Stay Home Series | Creating a Daily Rhythm

 

I adore rhythms and rituals. I love how they organize my life and give meaning to the mundane. I’ve always been drawn to the calm cadence that they bring to the hours that make up my day, and like forgiving road maps, they give me direction with ample amount of grace to begin my journey as I rise with the sun, or sometimes even before. My daily rhythm is a starting point if anything, and a handy reference when time feels frenzied and rushed. It is not in place to make me a slave to the constructs of my day, but rather there to nudge me along like a wise friend who understands me well and knows what it is that I need. I am someone who prefers a simple and orderly life, while some may think it boring, and I have learned about myself that I indeed feel most like me in the slow moments that give me space to make and rest and learn and love. And so, I quite enjoy the predictability, creativity, and comfort daily rhythms provide.

Rhythms are everywhere and have been a part of us since well before we were born into this world. They live inside of us: in the steadiness of our heartbeat, in flow our breath, in the arrival of our monthly cycles, and in the restful patterns we fall into when we sleep. They are also very present outside of us, pulsing outside of our bodies, and guiding the natural world and all of the creatures and living things that inhabit it. Rhythms are in the rising and setting of the sun that keeps us warm and helps grow our food, in the cycles of the moon that light up the night, in the ebb and flow of the tides, and in the changing of the seasons throughout the year that each give us an abundance of gifts, both big and small.

As you well know, a certain amount of structure and order are necessary for something to thrive. Think about a newly potted plant. If you water it sporadically, and keep changing its home or its location, and never give it a good pruning, how would you expect it to fair? Probably not too well. We humans, children especially, crave the stability and nourishment that consistent rhythms can provide, much like the needs of the natural world. Creating rhythms for life at home is a wonderful way to help establish and practice good habits while feeling empowered as you go about your day, rather than feeling bound to it without room to grow. Below is my take on our family’s rhythms, and I am going to walk you through some steps to create your very own! But first, a few things:

 

  1. You do not have to have kids, or stay at home with them, to create a rhythm for your life. Rhythms are important for all of us, and taking the time to anchor and ground ourselves will leave us feeling more nourished at the end of the day, rather than feeling overworked and exhausted.
  2. You do not have to have all your ducks in a row to start. This goes for anything, by the way. And I am pretty sure the ducks in a row thing is one gigantic myth created by perfectionists to keep us creatives (basically all human beings) from starting anything at all. I know this because I am one. You can create a rhythm for your day even if, and perhaps especially if, you are feeling like chaos and crazy sum up your schedule right now.
  3. You will absolutely have days where your rhythm does not flow. That’s okay. That’s more than okay. That’s a good reminder that you are living life. Remember that creating a rhythm for yourself or your family does not mean you are stuck to it, nor should it limit you. Your rhythm should open up your days for more opportunities to be creative and explore, but should balance this, by giving you time to sink into solitude, to rest, and to take care of yourself. This goes for everyone, whether they work from home, take care of babies all day, or work outside of the house in whatever capacity.
  4. Know that just as you are completely different from your neighbor, your rhythm may look nothing like the one I am going to share with you. If fact, it should look different. You are different from me, so use mine as a template and go from there. That being said, if you like the feel of ours and want to try it on for awhile, you are welcome to it!
  5. Lastly, know that your rhythm will, and probably should, change. You may not need to scrap the whole thing each season and start fresh, but most likely you will have to make adjustments and small changes as you go. After all, babies don’t keep.
As parents today, it’s so easy to fall into the trap that you have to do it all and be it all and give it all (at all times) to your kids, and unfortunately this mentality tends to translates into more more more, but more does not equal more in this scenario. More equals valuing quantity over quality, and usually leaves everyone in the equation feeling the opposite of nourished and full. In this way, rhythms should never control our day and they should not be too rigid or complex. Instead, daily rhythms should invite an intentional balance of meaningful work, rest, and play, which on their own are life-giving anchors that connect and support the individual and the family unit as a whole.

 

Steps for Creating Your Daily Rhythm:Β 

 

Step 1: Segment your day into three sections: morning, noon, and night. Within each of those sections, make a list of your non-negotiables. These are things you need to do each day, like have coffee, eat breakfast, shower etc. Yes, coffee made my list. Naturally.

