Being a mama is wonderful and busy. Throw in some chickens, sourdough bread, and a big garden, and sometimes it can feel like too much to handle! That’s why establishing a weekly rhythm can bring peace to your days even as a busy homesteading mama!
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Rhythms vs. Routines
Routines are strict and inflexible. Rhythms can ebb and flow. Routines mean sticking to a strict schedule. Rhythms can adjust and flex with your daily needs. I find that embracing rhythms over routines leaves a lot more room for grace.
12 Daily Rhythm Ideas for Homestead Mamas
Here are 12 weekly rhythm ideas for busy homesteading mamas!
Set Things Out the Night Before
A few years ago, I noticed that one of my friend’s with two kids was always on time to play dates, and I was always scrambling and last minute with my one. Getting out the door felt like an impossible task with one thing after another. I asked her how she managed to get there on time every time, and she said that she took time the night before to lay everything out.
I worked toward this habit, and it makes all of the difference the next morning! Instead of scrambling to find missing shoes and lost keys when I need to be walking out the door, I now lay everything out the night before.
You could also apply this to homestead chores or making meals. Take a few minutes the night before to lay out what you need. Boots and coveralls. Pots and pans. It will save you so much time the next day.
Take 10-15 Minutes to Get Yourself Ready
I find that when I take even 10 minutes to put on a cute outfit, put on a little makeup, and pull back my hair, I feel a lot more productive and ready for the day!
If you lay out your clothes the night before, it makes this task much faster. My kids usually wake up when I do, so I’m currently not waking up before them. So, I’ll try to get ready once they are eating breakfast or playing happily.
This doesn’t happen every day, but I always feel so much better when I take a few minutes to put myself together. You’re worth the time, mama, and it isn’t selfish to take a few minutes for yourself.
Involve Your Kids: Daily Rhythm Ideas
As my kids get older, I’m working to help involve them in homestead and household chores. We start small… taking plates to the kitchen, sweeping floors, pickup up toys. Getting the eggs, baking bread, etc.
I am hoping to involve them as they are young and continue to teach them these skills as they grow.
Bake in Bulk
If possible, when you bake try to make a double batch and freeze the other! I try to bake with my kids once or twice a week. I want to get in the habit of baking extra to stretch it further! If you’re looking for a great recipe book to begin cooking with your kids, I highly recommend this cookbook from The Peaceful Press.
Choose Priorities Wisely
I often think about how my kids will only be young once. Homesteading is important to me, but it is definitely not as important as my kids. My time and capacity is limited now, so I pick 2-3 big projects to work on each year.
Save Big Tasks for Evenings or Weekends
Because my kids are so young, it’s often easiest for me to work on big projects on the evenings or the weekends. I work on smaller tasks during the day, and then we set aside time when my husband is home so that I can work on larger projects.
Here are some posts about how to homestead with kids.
Make Food in Bulk + Freeze: Weekly Rhythm Ideas
If you have time, make food in bulk that you can freeze for busy weeks! I also make larger batches for dinner so we have leftovers the next day!
Meal Plan
I set aside time on Sunday afternoons to meal plan for the week. I try to choose meals that use similar ingredients. Also, we look in our fridge to use up food when planning the next week of meals.
Get my meal planning bundle here to help you stay organized.
Plan Ahead: Daily Rhythm Ideas
Whether you’re planning for the week or your summer garden, taking time to plan ahead will set you up for success! I do a lot of my planning on the weekends. For example, I set aside time on Sunday afternoon to plan for the week ahead. I often utilize the evenings or Saturday afternoons to plan more long-term projects for our homestead.
Pick a Day to Preserve or Chip Away at it Each Day
My kids are young, and I find it easier to preserve food in the evenings or on the weekends. I’ll set aside a few hours to do several things at once. I have another friend who cans and preserves nearly every day! Whether you prefer to chip away a little at a time or make a bunch in bulk, find a system that works for you!
Communicate with Your Partner
If you have a partner, talk with them about the homesteading tasks that need to be completed. Divide them up, come up with a plan, and take turns watching the kids! Your family is the greatest team you will be on. Working together and communicating makes all of the difference!
Make time to Rest
Homesteading and mothering are both wonderful but they require a lot of energy. Setting aside time to rest and refuel is necessary and important. For me, I enjoy taking a bath after my kids go to bed. Find what works for you, and don’t feel guilty about making time to rest!
Other Rhythms Resources
If you are looking for more resources to help you implement rhythms in your home, here are two of my favorites!
The Seven Day Family by Family Teams: This course was co-created by Jefferson and Alyssa Bethke and Jeremy and April Pryor. It helped us learn how to structure our week in a way that benefited our whole family. We learned how to prioritize a weekly Sabbath, communicate as a couple, meal plan, spend one-on-one time with our kids, and make time to refresh individually. My husband and I took this course after reading the book Take Back Your Family by Jefferson Bethke and both of these resources were so helpful for our family and marriage!
Simple Rhythms for Busy Moms by KyAnn Molina: My good friend KyAnn created this course, and it has been so helpful for me as a mama with young children! She teaches step-by-step, practical methods to create daily rhythms and order within your home. She is a mama to three little ones, she is passionate about teaching her kids about Jesus, and she is a work from home, homesteading mama who has a lot to balance. Her course breaks down daily rhythms in an attainable manner, and she approaches this topic with humility and grace.
The Seven Day Family is the course I recommend for looking at your week as a whole, and Simple Rhythms for Busy Moms is an incredible resource for daily rhythms.
Daily Rhythm Ideas Take Time to Implement
Rhythms take time to establish. You have to find what works for you and your family. But, in my experience, it is worth the investment and will bring a lot of peace to your days!
This post was all about daily rhythm ideas for busy homesteading moms.
All photos are from Glynne Ashley Photography.
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