7 Creative and Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Your First Anniversary. 

Your first year of marriage is one of wild changes and steadying love — and when it’s time to mark that milestone, dinner reservations just won’t cut it. You don’t need grand gestures or expensive gifts to make the day unforgettable. What you need are ideas with meaning, memory, and momentum. The kind of celebration that deepens the bond, sparks laughter, and says, “We’re in this.” Here are seven ideas that ditch the clichés and create something personal — something built to last.

Are you ready to learn about the 7 Creative and Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Your First Anniversary? Come on in and let me tell you about them! 

7 Creative and Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Your First Anniversary 

Create a Couple’s Playlist That Grows With You

Music hits differently when it’s tied to a memory. That song that played on your road trip? The one from your first slow dance in the kitchen? Start your anniversary with a collaborative playlist. One of you adds a track, then the other responds — back and forth until you’ve got a year in sound. The tradition? Add a new song every year. Over time, you’re not just curating music — you’re building a time capsule of rhythm, emotion, and inside jokes. Let it grow and loop every year like a living audio scrapbook.

Recreate Your First Date — With Upgrades

Think back to that very first moment: what you wore, what you ate, where you went. Now reimagine it through the lens of everything you’ve shared since. If your first date was casual, make it fancy. If it was awkward, make it hilarious. Add inside jokes, custom touches, or playful reenactments. Bonus points if you revisit the same location and write each other a note about how it felt then versus now. This isn’t about nostalgia — it’s about showing how far you’ve come in just one year of partnership.

Write a Shared Anniversary Journal Entry

You’ve had 12 months of new rituals, random conflicts, strange habits, surprise joys. Capture all of it. Grab a blank notebook and, once a year, write an entry together. What changed? What made you laugh? What did you learn? Write separately, then read to each other over wine or takeout. Year by year, that notebook becomes a relationship ledger — honest, raw, funny, maybe messy — and deeply yours. It’s the kind of tradition that sneaks up on you and becomes priceless.

Gift an Experience, Not a Thing

Skip the presents. Choose presence. Whether it’s a cooking class, a cabin weekend, or a hammock afternoon with no phones — give each other a shared moment you’ll both remember. Experience-based gifts create richer memories and often deepen connection faster than physical items. This can be as simple as watching the sunrise from a new trail, or as elaborate as booking something you’ve both always said you’d try. One rule: commit fully. No phones, no multitasking. Just memory-making.

Make Something With Your Hands

Forget buying something — make something. A mixed-media collage. A hand-lettered quote. A ceramic bowl that’s slightly lopsided but full of story. DIY projects aren’t about the result, they’re about process. You’re laughing together, getting messy, building something that sits on the shelf and quietly says, “We made this when we were one year in.” Bonus: if you do it every year, you’ll end up with a home full of imperfect art that maps your whole marriage.

Build a One-Year Time Capsule

Grab a small box. Toss in movie tickets, photos, receipts from wild nights out, handwritten notes about things that made you laugh or fight or cry. Seal it up. Add a date to open it — maybe your 5th or 10th anniversary. A time capsule captures not just what you did, but how it felt in the moment. It’s a freeze-frame of your real life. Whether it’s silly or serious, curated or chaotic — it becomes a gift to your future selves.

Send Holiday Cards That Mark the Moment

Your first year of marriage is filled with photos, moments, and little wins that deserve to be seen. Instead of burying them in your camera roll, design holiday photo greeting cards that become a keepsake. With personal photos and a heartfelt message, you’re not just updating friends and family — you’re creating a small memento that marks the beginning of your new life together. Using an online platform, you can easily upload your own images, choose themed templates and layouts, and add foil accents or festive text to make your cards stand out. It’s a creative way to turn your first year into a shared celebration. 

One year down. And so many strange, sweet, meaningful ones ahead. However you mark this first milestone, make it yours. Skip the pressure to “get it right.” The only thing that matters is that the moment feels like you — your rhythm, your weirdness, your love. Whether you’re journaling, playlisting, printing cards, or just holding hands on the couch — if you remember it, it counts. If you both smile at the memory, you nailed it.

7 Creative and Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Your First Anniversary Discussion 

Did this list inspire you to make sure to create an extra meaningful first anniversary with your spouse? If you’ve been married longer than a year, how did you celebrate your anniversary? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

Discover a wealth of insights and inspiration at The Homemaking Wife, where every woman’s journey is celebrated with tips on marriage, productivity, and personal growth.

7 Benefits of a Successful Multi Generational Household. In this day and age, we are seeing more and more multi generational households, and they are thriving. It can be a difficult transition though, but also has a multitude of benefits. It is something that can create beautiful memories that will last a lifetime, and keep those we have lost alive through those memories and traditions. 

I have a cake recipe that belonged to my husband’s grandmother, Una, and it has been passed down through four generations after her. Which means that her memory still lives on, long after she is gone. Creating a thriving multi generational household can do the exact same thing, and help so many people. 

When three generations share a roof, you get a mosaic of experience, energy, and expectation. There’s a grandfather teaching his grandson how to sharpen a chisel. A daughter coaching her mother through a smartphone update. Parents bouncing between childcare and elder care.

It’s beautiful. It’s chaotic. It can work—but only when the home evolves to meet the people in it. Creating harmony in a multigenerational household isn’t about controlling the chaos; it’s about designing for rhythm, responsibility, and respect. It’s about giving the household more than walls and doors—it’s giving it tempo.

Are you ready to learn about the 7 Benefits of a Successful Multi Generational Household? Come on in and let me tell you about them! 

7 Benefits of a Successful Multi Generational Household

Emotional & Social Benefits That Span Generations

Multigenerational living works when it feels less like crowding and more like community. Grandparents aren’t just living in the home—they’re enriching it. Children don’t just witness aging; they form bonds across time. A teenager might hear the same family story told three different ways across three generations, picking up the nuance only memory can offer.

Research has shown that age-integrated communities boost engagement, reduce isolation, and give older adults a renewed sense of purpose. The result? A more emotionally intelligent household, where mutual respect isn’t enforced—it’s modeled daily. Emotional symbiosis happens when every generation feels useful, seen, and heard. That kind of intergenerational glue sticks harder than any home design feature.

Lower the Pressure with Smart Systems

With three generations relying on the same HVAC, the same fridge, the same water heater—failure isn’t a nuisance; it’s a crisis. That’s where smart planning intersects with stress prevention. And that’s why the importance of home warranties explained in real-world terms becomes clear: they cut tension at the source. It’s not about replacing a part—it’s about preserving peace.

If the boiler goes, the fight doesn’t have to. When systems break and coverage steps in, blame and panic don’t take over the room. That’s not just good for the appliances—it’s peace of mind with paperwork. And in a house with 3, 4, or even 5 adults managing life together, that kind of insurance is more than policy—it’s protocol.

Financial Resilience Through Resource Sharing 

Pooling budgets isn’t just for cutting costs—it’s about elevating everyone’s baseline. Families who share mortgages, utilities, and groceries see measurable financial uplift. According to one housing model, pooling resources expands buying power, lowers poverty risk, and increases access to better homes in safer areas. This setup also reduces redundancy: one high-quality vacuum instead of three, one Netflix account, one set of lawn equipment.

Parents can invest more in their kids. Retired grandparents can age in place with dignity. And if someone falls on hard times—layoff, injury, divorce—the family net is already built. The house becomes more than a shelter—it becomes a shared strategy for security. In today’s economy, that’s a radical form of stability.

Zoning for Privacy and Accessibility 

Harmony doesn’t mean constant togetherness. In fact, the best multigenerational homes are built on well-marked boundaries. Bedrooms aren’t just for sleeping—they’re retreats. Bathrooms matter more than you think. Shared kitchens should never become conflict zones.

Privacy planning must consider the unspoken tensions: the in-law who prefers solitude, the toddler whose nap can’t be interrupted, the couple needing downtime. Architects who specialize in these builds know that flexible zones protect privacy and mobility, enabling everyone to live with dignity, not just proximity. It’s a logic-first strategy, not a luxury one. And when it’s in place, relationships breathe easier.

Universal Design That Keeps Everyone Moving 

Design must flex for both toddlers and octogenarians, often in the same week. Universal features—like lever handles, lower counters, and smooth, slip-free floors—serve everyone. What seems like a small detail is often the difference between independence and constant assistance.

Picture this: a grandmother recovering from surgery doesn’t have to ask for help reaching a pot; a child doesn’t struggle to open a door. That’s why wider doorways and accessible kitchens make such an impact in daily life. These aren’t medical necessities—they’re design advantages that quietly empower each resident to move freely, safely, and confidently. When you reduce physical friction, emotional ease follows. The house begins to anticipate, not just accommodate.

Design Harmony Encourages Boundaries 

Privacy isn’t just architectural—it’s energetic. A room’s colors, light, and layout communicate who belongs where, and when. Multigenerational homes benefit from subtle signals that help people feel ownership of space without isolation.

The goal isn’t separation—it’s definition. That’s where intentional layout honors autonomy—by letting spaces carry their own cues. A bright breakfast nook can signal the day’s start. A dim-lit corner can say “this is for winding down.” Soundproofing, too, deserves mention—because boundaries aren’t just visual. When design reinforces rhythm, people follow it without friction.

Shared Living That Fosters Connection 

Dinner isn’t just about eating—it’s about grounding. In multigenerational homes, shared meals spark positive norms that ripple into the rest of family life. One dinner might solve three passive-aggressive conflicts. A table full of food tells every generation: “We’re still here, and we still show up.”

The ritual brings tempo, clarity, and a soft landing. These are moments where traditions take root—a favorite dish, a story told every Thursday, an inside joke that survives decades. Even if someone skips the meal, they see the table and feel the offer. Nourishment isn’t just calories—it’s connection, plated.

