I know, most of us get sick and tired of cleaning and keeping the house up day after day. If you have kids, it’s even worse. Most days it feels like I’m taking one step forward and two steps back.

I saw a saying once that said: ” Cleaning the house with kids around is like brushing your teeth while eating Oreos.” Well, I have three kids and three dogs so it’s more like sweeping your front porch in the middle of a sandstorm! I battle toys, crumbs, dog hair and toothpaste in the sink every day.

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Growing up I always wanted to be a stay at home mom. I wanted to take care of the kids, clean the house and cook meals for my family. I still enjoy it and wouldn’t change it for anything but, there are days I have to remind myself why I do it and make it a point to find joy in those tasks.

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Here are some ways I find joy in being a homemaker:

–Buy some special cleaners. I usually use Lysol Disinfecting Wipes or something similar but, when I’m feeling burnt out on housework, I break out the “special” cleaner. Something that smells especially good. For me, it’s anything Mrs. Meyer’s. It seems to take a tedious task and make it a little more enjoyable. They have some amazing scents to choose from like Bluebell, Lemon Verbena, Lavender, and Lilac.

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–Move things around. I’m not saying move all your furniture but if you want to go for it. Some days when I’m dusting I change-up where my picture frames, candles, and other decorations are. You can find some great inspiration on Pinterest or books. I’m personally a fan of the farmhouse style. This book is full of ideas!

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–Browse Pinterest. I find that when I get on Pinterest and look at housekeeping posts, pictures of other people homes and cleaning tips, I am more motivated. I set a goal to make my kitchen or bathroom look like the picture.

–Put some music on. In our house, even when I’m cleaning, we play kids music. It’s a double whammy because my kids have a dance party and are happy while I get some cleaning done. Our current favorite soundtrack is from the movie Sing.

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–Take a day to do something different. Take a day to skip the usual tasks and do something different. Some days I spend my whole day just putting odds and ends away to eliminate clutter. Other days I sort or reorganize toys to make things look neat and tidy. Don’t spend every day doing the same chores.

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–Make your own cleaner. Every now and then I get on Pinterest and find a recipe for a cleaning product or a cleaning hack. The process of making it makes it a little more enjoyable to use it. This book has some great recipes for DIY cleaners.

–Try a new recipe. I’m terrible about this. I usually cook the same ten things over and over. Days that I branch out and try something new seem to make homemaking more enjoyable and my family happier. I find most of my recipes on Pinterest but occasionally pull out a cookbook. Somehow using an actual cookbook makes me feel more like a homemaker.

–Light a candle or diffuse some oils. Just by making my house smell better I’m more motivated to clean. Most of the time my house smells like dogs no matter how much I clean. Just lighting a Candle and making my house smell better keeps me going. Check out these candles from Oak Hill Farms. I love to put creative touches around my house. Candle holders are an easy and inexpensive way to bring some unique style to your home. Amazon’s Interesting Finds has some great ones.

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–Start your chores early. I get started first thing in the morning. My kids get up at six for school, but I don’t drop the last one-off until 8:30. I use the in-between time to get the kitchen clean, bed made and laundry going. The rest of the day I spend doing other housework, blogging and playing with my toddler.

–Decorate. I have found that by adding even the smallest new decoration to my home gives me motivation. With three kids I don’t find much time to go to the store and buy anything other than groceries. Amazon has made finding cute, unique décor easy. Their Interesting Finds section is updated daily and full of things you might not normally think of searching for. Another great place to explore is Etsy. One thing I love about shopping on Etsy is that I’m not only buying something I want but also supporting a small business.

Do what works for you. For me, these tips motivate me to get going even when I’m burnt out.  I try to focus on creating a home not just cleaning it.

By writing this post, I’ve been motivated to completely de-clutter my kitchen! Off I go, hope you find motivation from reading these tips.

What do you do to enjoy housework a little bit more?

 Written by: Devon

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