Step 2: Once you’ve laid out your non-negotiables for each part of the day, look at each section and determine whether or not they are balanced. Here’s what I mean by balanced: if you notice that during each part of the day you are go go go, or give give give, you may need to add in some down time or self-care. If you notice that you are spending a good chunk of down time watching TV, try switching that out for something a little more stimulating like crafting or reading. For our rhythm, I made sure each part of our day included each of the following:

  1. A time to eat and nourish our bodies.
  2. A time to move and create.
  3. A time to rest and rejuvenate.

Step 3: Make a chart on a blank sheet of paper to lay everything out so you can see how it looks from above. I started our day at 5 AM, and took it to 9 PM. Now I know that sounds like a crazy long day, but when you look at it up close, there is balance and starting that early is more restorative than you’d think. I decided to separate our rhythm into two hour blocks, giving us plenty of time to do what we need or want. It is important to give wiggle room and time to stretch within the framework of your rhythm so things do not feel rushed or forced. If you laid everything out and transitioned each half hour, you’d feel like a part of an assembly line. That feeling of being restricted is the last thing you should experience in your daily rhythm. Instead, you should feel time slow, giving you more time to be intentional with how you spend each moment of your day.

Step 4: Know yourself and your family’s needs. This step is the most important one, because if you overlook personality types and specific needs you know should be met, your rhythm will hinder rather than help. Because we have three little ones our rhythm overlaps a bit. For organization and my sanity’s sake, I only included what we do at home during the week. One could make a rhythm for each child, but I feel that would be too confusing. Instead, keep your rhythm focused on the times when you or they are at home, so they and you know the ebb and flow of those times of day.

Step 5: Share it. It’s important to sit down with those involved and go over everything together. I shared this with Andrew before we shared it with the kids, and he had several great ideas to add. He may not stay home with the kids, but this rhythm is very much a part of his life too because it starts and ends when he is at home. When sharing it with little ones, you don’t need to give every single detail or hour of the day. They will organically pick up on the rhythm within several days by way of imitation and will come to know what happens when, and what to expect.

 

Our Daily Rhythm, An Example:Β 

 

  • 5 AM | MOM UP | YOGA | COFFEE | READ OR WRITE
    • I don’t set my alarm until 6 AM but as a rule for myself, if I wake up before then I get up. Waking by 6 gives me at least an hour or so of slow to start the day. As an introvert, this helps me more than words can say. It is essential for me to carve out time that restores my energy, and early morning is a perfect time for this.
  • 7 AM | BREAKFAST | CLEAN UP | GET READY | MAKE BEDS & TIDY ROOMS | MAKE LUNCHES
    • Fairly self explanatory…
  • 9 AM | FREE PLAY | ART & MUSIC
    • Free Play | While we do follow a daily rhythm at home, and while we do have a certain cadence to our day, so much of our kids’ world right now is devoted to free play. Their work right now is play, and setting time aside to do just that is extremely important for them both developmentally and creatively. Free play invites a sense of curiosity and wonder that grounds them to the present moment, and welcomes each young one into a fluid space where they can move with their bodies, try problem solving, tap into their imagination, and learn how to be at home within themselves. Experiencing the world through play is a beautiful and natural way to learn, and it does not mean more toys or more scheduled experiences. Free play doesn’t equal things, it equals freedom within a set time to explore, engage, and grow.
    • MONDAY: paint
    • TUESDAY: mold with clay
    • WEDNESDAY: draw with crayons or chalk
    • THURSDAY: glue and scissors
    • FRIDAY: field trip
  • 11 AM | LUNCH | CHORES
    • I use my daily chore sheet to keep things simple and tidy here at home. Lunch is made in the mornings and all the kids have the same thing, usually a mix of fruit, veggies, crackers, and a sandwich or wrap.
  • 1 PM | NAPS | QUIET TIME | REST
    • This time is sacred for all of us, as it gives us a chance to pause and rest in the middle of our day. The boys will usually nap, Stella will have quiet time in her room if she is home, and I’ll have time to lay down and read or write posts like I am doing now, do handwork, or catch up on emails. The kids also have an option to lay on the couch or read in our book nook if they want, but most times they are really tired from playing and welcome this time to snooze.
  • 3 PM | NATURE CRAFT | READ ALOUD
    • The hours from 3-5 are arguably the hardest for stay at home parents. Everyone is usually pretty hungry and busting full of energy from the day, so we do our best to use this time to get outside and use our creativity. Stella and I are starting a nature journal as a part of our homeschooling and we will also be doing nature-inspired crafts that correspond to what we are learning about that week. Another option outside of crating is to use this chunk of the day for reading aloud. This is one of my favorite ways to connect with the kids and they love it dearly. If it’s nice outside we’ll take our books there, otherwise we’ll cozy up somewhere and dive into the pages and learn as a group.
  • 5 PM | MEAL PREP | SUPPER | DISHES | PLAY
    • I like getting the kids involved with meal prep, along with dishes after supper. I’ll fill one side of our sink with soapy lavender water and they’ll stand on a chair or stool and scrub away. Once they clean their bowl they can go off an play, which they almost always do. We aren’t super strict that they stay at the table right now, but they must try everything on their plate and then clean their plate when finished. It’s a system that works for us.
  • 7 PM | BATH OR BOOKS | BEDTIME RITUAL
    • We don’t do baths everyday, but when needed or if they are really hyper. Chamomile epsom salt baths are wonderful for this. If a particular evening does not lend itself to bath night, then we’ll stay in the living room downstairs and read or do puzzles. Once or twice a week we’ll have a family movie night which is always a nice change. By keeping our TV upstairs and out of the way, it makes this time special for them and they don’t take it for granted.
  • 9 PM | MOM & DAD HANGS
    • Yeehaw!