7 Benefits of a Successful Multi Generational Household Notes 

There’s no perfect template for multigenerational living. But the homes that thrive are the ones designed for breath—not just structure. They flex where needed, reinforce when necessary, and evolve with the people inside. Emotional health, financial resilience, spatial respect, and built-in rituals—that’s the quartet that makes shared living sustainable.

Each design choice, each policy, each daily rhythm adds up to a home that serves instead of strains. One house. Three generations. Infinite opportunities for connection and repair. With the right infrastructure and intention, a multigenerational home isn’t a compromise. It’s a blueprint for a stronger, smarter, softer future.

7 Benefits of a Successful Multi Generational Household Discussion 

Do you live in a multi generational home? What kinds of benefits have you observed? Did you face any unique challenges that you were not expecting? How did you overcome them? What do you recommend to prepare for this kind of household and lifestyle? Let me know your thoughts and experiences in the comments! 

Discover empowering insights and practical tips for every stage of your journey at The Homemaking Wife, where we celebrate and support you in becoming the best woman, wife, and homemaker you can be!

7 Ways to Talk About Death with Care. Talking about death is a hard subject matter, no matter how much we prepare for it. It just isn’t easy. How do you break the news of a loved one’s death with thoughtfulness, care, and compassion? 

Do you try to sugar coat it and deliver the news gently? Do you just treat it like a band-aid and rip it off quickly, getting the news out in a blunt way? These are all questions that swirl around in our minds every time this kind of conversation needs to happen. 

The truth is that there is no set way to deliver this kind of news that is going to lessen the pain. There is no manual for how to handle this. But, there are a few things that you can do to help make hearing the news less stressful and traumatic. 

Breaking the news of a loved one’s death is one of the most difficult acts you may ever face. The way you choose to do it will shape how those who hear it remember that moment. It’s not simply about passing on information; it’s about holding space for shock, grief, and the immediate confusion that follows loss. 

It calls for a rhythm of care—pausing when needed, offering enough context to prevent misunderstanding, and balancing truth with compassion. The right approach is less about having perfect words and more about meeting the moment in a way that feels human and steady.

7 Ways to Talk About Death with Care 

Choosing the right context for private conversations

Before a single word is spoken, consider the environment. Public places can make grief harder to process, leaving people feeling exposed or pressured to control their emotions. When you can, choose a setting that allows for privacy and stillness. 

This could mean waiting until you can meet in person, so you can provide comfort and gauge their reaction in real time. The simple act of announcing a loved one’s loss with both clarity and compassion can set the tone for how they begin to process the news. Silence afterward is just as important as the words themselves—give them room to take in what you’ve said before anything else moves forward.

Planning who hears the news first—and how

In those early hours after a loss, it’s tempting to rush through calls or messages, but sequence matters. Think about who needs to know first, and how much detail they should receive in that initial contact. Whenever possible, begin by notifying immediate family members in person whenever possible, ensuring they’re not blindsided by hearing it from someone else. This careful ordering protects relationships, honors closeness, and helps control the flow of information so rumors or incomplete stories don’t take root. Each conversation will ripple outward, so the first ones deserve your most careful attention.

Wording sensitive announcements with clarity

When the moment comes to speak, resist the urge to soften the reality so much that the meaning becomes vague or confusing. Grief may already cloud comprehension, so the simplest approach is often best. 

Avoid euphemisms that might leave someone wondering exactly what happened; instead, use simple, clear, and direct language while announcing the death. A phrase like “I have very sad news—[Name] died last night” may feel painfully blunt, but it removes uncertainty and allows the listener to begin processing the truth. It also creates a foundation for any details or comfort you want to offer next.

Honoring stress relief throughout the process

In the days after sharing such heavy news, the emotional toll can be immense. Managing your own well-being ensures you can continue to show up for others. This could mean stepping back for a moment, seeking your own support system, or finding ways to alleviate stress so that you’re not pouring from an empty cup. Loss reshapes life for everyone it touches, and sustaining your own stability is one way of honoring the person you’ve lost.

Handling sudden or traumatic losses with extra care

If the death was unexpected or especially violent, the delivery of that news requires even greater sensitivity. Shock can overwhelm the senses, making even straightforward sentences difficult to absorb. When the death is particularly traumatic or unexpected, take extra care to prepare the listener for what they’re about to hear. Offer a moment’s warning, speak slowly, and give them time to react. You may need to repeat yourself or pause several times, especially if they begin to dissociate or struggle to respond.

Educating children with honesty and age appropriateness

Young people process death differently, and withholding the truth often causes more harm than good. Children absorb death more healthily when explained plainly by parents, with the language shaped to fit their developmental stage. You might use concrete examples for very young children or more abstract explanations for older ones, but in every case, the goal is honesty. 

Guidance like children absorb death more healthily when explained plainly by parents underscores that clear, compassionate communication helps them form a more grounded understanding of what’s happened. Allowing questions—and answering them directly—can make the reality easier to accept.

Offering real support—beyond just saying sorry

Grief can leave people feeling isolated, even when surrounded by others. While condolences are appreciated, they rarely replace action. You might bring a meal, help with errands, or simply sit quietly with the person. Sometimes it’s enough to offer practical help and share memories to truly support the grieving, so they feel both emotionally and tangibly cared for. This kind of support often resonates far longer than words alone, becoming part of how they remember being carried through this time.

7 Ways to Talk About Death with Care Conclusion 

Telling someone that a loved one has died will never feel easy, but thoughtfulness in delivery can create a foundation for how they move through their grief. It’s about more than the moment of speaking—it’s the choice of setting, the order in which people are told, the honesty in your words, and the care in how you follow up. 

A balance of compassion and clarity gives others the best chance to process and respond in their own way. In this shared human experience, what we offer each other in those first moments of loss becomes a part of the story we carry forward, both for the person who is gone and for those still here.

7 Ways to Talk About Death with Care Discussion 

Have these 7 Ways to Talk About Death with Care helped you in any way? Is this an issue that you’ve struggled with in the past? I know that I have, even as an adult, and someone who has experienced far more death than I think anyone should. 

I hope this post has helped you in some way. If you have any tips that you feel should be added, please comment and let me know. I love hearing from you about your own experiences and tips. Is there an experience talking about death that is particularly memorable for you? What makes it memorable? Tell me your stories in the comments! I would love to have you share your experiences with me! 

I often watch true crime shows on TV, and I see so many police officers having to deliver this kind of news, and I have no idea how they do it. I feel so much for them when I see and hear them talking about those experiences. I often wonder if they are even trained on how to do it, or if there is a set way they do it.

I’ve only had to have these kinds of conversations a few times in my life, but it doesn’t get any easier. This made me think about other professions where someone has to deliver news like this, and my heart really goes out to them. It can’t be easy, even if they’ve done it many times.

I do want to note that this is a space where you can safely and comfortably share your stories. I moderate my comments, and do not allow anyone to be attacked when sharing here. This is a sensitive subject, and will be treated as such, even in the comments. I hope you feel comfortable enough to share, and to help others along the way. 

Discover empowering insights and practical tips to enhance your life and relationships at The Homemaking Wife, where every woman’s journey is celebrated and supported.

7 Healthy Goals to Have While Grieving Introduction

7 Healthy Goals to Have While Grieving. Grieving the loss of a loved one can be a deeply challenging process, affecting both your emotional and physical well-being. 

While the healing journey looks different for everyone, setting healthy goals can offer a sense of stability and direction during this difficult time. Taking small steps toward self-care and personal growth can help you gradually regain balance and begin moving forward in a way that feels supportive and compassionate.

I know that grief is such a hard time for anyone, and it makes daily life a struggle at times. That is why I want to help you. I always feel like if I can alleviate even a small portion of your struggle and make things easier, that I have done something good, and that is always my goal with posts like this. I really hope it helps you during such a difficult time in your life.

There is no set way to grieve, and it can often feel like you are drowning in an endless ocean and can’t quite see the shore or reach solid ground. This is what inspired me to create these 7 Healthy Goals to Have While Grieving, to help you navigate it all in a more productive way. 

7 Healthy Goals to Have While Grieving 

Honor the Memory of Your Loved One 

Memories are a precious thing, and oftentimes the only thing we are left with when a loved one dies. 

Taking time to remember and honor the person who has passed is a crucial aspect of healing. You might create a memory book, look at pictures, plant a tree in their honor, or light a candle each day as a simple tribute. 

Finding personal ways to celebrate their life keeps their memory alive in a positive and comforting manner. You might also consider sharing memories with others who knew them, allowing the emotional bond to continue. Keep in mind that in the beginning, this may be more difficult and painful. Don’t force yourself to share memories until you are ready. But there does come a shift, when it is easier to look back on memories and share them with others. 

These small acts can offer comfort and provide a sense of peace as you navigate your grief. Honoring your loved one helps you process your emotions while staying connected to their memory. It’s a step that can ground you emotionally as you focus on your personal healing journey.

It is important to note that however you choose to honor your loved one is just perfect. Don’t overthink it, or think it isn’t the right way to honor them. Whatever you choose that works for you is absolutely the right thing to do, and just perfect. 

Set Small, Achievable Goals Each Day

Grief can be overwhelming, and setting large, long-term goals may feel impossible. It comes in waves, just like the ocean. So each day feels like a new adventure as you go through the grieving process, and no two days are alike. 

However, small, daily goals can help restore a sense of control and accomplishment. These goals can be as simple as taking a short walk, preparing a healthy meal, or completing a household task. 

This can even include basic things like taking a shower or brushing your teeth, if you’re struggling to get out of bed. If you need to add it to the list, no matter how simple it is, add it. Do it. Then cross it off the list when you are done. Go old school with a pen and paper for this list, because there is something about writing things down and crossing them off the list that makes you feel accomplished and proud. It also means that you’re more likely to do it when you write out the list by hand. 

