In need of some afternoon homemaking inspiration? This is the afternoon routine of a young and productive homemaker!
If you’re like me, I am at my most productive in the morning. My energy levels are higher, and I am more motivated. In order to carry this over into my afternoon routine, I have found that I need to structure my afternoon. Every afternoon varies for me, but all in all, this is a pretty normal afternoon as a homemaker. You will learn about some of the tasks I take care of as a homemaker, and how I time block and manage my afternoon. My afternoon tasks are much slower pace than my morning tasks, and includes time to work on my blog. Intention is something I always have to incorporate into my afternoons, which makes them more productive and enjoyable.
This post is all about the homemaker’s afternoon routine.
12:00PM-12:30PM
Eat Lunch
Every day, I always get hungry for lunch at this time. I usually have an earlier breakfast, so by 12:00, I am ready for another meal. When I worked full-time, lunch was just another mile marker in my day; one step closer to going home. Now that I stay home, lunch has become an enjoyable part of my day. It no longer signifies the “half-way” point. I always make myself a heartier lunch, since I don’t usually snack until we eat dinner at 6.
Being a HUGE, self-proclaimed foodie, I really do love making myself food that I know will make my soul happy. I don’t go overboard, but I usually make myself a sandwich with chips, or soup with some bread. If I’m feeling fancy, I might make a charcuterie board that I graze on throughout the week. Eating something substantial mid-day satisfies me until supper. Since I do eat lunch alone every day, I do like to make it feel a little bit special. This means watching Gilmore Girls while I eat. Lorelai and Rory always put some spunk into my day! I like to take my time when I eat lunch, because in the past, I didn’t always have that opportunity.
12:30PM-2:00PM
Homemaking Tasks
This varies day to day, but mostly incorporates a mix of tasks, such as laundry, cleaning, tidying, or baking. Since I do a round of homemaking tasks in the morning (see how I time block and manage my mornings in my post, A Homemaker’s Morning Routine), these tasks are usually lighter ones, and are a continuation of earlier tasks. Sometimes I will also bake cookies or muffins for my husband, which he can enjoy throughout the week. I don’t usually plan out exactly what homemaking tasks I need to get done at this time, they just happen naturally. One task leads to another and before I know it, I am well into the afternoon.
2:00PM-4:30PM
Work On Blog
This part of my day is fairly new to me, but has quickly become a part of my routine. I believe that as homemakers, we have been gifted with the freedom of time. When I first became a homemaker, I viewed this freedom/free time as something negative. I had always been someone who went full speed ahead, and transitioning into becoming a homemaker was a huge change for me. (Read about how I managed this transition in my post, 5 Practical Tips to Help You Navigate Life Transitions Like A Pro). In the past, I was always working toward something (graduating high school, getting into college, graduating college), and I felt like I was not being productive with this free time.
I did a lot of homemaking tasks which fulfilled me, but that only went so far. I think in a lot of situations, homemakers are generally older than I am, and tend to have kids. Being a homemaker so young, I felt like I wanted to take advantage of this free time, and turn it into something. I wasn’t quite ready to be a 100% homemaker, and I wanted to have something I could work toward. Being a homemaker genuinely makes me happy, but I found myself wanting to contribute as a wife, and wanting to take advantage of this gift of time I had been given. I wanted to use this time intentionally, and build something I could be proud of.
My blog only takes a couple hours of my day, and I am able to stay home while I work on it. It’s the perfect endeavor for me, and I spend these couple hours in my afternoon either writing, content planning, or learning.
4:30PM-5:00PM
Relax
By this time, this homemaker is tired! I start making dinner at 5, and my husband gets home at 5:30, so from 4:30-5:00, I take time to regroup. What I do during this time depends on how I feel, but I will usually read, go on Pinterest, or watch a show. With a homemaker’s job being within their home, I think it’s important we remind ourselves that we need breaks. Some things can wait to get done tomorrow!
Since our work is in our homes, it can be challenging to let that dish go unwashed or let that load of laundry go unfolded. Nonetheless, downtime is important, and will keep us from getting fed up with our tasks. Fully enjoying those breaks without feeling guilt may be challenging at first, but you will be a better homemaker because of those guilt-free breaks!
5:00PM-6:00PM
Make Dinner
Up and at it again! After feeling refreshed from my break, I get on to making dinner. Since I prep supper in the morning (read about how and why I do this in my post 7 Simple Homemaking Tips To Help You Keep A Tidy Home), cooking dinner is a smooth process for me. All my ingredients are already prepped, which means I just need to actually combine them and cook it. The degree to which I prep supper varies depending on the recipe. If it is something like a casserole, I will prep the entire thing ahead of time, so all I have to do is pop it in the oven.
If it is a recipe that requires me to cook it in the moment, I at least gather all my ingredients. I also pre-measure, pre-chop veggies, and pre-trim/cook meat if I can. I find doing this allows me to more quickly make dinner, and helps me better gauge when dinner will be ready. My husband gets home at 5:30, but we like to eat at 6. I also better enjoy the cooking process when all my ingredients are out and ready for me, it makes me feel like I’m Joanna Gaines on her cooking show (haha)!
I hope you were able to get some inspiration from seeing what my afternoon routine as a homemaker looks like. It took me some time to form this routine, and I have no doubt it will evolve with me. Just remember that your routine should serve you, and should align with what you want your days to look like.
This post was all about the homemaker’s afternoon routine.