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Slow Homemaking

2/23/2021

23 Comments

 
Homemaking is not meant to be done quickly. Sometimes this means everything won’t get done. But I’ll take ten undone tasks and a joyful, calm spirit any day. Homemaking is a gift. It is the making of a home. It is a process, not a race. -Intentional by Grace
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Slow homemaking is about deliberately including moments of rest and pleasure in your day. It’s also about not looking at the day as a container for a list of chores to be done as quickly as possible.

Here’s what slow homemaking might look like…

(1) Preparing meals from scratch instead of grabbing whatever will be fastest in the microwave. Then, eating dinner at the table, as a family,

(2) Getting ready for the day and then, pausing to light a candle and have a cup of tea before beginning the day’s activities.

(3) Taking a break in the middle of the afternoon to meditate, go for a walk, or have another cup of tea.

(4) Saving time at the end of your day for a mindful activity, like journaling.

(5) Ending the day by reading an inspirational book or novel, instead of trying to get one last thing done before you go to sleep.

How do you move through your daily activities? Have you ever tried a slower pace?

​See you tomorrow!
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23 Comments
Jojo Reyes Jr
2/23/2021 08:25:19 am

Nice tips! I need these reminders because I tend to be in a rush most of the time whenever I cook or prepare meals.

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Jeanine Byers link
2/24/2021 12:01:38 am

I totally understand the rush to get it all over with, JoJo. But I realized that actually makes the tasks even more unpleasant.

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Glenda Cates link
2/23/2021 08:38:43 am

I love your ideas and I have decided our house is our house and things will get done when they get done. Because Stressing over it only makes me sick. So I take a lot of breaks and play time with my son. As well as make Dinner Time Family Time. We all work on the house as a family on my husbands days off.

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Jeanine Byers link
2/24/2021 12:02:47 am

Thank you! And that is the perfect attitude, Glenda. It'll all get done, eventually. That's great that you guys work on it together.

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Martha link
2/23/2021 09:07:06 am

Perfect types Jeanine! I love preparing home cooked meals, a few years ago I got out of that habit and we picked up take out almost every day after work. It wasn't until I changed to my healthy eating that I started home cooking daily. I love coming up with ideas, some are last minute but still delicious. The best slow homemaking tip for me is crockpot cooking! Nothing better than smelling something cooking all day long! I don't usually have tea during the day but I love to either start my day or end it with a hot cup of flavored tea!

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Jeanine Byers link
2/24/2021 12:04:47 am

Ooh, Martha, we're tea buddies! Oh, I know how easy it can be to grab something instead of cooking. Especially when you're tired after a day of work. But I'm glad for all of our success with the healthy eating plan and I know cooking at home has been a big part of that!

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Roy A Ackerman, PhD, EA link
2/23/2021 09:36:13 am

OK. This is where you and I part company. I blitz through cleaning my home. Don't want to waste a second more than is necessary to keep it clean and (semi-)orderly.
I prepare my meals (and my guests' meals) in rapid fashion- whether it's a 5 course dinner or a one course for myself.

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Jeanine Byers link
2/24/2021 12:06:33 am

Well, that must work or you, Roy, and if it does, I am all for it! But to be honest, I feel stressed out just imagining you doing that. Much less thinking of doing that, myself.

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Francine link
2/23/2021 10:31:39 am

I do try to break my day up with creative pursuits like painting or crochet. I do tend to whip through chores though, because I just want them over and done with!

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Jeanine Byers link
2/24/2021 12:08:36 am

I do understand that, Francine! Then you can get back to whatever is more fun. But I find that if I slow down, the cleaning can be almost meditative and grounding. And then, I'm not exhausted when I'm done. I'm glad you take breaks.

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Lily Leung link
2/23/2021 12:27:33 pm

It's my kind of day! I'm naturally slow so I try to be faster. I will stop now because it's going against my grain.

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Jeanine Byers link
2/24/2021 12:09:33 am

That's it! That's the perfect way to say it, Lily. It goes against the grain for me to rush.

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Angie Vallejo link
2/23/2021 01:33:33 pm

I love to reward myself with time to read whatever I want after I have finished a short list of household tasks early in the day. I still run around quickly to get my list done, but the "slow" part is what is lovely afterwards!

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Jeanine Byers link
2/24/2021 12:11:01 am

Well, that makes sense! And I love to sit down and read when everything is done. It's just that if I have been running around, I am so tired by then that I can barely enjoy it.

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Stacy Russell link
2/23/2021 04:17:52 pm

This reminds me that we have to do what is good for our family and not compare to our friends. The atmosphere of your home is what your kids will remember when they grow up.

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Jeanine Byers link
2/24/2021 12:11:57 am

YES!!! And it's SO important to remember that.

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Elena link
2/23/2021 04:42:04 pm

A pleasant read, I felt my demeanor calm down just reading about intentionally homemaking. You've described a peaceful way. Thanks for the reminder.

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Jeanine Byers link
2/24/2021 12:12:37 am

Oh, thanks so much, Elena! I'm so glad to hear that.

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Kebba Buckley Button link
2/23/2021 10:42:52 pm

Jeanine, you make great points! The strongest one for me is how we make our meals. Meals made from scratch, especially by someone who cares, fill us and give us much more strength and energy than do microwave meals. Like one of my favorite mugs says, "Don't stress-- just do your best". :-)

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Jeanine Byers link
2/24/2021 12:13:33 am

That's right! They taste better, and it feels better to eat them.

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Alice Gerard link
2/23/2021 11:54:44 pm

My apartmernt is still somewhat of a work in progress, but I really enjoy it. It has homes for all of my art supplies. My living room is not spacious but I have to keep the floor clear because I had to turn my living room into my own little gym. I like to cook from scratch. It is my fun and happy time. The idea of slow housekeeping is very pleasant, in my opinion.

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Jeanine Byers link
2/24/2021 12:16:51 am

I like to think of it as puttering. A little here, a little there. And I am determined to keep it like that so it never becomes a mammoth task, and then there really is no need to rush. Cooking can be the same way if you start early enough. I like that you feel the same way about your home. You know, you could tell that story in your blog posts. You could even do so in pictures. Your home's evolution over time.

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Alice Gerard link
2/24/2021 07:30:07 am

Oooh, that's a great idea! I never thought of that!!! But, yes, I can see that as a blog post... from my first glimpse of a really small, boring looking apartment until now (Alice's little art gallery! And beyond!




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  • Home
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