By focusing on manageable steps, you allow yourself to move forward without added pressure. Creating a daily checklist can help you stay on track. I’ll be honest and tell you that even without something as complicated as grief, I need to do this step every day. Otherwise I am easily overwhelmed. Please, please, if you take anything from this article, this is the one. Create a checklist with manageable things you can cross off each day, and take your time going through the day. 

Make sure your goals are flexible and kind to yourself—there’s no need to push too hard. Each step you take, no matter how small, contributes to your overall well-being and helps maintain a sense of purpose in everyday life.

Start Journaling Your Thoughts

Writing down your thoughts and feelings in a journal can be an effective way to process grief. Journaling allows you to express emotions that may be difficult to articulate out loud, offering a safe space for reflection. Whether you write daily or whenever the need arises, journaling can help you identify patterns in your emotions and track your healing progress over time. 

You can also use your journal to document memories of your loved one, which may help you feel more connected to them during tough times. As the days go by, your journal can become a source of comfort, offering perspective on how far you’ve come in your healing journey.

These are some of my favorite journal prompts, and they may help you focus on other aspects of your life, should you want more help in thinking about other things. 

Practice Daily Gratitude

While it may be hard to focus on positive aspects of life while grieving, practicing gratitude can help shift your mindset. By acknowledging small things to be thankful for each day, you can gradually reframe your perspective. 

Whether it’s the support of friends and family, a beautiful day, or a peaceful moment, gratitude encourages you to focus on the present and recognize the good amid the pain. You can incorporate gratitude into your daily routine by writing down three things you’re thankful for each evening. Over time, this practice can bring small moments of joy and peace, helping you rebuild emotional resilience.

This may be hard in the beginning, because it is much easier to focus on the loss you are feeling. If that is the case, focus on being grateful for small things. It may be the smallest things, like you woke up, you have hot water to shower, the sun is shining, it really may have to be things that are that small when you first start this, but believe me, it gets easier, and it makes a huge difference. 

Explore New Opportunities

Sometimes, finding a new focus can help lift the emotional weight that grief brings. Returning to school can offer a much-needed fresh start and an opportunity to grow personally and professionally. 

With online programs available, it’s easier to manage both your job and studies, giving you the flexibility to keep moving forward while maintaining a work-life balance. This step can also boost your career prospects, providing a sense of purpose during difficult times. You may consider this as a way to build new skills and open doors for your future. For example, a business degree can equip you with knowledge in areas like accounting, communications, and management. 

You can also explore a multitude of other options. I love taking classes through MasterClass and DailyOM because they are inexpensive, it doesn’t put any added pressure on me to do something big like a full college degree, and it can be really helpful. 

No matter what you are looking for, give a new opportunity a try! Trying something new is a huge confidence booster, and that may be the thing you need to help you during your grief process. 

Connect with Loved Ones for Support

Isolation can make the grieving process harder, so staying connected with family and friends is essential. Surrounding yourself with people who care about you provides comfort and helps lessen feelings of loneliness. 

Whether through phone calls, video chats, or face-to-face meetings, these connections can offer support when you need it most. Sharing your thoughts and feelings with trusted individuals can also help you work through your grief. You don’t have to navigate this journey alone—loved ones can offer reassurance, understanding, and a sense of community during difficult times.

Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help when you need it. I hear a lot of people say that they isolate themselves and it isn’t healthy or helpful. You need to take a moment and think about who you trust the most in your circle, and reach out to them. 

Join a Grief Support Group 

If you are feeling isolated and struggling to reach out to your inner circle for help and support, a grief support group may be a better option for you, as everyone there is going through a similar experience, and that may be exactly what you need at this moment. 

For some, connecting with others who are also grieving can provide an added layer of support. Joining a grief support group allows you to share your experiences with people who understand your feelings firsthand. These groups offer a safe environment for expressing emotions and learning from others’ experiences. 

Whether you attend meetings in person or online, a support group can help you realize that you’re not alone in your grief. Hearing stories from others who have gone through similar losses can offer hope and provide new perspectives on how to cope with your own journey toward healing.

7 Healthy Goals to Have While Grieving Notes 

As you navigate through the complexities of grief, focusing on attainable goals can offer comfort and guide you toward healing. Although the journey may take time, integrating healthy practices into your daily life helps nurture your emotional and physical well-being. With patience and self-compassion, these steps can support your path to recovery and offer a sense of peace as you rebuild your life. 

Grief is not an easy time for anyone, and there is no set way to grieve, or set timeline to grieve. I often wish there was a handbook to handle grief. But it is different for everyone, despite being something we’ve all experienced. 

If you are experiencing grief and need support, please let me know if I can help you. If you just need a place to let your thoughts out, feel free to comment on this post and talk to me. I will always offer a safe place for people who need support, and that is my goal. 

Also note, be kind to yourself. Grief is hard enough without added pressure from yourself to complete the process, to move on, to speed things up, and get over it. You’ll likely hear those things from others. Don’t listen to them. There is no set way to grieve, so make it a point to be kind to yourself as you navigate the grief process and adjust to your new normal without your loved one. Always be kind to yourself. 

7 Healthy Goals to Have While Grieving Discussion 

Are you dealing with grief and need help? Have these 7 Healthy Goals to Have While Grieving helped you in any way? Do you have some other advice for anyone going through the grieving process that you would add to this post? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

If there is anything I can do to help you during the grief process, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I hope these 7 Healthy Goals to Have While Grieving have given you the help you need as well.

15 Ways to Have a Successful Marriage. I’ve been married to my husband, Nathan, since 2008. Which seems like a lifetime ago at times. But then again, I’ve known people who have been married for over 50 years, and in this day and age, it is one hell of a milestone. 

This made me stop and think about what makes a successful marriage. Because I’m here to tell you that neither of us are perfect. We are human. We screw up and hurt each other. A lot. There are times he loves to be right, and I’m just stubborn. Humans are imperfect, messy, and emotional.

I’m sure we can all make a list of faults we have. But that doesn’t help anything. The point is, nobody is perfect, and marriage is hard work. 

I also had no clue going into my marriage what it really took to be successful. Somehow when I was young, I thought just getting married meant living happily ever after. Nobody told me how much work went into staying in love and being successful. 

I also learned that just because it isn’t the magical fairy tale I expected, it doesn’t mean marriage isn’t an amazing thing. It is an incredible partnership that I wouldn’t trade for anything, because it has helped me grow into the wife and woman that I am. I honestly love how much that being married has taught me about life. I am always grateful for that.

Which is what really inspired me to write this 15 Ways to Have a Successful Marriage post. Are you ready to learn about how to have a successful marriage? Come on in and let me tell you about it! 

15 Ways to Have a Successful Marriage 

Learn to Apologize 

Apologies build trust. Because when you own your mistakes, it means you’re mature enough to admit when you’ve screwed up and are aware of the need to change it. 

Apologies are hard, because it really is owning your own bad or toxic behavior. It is far easier to point out someone else’s behavior and mistakes than to take responsibility for your own. 

Oftentimes it takes an apology on both sides, because people tend to think that one bad choice from their partner will justify a bad choice from them. Two wrongs don’t make a right! 

Choose Peace Over Being Right 

Marriage isn’t about constantly being right or wrong. That is a black and white way to look at it, and is a great way to destroy a marriage. 

Sometimes there isn’t a right and wrong answer or solution. Sometimes it is understanding that neither is wrong, while hearing each other at the same time. 

I think being heard is one of the best ways to create peace in a marriage. It really isn’t about being right or wrong, it is about hearing your husband or wife, and understanding their feelings, and doing it without judgement. 

Turn Toward Each Other 

Turning toward each other is a simple act of being thoughtful and considerate. It shows that you care and want to hear what your husband has to say. It is an amazing way to give them your full attention, especially when they are having a bad day or struggling with something. 

You can also ask what you can do to help, or just give them your full attention while they vent. 

This is an amazing and seriously simple way to show your husband that they are a priority, that their emotions are valid, and that you care. 

Be Appreciative 

Expressing gratitude to your husband is powerful, and I think one of the most understated or even underrated ways to maintain a successful marriage. Saying thank you and showing gratitude tells your partner that you’re not taking them for granted. 

The best part is that when your husband does something you’re grateful for and you show that gratitude, they are likely to keep doing it. Couples always want to please each other, so showing that gratitude is a way of telling them they’re doing it right. 

Never Go to Bed Angry 

This is advice that I’ve been hearing for years, never going to bed angry. Which is something I agree with. I will tell you that I never sleep well when I go to bed angry, and it really screws up the following day because I wake up in just as bad of a mood as I went to bed in. Why ruin two days? 

I am also superstitious in that, I don’t want an argument or nasty words to be the last thing I ever say to my husband, and I can’t take it back. Keep this in mind when going to bed angry. Is pouting, calling each other names, or whatever other angry words between you the absolute last thing you want to have said to each other? I will be the first one to say, I would likely feel guilty for the rest of my life. 

Be Kind 

Kindness goes a long way in life, and it isn’t any different in your marriage. 

You’re supposed to be a team. Marriage is a team sport. Repeat that with me. Marriage is a team sport. 

Nathan said something last January around my birthday that was really hurtful. He claimed it was a joke. Well, jokes don’t make people cry. Jokes also likely are not going to be remembered almost a year later. But unkind words that hurt are often remembered long after the moment has come and gone. 

I always say, if I can remember how it made me feel a year, or even five years down the road, and it isn’t a pleasant memory, it wasn’t a kind thing to say. Stop and think about that. Will your unkind words and how they made your partner feel be remembered years down the road? Be aware of your words and the impact they have on others. 

Always choose kindness. 

Prioritize Your Husband 

Do you make your husband a priority? If not, you should be doing it. The best investment into any marriage is time. Which is easy to lose track of, now more than ever. 

