’s okay. I just do what I can and remain peaceful, knowing I can try to go back to the schedule later.

When Schedules Don’t Work

There have been seasons where a schedule didn’t work for me at all. This was usually a season with a newborn, or during all-day-and-night pregnancy sickness, or chronic illness.

Whatever the reason, sometimes it just doesn’t work to have a schedule.

And there’s nothing wrong with that.

One way to maintain a semblance of order and still feel like you’re accomplishing something during these difficult days, is to make a daily list.

The Daily List Schedule

Here’s what I do during those times when a schedule (or even a routine) just won’t work.

I get a small, cheap spiral notebook from the dollar store (like this one).

Before bed each night, I write down everything I need to get done. Everything from getting dressed, to making and eating breakfast, to putting a load of laundry in the washer.

After I have my list down, of everything I want/need to get done the next day, I highlight the most important things.

The next day, regardless of the time, I just work through my list. For the most part, I don’t worry about what time it is (unless the task is something time-sensitive, like an appointment or something).

I love being able to check the tasks off the list as I go. I can see that I’m getting things done, even if they’re just basic things necessary to survival, like feeding and clothing the kids and doing laundry!

If times are really stressful, I like to put something enjoyable on the list too, like having a simple tea party with the kids or reading a few seasonal picture books aloud.

Planning like this probably won’t be as productive as using a more structured schedule, but you’ll eliminate the feeling that life is out of control and you’re not getting anything done!

And remember, it’s just for a season. One day, things will probably settle down and be more predictable (or maybe not, and that’s okay too!).

Creating Your Own Homemaker’s Daily Schedule

I hope this post has given you some ideas for creating your own homemaking daily schedule or routine.

The important thing is that your schedule serves you and your family. Keep trying and don’t get discouraged if it takes some time to figure out what works for you!

Read This Next:

How to Make a Schedule That Actually Works

Best Planner for Homemakers

 

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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here. Sharing here.