10 Daily Habits of Happy Homemakers

Most of us know other homemakers who always seem to be cheerful, even when things are chaotic. Maybe they have 5 kids, a crazy dog (or three), and volunteer on 4 committees, but they are positive and energetic all the time. What is it these happy homemakers all have in common?

Here are 10 daily habits of happy homemakers.

1. Wake up on the right side of the bed.

When you wake up in the morning, try to have a really positive first thought. Something like, “Ugh, I didn’t get enough sleep. I’m going to be a zombie today,” isn’t going to serve you well, even if it feels true.

Instead, get into the daily habit of thinking, “Today something wonderful is going to happen.” Or, “I’m so lucky I get to snuggle these little ones” (yes, even if they’re crawling into your bed at 4am).

Starting the day with a positive thought is key to setting yourself up for happiness throughout the day.

2. Start with a good meal.

It’s hard to be a reasonable human being when you’re hungry — or worse — hangry. If you’re the kind of person who wakes up hungry, make sure to carve out a few minutes for yourself to eat something sustaining every morning.

Hint – scrambled eggs cooked in butter will keep you satisfied longer than a granola bar will.

On days when I don’t get to make myself anything for lunch until 2 or 3 in the afternoon, boy am I glad I stuck with my daily habit and ate a good breakfast!

3. Connect with your partner and each kid, even if just for a few minutes.

We can get caught up in chores and to-dos if we’re not careful. It’s important to carve out a few minutes for each of the most special people in our lives, to focus on them and make sure to connect.

Snuggling up to read a story with each kid, or coloring while talking about the day, or having a cup of hot chocolate with your husband once the kids are in bed… those moments of connection are what we work for as homemakers.

Enjoy them.

4. Make someone else’s day.

One of the surest ways to make your own happiness grow is to share it with others. The Swedish Proverb says, “Shared joy is a double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow.”

On days when I get to do random acts of kindness, I always feel like I’m walking on clouds for the rest of the day. Bringing flowers to a friend for no reason, buying a homeless person some lunch, paying for the next person’s coffee at Starbucks… those things are so FUN to do, and only spread happiness for yourself and for others.

These things don’t have to cost anything, either. Have a chat with your letter carrier, or tell the bus driver her nails are pretty today. Ask the guy in the drive-through window how his weekend went, or write a note of appreciation to your kids’ teachers.

5. Accept compliments and praise.

When someone tells you something nice about yourself or something you’ve done, do you immediately move to shut them down? “Ugh, my hair? I haven’t washed it in four days.” “This shirt? I’ve had it forever. It probably has like stains and stuff.” “Me? A good mom? Nah, I just got lucky with naturally awesome kids.” “Are you kidding? This house is a total mess. I swear. Don’t open any of the cabinets.”

Repeat after me. “I am worthy.”

You are. And you’d better get into the daily habit of believing it, for your own sanity and happiness.

The next time someone gives you a compliment, accept it sincerely. Say thank you. Enjoy the praise. Soak it in.

6. Enjoy at least one meal with family.

This is kind of like the brother of #3, connecting with each family member individually for a few minutes.

Enjoying dinner (or another meal) as a family is a great way to strengthen our family as a team. Sharing conversation – swapping stories, dreams, plans, experiences – builds our group relationship and makes us feel more connected.

It’s hard to walk away from a family meal without a full heart.

7. Express gratitude.

Making it a daily habit to be thankful for what you have will go a long way toward having a feeling of contentment and happiness in your day-to-day life. Much better than always wanting more or wishing things were different.

And letting other people know you appreciate what they’re doing or what they’ve given you is another great way to “double joy” (like in #4).

8. Learn something new.

Read some of a good book or an article or two, listen to podcasts, or learn a skill from a friend. People are rarely happy in a stagnant state. Moving forward, learning more, broadening our scope, even a teeny bit each day, works wonders toward keeping us happy.

Make it a daily habit to read 10 pages of a book before bed, or to listen to a podcast while you walk the dog.

9. Do something for you.

Don’t let the “boring” parts of homemaking be the only thing that defines you. Each day, spend some time doing what you love. Spend time with friends, or working on a hobby. Take a bath, paint your nails, or treat yourself to a delicious pastry.

You could keep putting it off, promising yourself that you’ll “let” yourself be happy later, but why?

You’re important. Today. Every day. Do something for yourself.

10. Go to bed with a positive affirmation.

As you crawl into bed at the end of each day, say to yourself, “I’m going to get the most wonderful and restful sleep tonight. When I wake in the morning, I’ll be refreshed and ready to take on tomorrow.”

I’m not sure how, but this works… even if I’m awakened 4 times in the middle of the night by my various kids, saying this affirmation to myself before bed helps me to feel more rested and more ready for whatever the next day holds.

And then? Have another happy homemaking day tomorrow. And the next day. And the next day.

Following these 10 simple daily habits will go a long way toward being a happy homemaker. Need help efficiently developing habits that STICK? Try the first lesson of my habits course, My Best Year Ever, for free.

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Grab your printable Habits of Happy Homemakers checklist by clicking the image below.