Life gets busy, and it is easy to forget about time with your husband, but it is an absolute necessity. You should never feel alone when standing next to your husband. He shouldn’t be feeling it either when you’re next to him. 

If you feel that, you need to be making him and time with him a serious priority. Like it jumps to the top of the list immediately, level serious priority. 

Not spending enough time together can lead to infidelity and sow seeds of distrust within both or your hearts. 

Break the Routine 

I’ll be the first to admit I actually struggle with this one. Routines are something I thrive on, because it keeps me sane. Routines are helpful in so many ways. 

The problem is, when it comes to routines in relationships, they equal boring. Routine means stagnant and boring, which can often lead to resentment. This is especially easy to have happen in longer relationships. How do you surprise each other? How do you do something different? 

How to break the routine? Try having sex in a new place. A quickie in the garage, for example. Or bent over the kitchen counter during a midnight run for a snack. Have sex in the morning instead of at night. 

Go to a new restaurant you’ve never tried. Give role playing a try, like meeting a total stranger at a bar or restaurant and talking to each other. Do something besides dinner and a movie for a date night. Surprise your husband when he gets home from work with a night in you’ve planned, and already got a babysitter for the kids. 

Think outside the box a bit, and break the routine. You’ll be amazed at how memorable these moments are, and just how necessary they are as well. 

Be Honest 

Be brutally honest. Let’s be honest here (pun absolutely intended), if you have to censor yourself in any way, you are not in a good relationship. You should be comfortable having uncomfortable conversations. Because they are necessary for the growth of any relationship. 

Honesty really is always the best policy. 

Manage Issues with Maturity 

Y’all are adults, so act like it. Don’t be petty and stupid when it comes to an issue, argument, or anything else. I feel like this one should be obvious, but it isn’t always the case. Especially if you are someone who got married young. Handling issues with maturity and grace may not be as obvious as it is to others. 

Handling issues with maturity means that you don’t do things like bring up the past, do anything out of spite or revenge, react from a place of anger and hostility. 

This is really something that gets easier as you get older, but that doesn’t make it any less important all the time, no matter how long you’ve been married. 

Communicate 

Seriously, communicate. Communicate, communicate, and then communicate some more. Keep going, even if it feels like overkill. Neither of you are mind readers, and if you expect your other half to be one, you’re going to be greatly disappointed. Which is why communication is essential. 

Remember that without communication, absolutely nothing changes. There isn’t even a chance to make it change, so you have to talk about it. 

Close Your Ears, Eyes, and Mouth 

When I say close your ears, eyes, and mouth, it means you need to be quiet. Meaning you don’t need to go running to anyone else, your friends, your mother, your co-workers to run your mouth about your partner and how terrible they are, or the problems that you’re having. 

If you have time to complain to others, you have time to communicate with your partner and work on things. 

You also don’t need to be looking for greener grass elsewhere. You need to be busy watering your little patch of grass. Successful marriages and any kind of relationship are successful because two imperfect people refuse to give up on each other. Don’t go looking for greener grass. 

Be Supportive 

Marriage is a team sport, and you should be supportive of each other. This means nurturing both your marriage and your individual identities. 

Always make time for yourself, as well as time together. Everybody needs their alone and self-care time. For me, this is reading, and for Nathan, my husband, it is playing video games. 

Being supportive also means being a safe space, a sounding board, a cheerleader for your spouse. They should be able to vent about their day if necessary, to ask questions about a conflict, or even to just get support and know they can handle a challenge. 

Praise Your Partner 

Positive reinforcement just feels good for anybody. But especially for your spouse. This goes back to the communication aspect. Praising them is communicating that you like something, or want them to do it more. 

It is also just good to help build them up. I always compliment my husband when he picks out a piece of clothing I think looks really good on him and tell him why I like it. For example, his butt looks really good in a specific pair of jeans. Or a shirt compliments his skin tone. 

I also make it a point to express gratitude when he does something to help me out, like I forgot to eat dinner while working and he saves the day by bringing me something on his way home from work. 

I always say praise over criticism. It is just a simple way to find positive things your spouse does, and mention them. 

Concentrate on the Good 

Concentrating on the good is absolutely essential to any successful relationship. 

If you don’t believe me, when you drive to work tomorrow morning, strat looking for red trucks. Just focus on noticing any and all red trucks in traffic during your commute. Then notice how often you start seeing them when you aren’t looking for any red trucks in traffic. Pretty soon that is going to be the only thing you see when you’re driving. 

Concentrating on anything is exactly that way. What you focus on grows, and so why not concentrate and focus on the good things. If you focus on the bad, that is all you’re going to see, and it is honestly going to make you miserable. 

You have a choice to focus on the good or the bad. Focus on the good parts of your spouse, and pretty soon you’ll see a lot more of them. 

15 Ways to Have a Successful Marriage Notes 

Marriage is seriously hard work, but it is absolutely worth it in the end. I am not the same person as I was when I got married, and I am beyond grateful for that. I’m also grateful that I found my person to grow and grow old with. Life is a crazy ride, but that is part of the fun, in my opinion. 

If I’ve learned anything along the way is that marriage really is a team sport, but that doesn’t mean we lose our individual identity. It also means that we should be working on ourselves as well as our marriage along the way. Because there needs to be growth in all aspects of our lives. Everything works together. 

15 Ways to Have a Successful Marriage Discussion 

Have these 15 Ways to Have a Successful Marriage helped you at all? Are there any of these that you struggle with more than others? Tell me about it! Especially if you have any advice on how to handle a specific area that you’ve struggled with along the way. I would love for you to share your personal experiences, if you feel comfortable with it.

How long have you been married? Is there any specific year that you found to be the hardest to handle?

Do you have any advice to add to this? I want to hear your ideas and suggestions!

Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

20 Clear Signs He’s Serious About You. I have been married to my husband, Nathan, since 2008. Which isn’t a short amount of time. Thinking back to the early days of our relationship, and even now, I have been thinking about signs that our relationship is successful. Are we still serious about each other? What does that mean? Are there signs? 

That is what prompted me to write these 20 Clear Signs He’s Serious About You. Being in love and being married is one of the most amazing things in the world. I’m always amazed at how much I can care about another human when I look at my husband. 

When you pay attention, there are clear patterns and behaviors that say he is serious about you. These apply when dating, as well as through the entirety of your marriage as well. 

Are you ready to learn about the 20 Clear Signs He’s Serious About You? Come on in and let me tell you about them! 

20 Clear Signs He’s Serious About You 

He Shares Future Plans with You 

When men are serious, they will discuss the future, plans and goals with you. Dreams and aspirations are important for everyone to have, and if you are important to him, you will be included in those. 

He’ll talk about a life together. This means a home, moving in together, or moving somewhere else together, career goals, money goals, having a family, adopting a pet. Basically everything you two can do together. 

Nathan and I still do this, even to this day. Because goals evolve and change. They may change for you when the kids are grown, or your family is still growing, or you want a career change. There are a number of reasons goals change, and that is great. Change can be a wonderful thing. Talk about it together. Share what you want the future to look like, and he will too. 

He is Gradually Spending More Time with You 

How much time do you two spend together? Is your communication healthy? When a guy is serious about you, he naturally wants to spend more time with you. Which I think is true for women too. We naturally gravitate toward people we want to be around. 

Are you comfortable together? Are you both happy spending time together? Do you ever lose track of time when you are together? These are all good signs! 

Your Opinion Matters 

He doesn’t hesitate to seek your advice in troubling situations or any other time. He values your advice and listens attentively to what you have to say. 

Observe his body language when he’s listening to you. Is he serious when you’re speaking? Is he nodding his head? If the answer is yes, then he values your opinions. 

Observe simple or trivial things as well. Like if he wants to know how a particular colored shirt looks on him, for example. 

He Enjoys Long Conversations 

He enjoys long and deep interactions and conversations with you. You can talk endlessly about everything under the sun, and talk every day. Even if you can’t see each other, you have amazing conversations on the phone. 

Here are three important things to think about: 

• Who initiates the contact? 
• Does he call you or do you call him more? 
• Does he call and/or text regularly? 

If a man puts effort into talking to you and interacting with you everyday, then you are clearly very special to him. 

You are a Priority 

When a guy likes you, he will make you a priority. That means you are most likely the first person he talks to in the morning and the last one he talks to at night. I’ve heard many people say, think about the person on your mind first thing in the morning and last at night. That is who you’re meant to be with, and I firmly believe that as well. 

Just to clarify here, making you a priority doesn’t mean being clingy or needy in the relationship. You both should still be independent people. Think of it like wearing two hats. You wear one as yourself, and you wear one as a wife or girlfriend, and both compliment each other beautifully. 

When he makes you a priority, it means he is there when you need him. Even when life gets busy, as we all know it does, he still makes sure you know how much you matter to him. You shouldn’t have to fight for his attention and time. 

He Rarely Skips Commitments 

When a man is serious about you, he will take commitments seriously. It may be as simple as going out to dinner despite being dead tired. Unless something urgent comes up, he rarely cancels plans last minute. 

If he goes on a trip, he’ll text you when he gets there and when he makes it home, just so you know he is safe. If you ask him to do something specific, he makes sure to keep that promise. 

If you find that happening, canceling plans last minute or not keeping simple promises, he is definitely taking you for granted, and that is not a good sign. 

He Introduces You to Family and Friends 

We all know this is a big one. When a man introduces you to his family and friends, he is acknowledging your relationship and the fact it is a thing. 

If he takes you frequently to family gatherings, he is definitely thinking about a future with you. When you meet his family, he makes sure that you are comfortable. His family also treats you like you’re part of the group. 

You’ll likely hear some interesting stories about him along the way. 

He Wants to Meet Your Family and Friends 

He wants to meet and get to know your family and friends as well. 

