From Overwhelmed to Focused: 3 Ways To Regain Clarity In Your Homemaking

Intentional homemaking is about living purposefully - making choices each day to create a life at home that feels fulfilling and enjoyable. It’s about committing to turning your home into a place that is functional, comfortable, and works well for your family’s unique needs and wants. 🏡

But if you feel overwhelmed by all of the home management tasks that come with homemaking... or you're not sure where to start to get your life in order, you’re not the only one! That's exactly where I was when I started my intentional homemaking journey.

The Homemaker Lifestyle - intentional homemaking, from overwhelmed to focused: 3 ways to regain clarity in your homemaking

My Transition From Being Overwhelmed & Disorganized To Intentional Homemaking

In my first few years of homemaking, I struggled to stay consistent with housework, cooking, and projects. My choices felt random. Housework was a chore I wanted to avoid. (Except for the occasional day where I'd get a boost of motivation and try to clean my whole house in one day.) I lacked clarity, purpose, and direction.

I spent hours every day as a newlywed scrolling through Pinterest and YouTube. This would sometimes inspire me to make changes. However, all that inspiration often led to overwhelm because I didn't have clarity on HOW to create the cozy, organized, peaceful home I envisioned.

I’d stand in one of the many messy rooms, wanting to fix it and clean up. But I didn’t know where to begin. Overwhelmed every time I tried to tackle the mess, I'd eventually give up and retreat to watching TV or scrolling on my phone. This left me stuck in a discouraging cycle.

What changed everything for me was realizing that I lacked a very important factor in successful homemaking - clarity.

Why Clarity is the Key to Overcoming Overwhelm

Overwhelm often arises from uncertainty. It can stem from not knowing what to do next and facing what feels like an insurmountable project. You might desire to make changes, but without a clear plan, it’s tough to take action.

Desire is one feeling, but so is overwhelm—often a more powerful one. It can dull your motivation!

Here’s what I realized on my path to getting my life organized:

Thinking and planning must be separate from action and doing.

When I tried to jump straight into action without a strategy, I felt paralyzed. By taking the time to plan first, I equipped myself with the clarity needed to move forward with confidence. This mental shift made a huge difference in my homemaking progress.

3 Ways To Gain Clarity In Your Homemaking

If you’re feeling stuck, here are three practical ways to gain clarity and start making progress in your homemaking:

1. Make a List

Start by writing down the areas of homemaking and home management that feel overwhelming to you. Be as specific as possible.

For example:

Clutter everywhere in my house.
Clean laundry piling up in bags in the corner of my bedroom.
Dirty dishes accumulating in the kitchen.
Exhaustion from figuring out what's for dinner every night.

Making this list helps clarify what needs focus. It shifts the perception from vague overwhelm to specific challenges, making it easier to find practical solutions.

2. Define Your "Why"

Rather than fixating on the tasks at hand, consider the deeper reasons behind them. Why do you want to complete these homemaking tasks? How do they improve your and your family’s lives?

Are you cleaning the bathroom because you “have to” or because a clean space makes you feel refreshed and cared for?
Are you writing a grocery list to "have to," or is it to save money and plan healthier meals?
Are you folding laundry because of obligation or to easily find outfits and simplify your mornings?

By connecting your actions to meaningful purposes, you’ll feel more motivated and deliberate with your efforts.

3. Break Down Big Goals into Small Steps

Big tasks can seem daunting. However, breaking them into smaller, actionable steps makes them more manageable.

For example, instead of aiming to “clean the living room,” your steps might include:

Gather and throw away trash.
Take dirty dishes to the sink.
Put dirty clothes in a hamper and return clean clothes to the bedroom.
Organize items back to their places.
Dust surfaces and vacuum the floor.
Fluff pillows, fold blankets, and light a candle.

When you transform a large task into a series of smaller actions, it’s easier to achieve your broader goal because the individual tasks become less intimidating.

Remember: Focus On Progress Not Perfection

Feeling overwhelmed doesn’t mean you can’t change or make progress! Often, it simply indicates a need for clarity. By investing time in planning, identifying your motivations, and breaking tasks into manageable steps, you can approach homemaking with confidence and direction.

Intentional homemaking isn’t about perfection. It’s about crafting a home that is comfortable and functional for you and your family—a space that mirrors the life you aspire to live. Making daily progress towards this goal is how you embrace the "homemaker lifestyle" and practice intentional homemaking!

If you're ready to dive into intentional homemaking - Download my Intentional Homemaking eBook for more guidance, inspiration, and actionable steps you can take to create a life at home you love.

✨ Download the Guide Here: Intentional Homemaking: The Guide To Managing and Enjoying Your Life At Home