You’ll clearly see he wants to make a good impression and is nervous about what they’ll think of him. When he does meet them, you should see him making a serious effort to be part of the group and have a good time. 

No guy goes through this trouble and effort if he isn’t serious about you. 

He Makes You Happy 

At the end of the day, he just wants to see you happy. He wants you to smile. 

This may be planning a surprise, getting you a gift, or simply making a joke to get you to laugh. 

This right here is one of the biggest things for me. My husband still makes me happy, and would do absolutely anything to get me to smile, especially when I am in a bad mood or complaining about something. He constantly wants to alleviate my stress for me. 

He Misses You 

If his friends have ever mentioned that he can’t stop talking about you, you can be sure he loves and misses you when you are not around. 

Nathan always texts me during his trips to tell me about how it is going, what he is doing, and anything else he deems important to share. At first I thought, go away and enjoy your time away. It is supposed to be fun. But it shows that he misses me and wants to share his joy and fun with me by telling me about it all. 

This is also an opportunity for me to cheer him on and encourage him to have fun. It is all about perspective, and I love that Nathan still misses me even now, after all these years together. 

He Says “We” Frequently 

The words “we” and “ours” are big words when it comes to a relationship. Those words mean a relationship, that you’re together for the long haul and not just a quick fling to pass the time. 

This also makes it clear to others in conversations that he is no longer single, or interested in going back to being single. 

I remember the defining moment for me when Nathan and I were dating, and it was getting our cat, Tigger. A co-worker mentioned that was a big step, buying a permanent thing together, or community property. It wasn’t mine or his, it was ours. We have a cat. 

He Respects Your Space 

Relationships are going to require adjustments from both sides, especially in the beginning. If he is in it for the long term, he’s not going to force you to move faster than you want to. 

He respects personal space and your need to adjust into the relationship before pushing it any closer. 

Respecing your space also means you have time for yourself and the things that make you happy. It isn’t about being together at every waking moment. It is about being able to be individuals, being able to recharge your batteries, and take care of yourself. 

This also means being able to have other relationships, with family and friends, without needing to be there and controlling the whole thing, or becoming jealous that he isn’t the only person in your life. If you don’t have space in your relationship, that is a red flag, and you need to pay attention to it. 

He Tries to Resolve Arguments 

No relationship is going to be without fights and disagreements. Despite being married for as long as I have, they still happen. Humans are emotional, messy, and make mistakes often. 

But if he is serious about you, he will try to resolve differences instead of escalating them. 

The biggest thing I’ve noticed is we both need to be heard. Listening goes a long way in arguments, and allowing each other to be heard. There isn’t always a right side and a wrong side. It isn’t black and white. 

You aren’t Just a Fling 

He doesn’t treat you as a fling. What that means is, he talks to you consistently. Not just when he’s bored, and then disappears until he’s bored again. 

When he is serious, he will maintain regular contact. 

He Trusts You 

Trust is the foundation of any relationship. 

When he trusts you, he’ll share not just the good things, but the bad ones with you. This includes fears and insecurities. 

He’ll open up about his past as well. 

I should also note that if he has spoken about deeply personal things too soon, like right after you started dating, there is something fishy. Would you open your heart to someone after only knowing them a week? If you wouldn’t equally share when he does, it is probably too soon. 

What that means is, if he’s opening up too quickly, he is luring you in with/for sympathy and it should be a red flag. Because women tend to stay with a man, want to fix them, and be better because of that sympathy. Which can turn into an abusive relationship, and you don’t deserve that. Don’t ignore the red flags, please! 

Opening up shows trust, absolutely, but that is earned. Earning trust takes time. There is no getting around that fact. 

He Shares His Interests 

He voluntarily shares things with you, like how his day went, what his hobbies are, and includes you in his interests. 

A great example of this is, if you know nothing about football and he is a fanatic, he will be more than happy to explain everything to you. 

He also wants to share your interests, hear about your day, and learn about your hobbies. 

One of my favorite things to do with Nathan is read each other’s favorite book. You can learn a lot about someone just by reading their favorite book. Which could be a neat opener, and conversation starter. 

He is Curious about You 

He is curious about your preferences, likes and dislikes. But being curious isn’t the end of it. He remembers these things. 

Examples of this are, your favorite color, vacation spot, brand of purses, These may seem like silly and frivolous things, but small details are important. Remember the phrase, “the devil is in the details.” It means he pays attention and keeps mental notes of things that are important to you. 

He is Patient 

On your bad days, he is patient with you, listens to your rants, and comforts you. He doesn’t judge you when you’re in a bad mood, or even a little snappy. 

I like to say that it takes the patience of a saint to deal with me, and my husband absolutely has that. Even now, I’m always amazed at how patient we both are with each other. 

He Loves your Quirks 

We all have certain quirks, oddities, and goofiness that makes us unique, and oftentimes less than perfect. Which is great. Perfect isn’t an attainable goal. If he truly loves you, he embraces your quirks and doesn’t mind them. 

In fact, he likely secretly finds your quirks to be cute. 

He Supports You 

He is your strongest pillar of support. Your rock. If you are in trouble, he will be there, right beside you. 

He motivates and encourages you to follow your dreams, become the best version of yourself, and keep pushing forward. 

Nothing makes him happier than to see you succeed. 

20 Clear Signs He’s Serious About You Notes 

When you find someone like this, it is a true gift. You have an incredible partner going through the journey of life with you, and you can be incredibly successful together. 

Don’t ever settle for anything less than you deserve. 

When I go back and read these 20 Clear Signs He’s Serious About You, thinking about both the beginning of my relationship with my husband, and now, I feel gratitude. I am always grateful that I found my person who is a great example of these traits. It always makes me strive to be the best wife I can be as well, because he is so amazing. 

We work together as a team, and support and love each other through the good and bad. 

20 Clear Signs He’s Serious About You Discussion 

Have these 20 Clear Signs He’s Serious About You helped you with your relationships? Are you in a good relationship with someone who exemplifies these traits? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

4 Amazing Life Changing Choices. I’m not going to lie, I’m getting older. Not old yet, but certainly old enough to have learned a few things, and also to resist certain generational changes. Such as using a QR code to access a menu in a restaurant. I also stand up from my desk with a few sound effects. 

There are four things that I’ve stopped doing in the last couple of years as I get older, and they have really transformed my life in the most amazing ways. I never expected it or was really prepared for it, as they were gradual changes, but I can’t ignore the wonderful results, and that is what I want to share with you here. 

I firmly believe that as we get older and more knowledgeable, midlife should be the best time of our lives! 40 is rapidly approaching, and faster than I want it to. But in all honesty, I wouldn’t go back in time or want to be younger again. I’ve learned too much, earned my gray hair, and really become my best self. 

I have become grateful for everything in my life, the experiences, the people, even the smallest things. I also feel a greater compassion for everyone around me. I understand that we each have our own path to walk, and I’m learning to be more respectful of every person’s journey, as it is unique. 

Are you ready to hear about the 4 Amazing Life Changing Choices? Come on in and let me tell you about them! 

4 Amazing Life Changing Choices 

I Stopped Caring About Other People’s Opinions 

In the past, I spent a lot of time worrying about what other people thought of me. It’s all a waste of time. Life is honestly too short to care what other people think. One of my favorite phrases I’ve come to say is, “we’re all being judged by someone who isn’t even close to having their own shit together.” Because it is so true. Nobody is perfect, it is just that simple. 

I have since come to realize that people are naturally going to judge others based on their own perspective and set of beliefs. This is something I can’t control, and neither can you. In trying to do so, you are giving your power away. 

Be concerned with how you feel about yourself. When I learned to focus my concern on how I feel about myself, that became my guiding compass in my life. This strengthened my relationship with myself, and helped me to evolve into a happier and more resilient person. 

Oftentimes people can be incredibly negative, and it can hurt when it is turned toward you. It can also create unnecessary drama. But only if you let it. Repeat that with me. Only if you let it. 

A great example of that is, when I started this blog. Someone close to me called this one, “ugly, stupid, and hard to read.” Then called all four of my blogs, “boring as shit.” I let this bother me for a while, as it hurts. I mean, what kind of person says things like that? Especially one who says “be kind” on their Facebook page. Those aren’t kind things, and I called this person a hypocrite. 

I confronted this person, and they attempted to gaslight me by calling me crazy, denying they said those things, and telling me I was being dramatic. I lost all respect for this person, because of their lack of accountability. Side note, that my patience with people lacking accountability for their words and actions has drastically been reduced as I get older. I respect people who own their worlds and actions, no  matter how terrible they are. 

But besides losing respect for them and blocking them in every possible way, I was reminded that I started this specific blog to have a voice. To use my own experiences to help women, to cheer them on toward becoming their best self. My experiences may very well be your survival roadmap. I wasn’t going to let one nasty person silence the voice I worked so hard to find within myself. Never again would I allow anyone to silence me, because I spent over half my life allowing that. 

One single person’s ugly opinion didn’t define who I am. Calling something I am passionate about stupid or boring as shit is a reflection on themselves, and not on my capabilities as a writer. When I realized that, their opinion lost every ounce of power it had. That power is mine again. 

Never ever underestimate the power and freedom that comes from staying true to yourself and honoring your unique contribution to the world. You were born with a purpose, and that is something that no one can take from you. 

This reminded me that I want to cheer on others when they find the courage to do something that speaks to their soul. It doesn’t matter whether I understand it or not. If they are passionate, I want to be a voice of support instead of opposition. 

My husband and I had a discussion about the nasty person I mentioned above. I said, I don’t care about losing them as a part of my life. I will be content losing every single person in my life. As long as I never lose myself again, I’m good. Which is my mantra as I get older. As long as I don’t lose myself ever again, I’m content. Because that isn’t a price I’m willing to pay to have specific people in my life. 

The best part about this is when you take that attitude, the negative people drift away and fade into the background. Because they have no power in your life. When you take control, you take away their relevance to your life. You don’t need to say goodbye or do anything dramatic. Just take away their power and relevance by being confident in yourself and your path, and not care what they think, and they’ll just sort of magically and quietly disappear from your life. 

If you need expert advice, look inward, and not toward the opinions of others. You know what is best for you because you are the only person walking in your shoes. Trust your inner voice and move forward with confidence. 

There is no such thing as a wrong decision. Either things will work out exactly as you planned, or you will learn an important lesson. You can always pivot and change directions. Whatever the outcome is, the universe will give you the best experience for the evolution of your soul, and that is exactly why you’re here. 

The interesting thing about this is when you really actually stop caring about what people think, it isn’t so much of a conscious choice. It is more of a gradual mindset shift. Which I think is the best way to go. 

I Stopped Judging Everything 

When I started practicing mindfulness, I was honestly surprised to realize how judgmental I was. This was about everything and everyone. Remember how I said earlier that we’re all being judged by someone who isn’t even close to having it all together? Yeah, that was totally me too. 

Being judgmental is a classic sign of negative thinking, and it isn’t healthy because it turns into a vicious cycle that can sometimes feel impossible to get out of. It is like being on a burning roller coaster and deciding at the very top that you need to get off of it. 

Being judgmental is a reflection on you, and not on the person you’re judging. It is a sign of your own insecurities or ego. 

What many people don’t realize is that when you make unkind remarks or comments, that negativity you give out is sent right back to you. It is a way of creating bad karma, and blocking your own joy. 

Judgment is an ugly thing. We should all be here to love and support each other, especially as women. If all women started supporting each other instead of competing, we would literally be unstoppable! 

I Learned to Say No 

I learned to say no, say it with confidence, and not to give explanations. I didn’t need to justify saying no with some lame long-winded excuse. The answer was no, and I meant it. That’s it. 

When should you say no? Whenever something doesn’t feed your soul. Is it going to nourish your soul or suck the energy and life out of you? 

Your time is valuable, and it is time you started acting like it! If it doesn’t feed your soul, it isn’t worth your time, and you should be saying no. It will take practice, trust me. It isn’t easy when you first start doing it. 

The way you treat yourself is a reflection on how you allow others to treat you. When you start saying no and respecting your time and boundaries, you’re showing other people how to treat you. When you allow yourself to be treated like a doormat, you’re showing other people how to treat you, and it says a lot about how much or how little you respect yourself. 

You don’t need to explain yourself to anyone else, and that is incredibly empowering! Give yourself the permission to be unapologetically you. You will discover so many possibilities that open themselves up to you. 

I have also noticed over time that many conversations are opportunities to gossip or complain about others. I didn’t have anything to contribute, as that wasn’t the type of conversations I wanted to be part of. So I became a great listener. I didn’t have to constantly talk, just to be part of the group, because gossip and complaints didn’t make me feel good about myself when I spoke like that. 

I Stopped Caring About Useless Trivial Things 

When I was younger, I worried about everything, even the dumbest and smallest things. Because I didn’t have the insight and life experience that I do now. Now I really realize just how insignificant most of the stuff I worried about truly was. Everything, and I mean everything, was a big deal. This also caused a lot of anxiety. 

I would also have an emotional reaction when things didn’t go my way. The results were that life circumstances controlled me and my attitude, not the other way around. 

At this point in my life, I am tuned in to what honestly and truly matters. This is spending time with my family and my friends, my writing, my hobbies like reading, and anything else that brings me joy in my life. 

There is the old saying that you can’t control the curveballs that life throws at you, but you can control how you respond to them. When you realize you’re in charge of your attitude, energy, and emotions, you take a whole new level of control over your life, and it is incredibly powerful. 

In the past I would also allow other people to make me feel good or bad, worthy or unworthy of their affections, or even their approval. Now, I feel so much compassion for my younger self, because that is just a terrible way to live, constantly worrying about little things and how everyone else thought of me. 

I can’t imagine what I was thinking back then. Like maybe I had this crazy idea that life was just supposed to magically work out in my favor, so I let the outside world dictate my emotional state, define my worth, and tell me how to feel about myself. 

This could be a severe lack of both confidence and life experience back then, too. Confidence, happiness, and acceptance all come from within. Once I really figured this out, I stopped seeking validation, happiness, and acceptance from outside sources and started embracing that I had all of that within me. 

4 Amazing Life Changing Choices Notes 

The Big Life Questions 

• What is life trying to teach me? 
• What experiences do I wish to fill my life with? 
• How do I want to spend my valuable time? 
• What kind of relationships do I want to cultivate? 
• How am I making the lives of the people around me better? 
• How can I make a difference in my corner of the world? 
• Am I approaching life with love, understanding, and compassion? 

When I stop and think about these “big” questions, it really does impact how I approach things and respond to them within my life. It makes me think about how I respond to others. 

As I approach 40, I think about all the wisdom I’ve accumulated over the years, how much I’ve changed and grown even over just the last few years. I feel such a deep sense of gratitude for it all. I’m far less critical of myself and others. Every day that goes by, I feel more and more like my authentic self, and I am no longer apologizing for that or trying to hide it. 

There is so much more life ahead of me, more learning, and more growing. The best is yet to come! When I think about that, I am excited to see what is in store for me, because I know I haven’t reached my full potential yet, but I am absolutely on the right track to doing so. 

I know that I have the power to keep recreating myself and to write my own happy ending. This doesn’t mean life isn’t hard. But hardships and struggles don’t define me. What I learn and how I grow into my best self through those struggles is what defines me. 

When you learn the important life lessons that you’re meant to learn, you open yourself up to an unlimited world of possibilities, and I can’t think of a better way to embrace the journey of life. 

4 Amazing Life Changing Choices Discussion 

Have you made these 4 Amazing Life Changing Choices for yourself yet? Are you working on it? Is there any specific area that you’re struggling with? Would you add anything to this list? 

I want to help support you in your own journey through making these 4 Amazing Life Changing Choices. Let me know in the comments how I can help you, or simply share your own personal experiences about getting older and what you have learned! 

12 Healthy Life Improving Habits are simple and effective ways to start taking real and true control of your life! When you engage in healthy habits, your brain develops an expectation of what will happen and when it will happen. This is a really useful tool to both develop and manage a daily routine that you feel in control of. 

When you are in control of your life, habits, and routine, you are much more able to focus on what is important, accomplish goals, and manage your time effectively. This also allows you to respond to stress and true problems in a much more controlled and productive way. 

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Why are healthy habits essential? Habits shape our attitudes, actions, and decision-making abilities. Habits are small changes that can add up to significant results over time. 

These 12 healthy life improving habits will set a good solid foundation for having a good day everyday and being able to handle the curveballs that life may throw at you. 

Get Up Early 

Allow yourself time to prepare for the day ahead. This gives you time to wake up, enjoy a cup of coffee, and plan the day and what your priorities are without rushing. 

When I feel rushed, I feel out of control, and things don’t run smoothly. This makes me really grumpy, because I’m not honoring my routine and it throws off my day completely. 

Stay Hydrated 

Chances are you are not getting enough water each day! I know that there are times I struggle with this as well. Drinking plenty of water is essential though, because it will help you feel lighter, more clear headed, snack less, and sleep better. 

I love this water bottle. Mine is bright pink, there is no mistaking that it is mine, as it fits my personality. I take it everywhere with me, and I always have ice on hand to fill the bottle, because I love cold water. Knowing these things and my own requirements, like drinking more water if it is super cold, for example, is essential for helping me make sure I’m staying hydrated and not reaching for soda or anything else unhealthy. 

Go for a Walk Every Day 

Getting out for a walk and exercise each day will help you take a break from things, get the blood pumping, and relieve some stress! Just 10-30 minutes per day is enough to make a difference and get you on the road to being healthier! 

You can start slow, and just go for 10 minutes, and work your way to more if you want to. This is a great way to clear your mind, or even focus on creative things. I find when I’m having writer’s block, a good walk will make a difference. 

Plan Meals in Advance 

Planning meals ahead of time is one of the best habits that I can recommend! This is a way to be kind to your waistline and your wallet at the same time. Planning meals means you are not staring at the pantry and trying to find inspiration. Nor are you automatically ordering takeout because it is easy. 

I’ll be the first to admit that I love planning out my meals, and when I forget, I notice! Because I get really irritable with myself for it, and end up just ordering takeout because I’m not only hangry, I’m upset that I failed to plan. 

Adopt a Proper Bedtime 

Having a proper set bedtime will help train your brain to switch off and get a more restful and productive sleep. Pick whatever time works for you, and make it a point to stick to that time every night. 

Having a set bedtime means that you’re allowing yourself to get enough rest each night to wake well in the morning and be more productive. Not getting the proper amount of rest you need can not only ruin your day, it can lead to burnout, and be really harmful to your mental health. 

Plan Your Week Ahead on Sunday 

I am a stickler for my planner and use it daily. The most important time to use it though is on Sunday, because I can look at my week and determine what my priorities are and where my attention needs to be focused. 

I find making a list of tasks and priorities for each day to be essential, then going back to check them off the list as I accomplish each one. Writing things down in my planner, where I have it in black and white, makes me so much more accountable to myself. It means I have no choice but to be honest with myself and really work toward achieving my goals and seeing where my priorities need to be. 

Make Self Care a Priority 

Self care isn’t selfish! Repeat that one out loud with me. You can’t be your best self if you aren’t taking care of yourself. Make your own health and wellbeing a priority, and do so without feeling guilty about it. 

You know the speech flight attendants give about putting your own oxygen mask on before you start to help anyone else? That concept applies to life in general! You can’t help anyone else if you aren’t taking care of yourself first. 

Track Your Spending 

There is nothing worse than getting to the end of the month and wondering where all of your money went. Take control of that by keeping track of your spending, and making yourself accountable. 

The planner I linked to earlier has soooo much room for notes in it, and I often use it to track money on top of everything else. When I pay my bills, if I paid by check, the number. If I pay online, note the confirmation number. This is also a great place to plan meals, or note if I’m eating out so I can pay attention to how often I am. You’ll become a lot more aware of your spending if you’re keeping track of it, and you can make any changes you deem necessary to help save your money. You worked hard for that money, you should know where it is going! 

Cook from Scratch 

I am a stickler for knowing what is in my food, and there is no better way to do that than cooking completely from scratch myself. Choosing fresh over processed and pre-packaged food is not only healthier, it is also much cheaper. 

My favorite recipes are the ones that are made from scratch, but are also simple. I think that is one of the most common myths about homemade food, that it is difficult, time consuming, and expensive to make. But it doesn’t need to be. Simple ingredients prepared well make the best meals. 

Unplug an Hour Before Bed 

Turn off the tv, put your phone down, and any other distractions. Take a bath, read a book, journal, and just relax. Let your body know that it is almost time for bed. 

This will be a huge asset in setting yourself up for a restful quality sleep each night. Sleep is essential to everything we do, let’s maximize the quality of it! 

Journal 

Journaling is an amazing way to get to know yourself better, find out what makes you happy, relieve stress, and keep track of your goals. 

Practice Gratitude 

Learning to practice gratitude is a way to train your mind to focus on the positive things in life instead of the negatives. You’ll likely find that you want for less and are more content than you realized. 

I also have a firm belief that when we see positives, positives will happen. When we see problems, we will find problems. There is no easier way to find problems than to go looking for them and focus on them. By practicing gratitude, it is a simple way to shift that mindset and not automatically go looking for problems in our lives. 

How to Start Practicing Healthy Habits 

How do you break the bad habits and start practicing these healthy habits? Start with being honest with yourself. Where do you need to improve the most? Don’t lie to yourself. 

Figure out why the bad habits are there. 

Set goals and create a plan for how you want to start practicing better habits. A good example is where I talked about my water bottle earlier. I know exactly what I need to help myself drink more water and achieve that goal. Think about how to implement things like that in your own life. You know yourself better than anyone else, so you will know what you need. 

Write your goals down. Use pen and paper, or put them in your planner. Then tell someone close to you about them. I tell my husband about my goals often. That way I’m not only accountable to myself, I’m allowing myself to be accountable to him too. 

Give yourself some time to develop these healthy habits. Be patient! Seriously, be patient with yourself, as it takes 59-70 days to form good habits. You may fail at times. I failed at planning dinner last night, and I was livid with myself. I had to take a step back and remind myself that life happens and I just need to focus on doing better tomorrow. I’ve got this, and so do you! 

Don’t give up on yourself if you fail, make a mistake, or miss doing something one day. Each day is a fresh start, and an opportunity to do better. Own your mistakes, and focus on improvement, and then celebrate it when you are successful. 

12 Healthy Life Improving Habits Notes 

How long does it take to form a habit? It takes an average of 59-70 days to form a habit and that habit becomes automatic. That is why making it a point to be more mindful of good and bad habits is essential. 

What do bad habits do to us? Bad habits can damage our brains! Bad habits can be very harmful to our bodies, our brains, and our mental health. Good habits help us reach goals more efficiently and effectively, while bad habits can make things much more difficult or even prevent success entirely. Habits are a powerful thing! Which I don’t think they get nearly enough recognition for. 

12 Healthy Life Improving Habits Discussion 

Do you practice these 12 healthy habits in your own daily life? Are there parts that you need to improve on? Has this post helped you to start creating better habits in your life? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

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7 Great Questions to Purge the Closet is a list of questions to help you purge your closet. Why is a good closet purge essential? Because it gives you the space to start over and dream of how you want to use the newly decluttered space you’ve just created! 

How often should you purge your closet? I like to do decluttering projects fairly regularly, and include them in my monthly tasks, but at the very least, every six months. It is an excellent habit to get into while deep cleaning your home.

One of my favorite mottos is, “a clean space is a productive space.” Which is something I firmly believe in. Physical clutter causes emotional clutter, and means that our brains don’t shut down and relax the way they should, and that leads to anxiety. When you are in your own home, anxiety is the last thing you should be feeling, and often decluttering is a great first step to creating a calm home to relax in. That is why these 7 Great Questions to Purge the Closet are essential, in my opinion.

Why is Purging and Decluttering Difficult? 

Clothes have this emotional component to it. Some are associated with certain experiences that we want to remember and therefore have a hard time letting go of. Others may bring up feelings of guilt, like if we received the item as a gift and don’t want to get rid of it. 

Decluttering clothes is difficult because most of us have a hard time seeing ourselves objectively. That is what inspired me to create the 7 Great Questions to Purge the Closet list to help you!

7 Great Questions to Purge the Closet 

Are you ready to purge your closet and make room for better things? Let’s go! Let me help you with these 7 Great Questions to Purge the Closet.

Does it fit? 

Does it fit? That is the first question in my 7 Great Questions to Purge the Closet.

If your clothes no longer fit, it may be time to get rid of them and it is okay to let them go. My rule is, if they haven’t fit in a year, it is time to go. Because if I haven’t taken the steps to make them fit, I’m not magically going to anytime soon. There is no need for useless things to take up valuable space. 

Now the exception is if you are in the middle of a successful weight loss plan, then this step may be more of a gray area. But if you aren’t actively working on this, then get rid of them and make space for clothes that do fit you, make you feel good, and look amazing. 

Also, if you have lost weight, be sure to get rid of the bigger clothes. This will help keep you on track because if you let yourself backslide, you’ll have to buy bigger clothes again. I’m all for motivation for success, and this is a good one! 

Have I worn it in the last 12 months? 

Have I worn it in the last year? That is the second question in my 7 Great Questions to Purge the Closet.

One of the things I like to do at the beginning of the year is to turn all of my hangers around backwards. When I remove something from the closet to wear it, I’ll put the hanger facing the correct way again when I’ve washed and put it back. 

When the year is up, I return to the closet, remove all the backward facing hangers, and get rid of everything that is on those hangers. It is a really simple way to tell what you have worn and what you haven’t, making decluttering much easier. I approach it with the “no questions asked” mentality. If a hanger is facing backwards after a year, it goes, and that is final. 

You also don’t have to wait a full year to do this. At the three and six month points, it’ll be pretty obvious what you’re wearing and what you’re not. If you want to start getting rid of the obvious stuff sooner, there is absolutely no reason not to. 

Will I ever wear this again? 

Will I ever wear it again? That is the third question in my 7 Great Questions to Purge the Closet.

Do you have any intentions of ever wearing something again? It is a simple yes or no question, and I recommend you approach it exactly that way. Don’t say, “no, but…” and then insert an excuse in there. If the answer is no, it is no. Make it go away. I find I need to make myself make the black and white choice of yes or no at times, and you may need to as well. 

The next question is, have you ever worn it at all? If the answer is no, it is time to go. 

Why will you never wear it? Is it uncomfortable? Do you just dislike it? Was it a gift you feel stuck with? I think the most difficult one here is a gift you feel stuck with, and that is a challenge that I completely understand.

If it is a gift you feel stuck with, I’m here to give you permission to get rid of it. It takes up space and you don’t plan on wearing it. Why keep it? It was given as a gift, and there are no stipulations that you have to keep it for the rest of your life. It was the thought from the giver that counts, and always remember that. 

Give yourself permission to get rid of gifts that you have no interest in keeping or actively using. If it is a gift, it is yours. You own it, therefore you can do what you choose with it. It isn’t a loan you have to maintain and take care of. Always remember that if you are struggling with this, as I have done in the past as well.

Is it currently in style and/or representative of my personal style? 

Does it represent my style? That is the fourth question in my 7 Great Questions to Purge the Closet.

Our personal style changes as the years go on, and often we outgrow clothes. Your style at 25 years old isn’t the same as it is at 40 years old. You can insert any year or age into this equation, as style really does change. This is perfectly natural and normal, don’t worry. It doesn’t mean anything big that your style has changed. It just happens to each and every one of us as time goes on.

Does what is in your closet represent your current style and preferences? For example, if you normally wear yoga pants and a t- shirt, how many silk blouses do you need?  The answer is very few or even none. I have found this question to be especially important since Covid and all the lockdowns, because I now work from home and don’t go out nearly as much as I used to. This means that my style has changed simply based on that as well. Yours may have done the same. 

Do you keep clothes around from a previous life? An example of that is going from an executive office or corporate position and job to being a stay at home mom. How many business suits do you need now? Why are you holding onto them? This not only adds clutter and stress to your closet and life, it may prevent you from fully moving on and embracing your new and current life, and all of the joy that can bring. Or is it the opposite, and it is time to ditch ten of your fifteen pairs of sweatpants to make room for professional attire? 

Do I feel good when I wear it? 

Do I feel good when I wear it? This is the fifth question in my 7 Great Questions to Purge the Closet, and honestly, one of my favorites. I think this one is far too often overlooked.

Do you feel good when you wear something? I like to take this approach in two ways, comfort and confidence. Do you feel comfortable and confident when you wear it? 

If you spend the majority of your time at home, comfort is obviously important. Since I work from home, this is an absolute requirement for me. Clothes need to be comfortable, because if I’m not comfortable, I’m not being productive because discomfort is distracting. 

When I go out and dress up, I also want to feel confident in my clothes. Do your clothes make you feel good, sexy, confident, like the amazing woman that you are? 

Or do they make you feel negative emotions? If they don’t make you feel good, it is time to get rid of them. Your clothes should always make you feel good when you wear them. It is just that simple. Because when you feel good about yourself, you radiate that positive energy outward, and you glow. Every woman deserves to glow every single day of our lives.

I also want to add here that the opinions of others doesn’t matter. If you feel good in an outfit or clothing, you glow differently. Rock it! Ignore the opinions of others and do what makes you happy.

If it is damaged, will I find time to fix it? 

Is it damaged? This is question six in my 7 Great Questions to Purge the Closet.

Damaged items include a button that needs to be replaced, a hemline that needs to be sewn, or loose threads that need to be cut and cauterized to keep them from going farther, or a pair of pants you need tailored because they are too long. 

If it has been sitting there waiting for three months or longer, it is time to commit to fixing it this week, yes this week. If you can’t do that, it is time for them to go. 

If you’re procrastinating doing this, there is likely an underlying reason. Maybe you don’t love that specific item, maybe you know you won’t wear it so it is a waste of time to get it fixed. 

Can you take this item and upcycle it into something else? A couple good examples would be turning old denim jeans into a pretty purse that you can customize. Or a shirt sewn into a teddy bear that you can keep and enjoy far more than you would with the shirt just hanging in your closet and taking up space. Quilted hearts that you give away are also a fun thing to do. Look up the hashtag called I Found A Quilted Heart and see if that is something you’re interested in doing if you are the creative crafty upcycling type of woman.

If I were shopping right now, would I buy it? 

Would I buy it right now? This is the seventh and last question in my 7 Great Questions to Purge the Closet.

If you went shopping right now and saw the items in your closet in a store, would you buy them again? If the answer is no, it is time to get rid of them. 

This is probably my favorite question or heading within this post. Because it is so easy. It is literally a yes or no question. No lame excuses, no buts, no nothing. Just yes or no, and you go from there. I have started really focusing on yes or no questions when it comes to purging and decluttering, and it seriously makes a difference! Practice makes perfect. But this is an amazing way to start and really get in the habit of being able to purge the closet.

7 Great Questions to Purge the Closet Notes 

Here are my favorite tips to help you purge your closet and get rid of things you no longer need. 

• Be honest with yourself. 
• Find time to dedicate to going through your clothes. 
• Play your favorite music and light a candle. Make it a more enjoyable task. 
• Go through your closet and pick out items you love wearing and set them aside. 
• Find the items that you don’t feel good in and donate. 
• Make sure everything in the “maybe” pile is hung up to review. 
• Separate out things that need alterations. 
• Fold any lounge or workout clothes and put them in the dresser. 
• Take anything you feel guilty getting rid of and give yourself permission to get rid of it. 
• If you are struggling to do this on your own, ask a trusted friend or family member. 
• If you feel overwhelmed, take a break. But be sure to go back to it and finish the task. 

Sometimes purging and decluttering your closet can become overwhelming, especially if you are emotionally attached to clothes or struggle with guilt over wanting to get rid of them. Be prepared for that, and don’t let it stop you. Give yourself permission to feel the emotions, enjoy the memories attached to things, or say goodbye to them if they are painful. 

Give yourself grace and patience, especially if you haven’t made it a habit to declutter consistently yet. It is a struggle the first time, and nobody is perfect. That is perfectly okay. 

Focus on looking at things objectively instead of emotionally. Logic and objectivity will really be your best friend in this instance. That is why I said earlier, go in with a black and white mindset. Yes and no, nothing else. 

Once you start doing this, it will become much easier. Practice makes perfect, right? You certainly don’t need to be perfect, because trust me, I’m not remotely close to perfect either. But the point is, the more you do it, the better you become at looking at things objectively, being able to get rid of the things you don’t want, don’t use, and don’t have space for. 

It definitely does get easier the more you do it, and that also makes decluttering the rest of your house easier as you move on to other rooms and other projects in your home. I have really found this to be true. Once I really got into the habit of decluttering my closet, everything else was easy, because I was good at it. I learned to determine yes or no on keeping things much faster than I would have before. Previously, I would not only overthink the entire thing and get tired quickly, I would be indecisive.

You’ll likely find that once you really get comfortable decluttering and purging, you’ll enjoy a sense of calm, peace, and relaxation that you may not have felt at home before this. Decluttering and purging really does reduce stress and anxiety. Peace and calm are things we should all be enjoying when we are in our own homes. That is why I find the 7 Great Questions to Purge the Closet absolutely essential for everyone to be doing. 

7 Great Questions to Purge the Closet Discussion 

Has my 7 Great Questions to Purge the Closet helped you be able to declutter and get rid of items you no longer wear? Is this something that you struggle to do? Are you holding onto things you don’t need or use? 

Do you have any tips that I missed here that have helped you? I want to hear about them! I want to know your own experiences and tips that have worked the best for you, and let’s help each other with this struggle. Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Thank you for reading my 7 Great Questions to Purge the Closet, I hope it has helped you!

4 Easy Ways to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed. Do you ever feel overwhelmed and failing at being a wife, a housewife, and/or a homemaker? It can be overwhelming because there is always something to do, someone in your family to take care of, and a list of never-ending chores. It is stressful! 

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The truth is that every homemaker and housewife feels overwhelmed and feels like a failure. I know I have those days, and it is crushing to me. I should be able to do it all, take care of everyone and everything. In my head, I always think I can do it all, and it really is a crushing blow when I realize I can’t. I’m not perfect, I’m human. 

It took me a while to really force myself to find helpful ways to stay on track and keep it all together. But it is totally possible! If you are feeling overwhelmed and like you’re a miserable failure, keep reading, because you can do this. You are an amazing woman who is stronger than you realize. Trust me! 

4 Easy Ways to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed 

Start Saying No 

Learning how to say no took me a while. I was always the yes girl, even when I didn’t want to do something, I still said yes. I hated myself when I did too. Learning to say no is incredibly liberating! 

People always assume that if you work from home, are a homemaker, or both, that you have copious amounts of free time and are always available. Just because you aren’t working a traditional 9-5 job and have flexibility doesn’t make you constantly available. Yes, you have more flexibility, but that doesn’t mean you should try to do everything for everyone just because they ask. 

My time is both precious and valuable. When I started treating it as such, it became easier to say no, and I didn’t feel guilty. You can do the same thing, and you’ll start seeing how much better you feel about yourself. 

Will some people get upset by you saying no? Absolutely. It’s going to happen, and there is no avoiding it. But there will also be people who understand and respect that as well. One of my favorite things to remind women of, you show how much you respect yourself by how you allow others to treat you. Setting boundaries and saying no is an excellent way to start respecting yourself more. 

Create a Schedule 

I love, love, and really love this planner to help keep my days structured. I don’t need to plan every single hour of every single day. I’m not that rigid, and you shouldn’t be either. But I have a ton of things I need to take care of everyday, especially with all of my blogs and homemaking tasks. 

The reason I love this planner is because there is a ton of room to write everything down. I note social media posts, blog posts, birthdays, bills paid with check number or confirmation number, homemaking tasks, and so much more. If you’re the kind of person who thinks you did a task “just last week” and it was actually three months ago, you need to be using a planner and structuring your time more. 

Creating a schedule will help you keep a clean home, and you’ll develop great habits for each day, each week, and each month. Creating a schedule creates habits, and habits make it much easier to be consistent and that relieves anxiety as well as becoming overwhelmed because you didn’t keep up on chores and projects. 

Get Help From Others 

If you share your home with anyone else, husband, kids, roommates, whatever the case is, they should be helping you. You aren’t a maid and shouldn’t be treated like one. 

I get being a full-time homemaker means you shoulder the majority of things, but that doesn’t make you a servant either. 

Figure out what you need help with and what strengths others have, and use them. These may need to be adjusted as time goes on, especially with kids, but everyone should be helping to make your home function the way it needs to. 

It is also important to make sure that everyone is doing their part and not just agreeing and ignoring it. That makes things more overwhelming for you because the chore is being ignored until it is huge. Don’t let that happen. 

Take Shortcuts when Needed 

I’m going to be the first to tell you, I suck at taking shortcuts. I would much rather do it all, spend the time making everything like household cleaners and other homestead type projects, making all the food from scratch, and everything else I deem necessary to be a “good” homemaker and wife. 

But there are times when time isn’t my friend, and shortcuts are actually okay. It took me a long, long time to be okay with some shortcuts. 

There comes a point when the question becomes, am I saving money and wasting my time, or is it saving me in both areas? 

Sometimes pizza is the answer for dinner. Sometimes skipping making something from scratch is the answer. Nobody is going to haul you off to jail because you didn’t make your own laundry soap this month. 

Trust me when I say that I love making everything from scratch, and it irritates me when I don’t do it, and I think I’ve failed because of it. But remember the part above where I mentioned my time being both precious and valuable? I have to remind myself of that when it comes to this step and being able to justify taking shortcuts. 

Oftentimes when we slow down and stop trying to do everything, it is easier to go back to not taking shortcuts. It’s like a little miniature break, and then you can go back to normal. I found once I did that, I now take one day a month to make things from scratch like household cleaners and condiments to have on hand. 

4 Easy Ways to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed Notes 

Life isn’t perfect, and neither are you. There will always be times when as a homemaker, you feel overwhelmed and burnt out. It happens to all of us. I’ve found slowing down and taking all of the steps above really help and put me back in the right mindset to get everything I need to do done, and it all works out. 

Also remember that it is okay to feel not okay. You are justified in your feelings and should not feel guilty about it. Don’t beat yourself up because you aren’t perfect. Being perfect is impossible. 

Most importantly, remember that you got this. You are an amazing woman, an amazing wife, an amazing mother, and an amazing homemaker. Stop, take a moment and remind yourself of that! Then smile, because it looks good on you. 

4 Easy Ways to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed Discussion 

Has this 4 Easy Ways to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed helped you? Is there anything you would add to the list? Is there something specific that you’re struggling with? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! 

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