 

I know this post was rather long, but I hope you enjoyed taking a look into how I create rhythms and what ours looks like in this season of life with three little ones who are mostly at home. How do rhythms or rituals play a part in your life? How do they help you organize your day? I am working on a Daily Rhythm PDF Template so you can create your rhythm on paper and have it as a handy reference to follow. It will be homemade like this cleaning rhythm, but will be structured much differently to give you room to write and add your essentials! Do you think this is something you’ll use? I’d love to hear your thoughts, dear one!

 

 

 

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  • Mary - Thank you for this! My daughter is in part time preschool, what curriculum do you use at home?ReplyCancel

    • admin - Mary, I use several things: Whole Family Rhythms, Learning without Tears, and bits from when I taught. We read a lot, and that is the basis of our learning. Trips to the library kind of ground us and what we will learn for the week, although most of it is very relaxed and hands on. I have a post on WFR here:

      https://homesongblog.com/autumn/waldorf-at-home-whole-family-rhythms/

      x AmandaReplyCancel

  • Chelsea Tracy - “I am someone who prefers a simple and orderly life, while some may think it boring, and I have learned about myself that I indeed feel most like me in the slow moments that give me space to make and rest and learn and love. And so, I quite enjoy the predictability, creativity, and comfort daily rhythms provide.”

    This is something I always pushed aside about myself, I always denied this. I wanted to be go go go and adventure and crazy, but it’s truly not me. Thank you for this, it was needed.ReplyCancel

    • admin - Chelsea, me too. I used to think that the more extraverted, adventurous kind of people were what I was supposed to be like. Just not so. I am happy with a calm life, and frankly, more me. Love that you were able to take a piece of this and feel inspired by it. Our uniqueness is what makes us shine. x AmandaReplyCancel

  • Amanda - Thank you! With the new school year our days have been kinda difficult. This is giving me the boost I need to get back on track with our routines! XoReplyCancel

  • Amanda - Thank you!! I’ve been working quasi-full time with Fridays off with my little boo and had found structuring this time incredibly challenging (which is a short hop away from that nasty mom guilt). Even though I’ve just restarted Fridays back at work, I look forward to implementing this for our lazy weekend days. Thank you again! So helpful.ReplyCancel

  • Taylor - I definitely look at our days in three sections. Usually the middle section is just lunch and nap. I try to only have something social planned for the morning or evening (though we frequently are out for both! It’s the first thing I fix in our calendar if we’re getting worn out over the week, though.) Parks, the library, and lots of free play at home dominate our weeks.ReplyCancel

    • admin - Taylor, I love how free play dominates your weeks, what fun! Our mornings are all about that and I love it so. x AmandaReplyCancel

  • Jordan - I love this! My oldest just turned 2. Any tips for anything on here that you substitute for something else for your youngest? Or does he just do everything, including washing his plate?ReplyCancel

    • admin - Jordan, honestly, he does his plate too! We learned this method at their school and Alfie now knows how to scrub it (with my help) but at least he’s aware of the process. Truth be told, he might even be better at it then Theodore! Ha! I would do what you feel comfortable with and go from there. x AmandaReplyCancel

  • Julia - Just found your site and I love all your posts! My husband and I are military and just moved from Hawaii to Maryland with a 7 week old. It’s been almost two months now of hotel living with Birdie Marie (I feel so bad for her being dragged around all over) and I can’t wait to move into our new home & get a snuggly happy rhythm going! This post delighted my soul & praise Jesus it’s just what I needed to read. Thank you. And heck yes I’d use a daily rhythm chart. How can I subscribe to your blog? I don’t want to miss a post!ReplyCancel

    • admin - Julia, good morning lovely! I just subscribed you πŸ™‚ Have a wonderful week! x AmandaReplyCancel

  • Emily - I love this! Thank you for sharing and yes would love a PDF.ReplyCancel

  • Jacinthe - This came just at the right moment! I think we desperately need a rhythm for our days at home. While reading “simplicity parenting” I realize just how much. I would use the template for sure! Will try your rhythm and adjust to our needs along the way. Thank you so much Amanda!ReplyCancel

    • admin - Jacinthe, that book is one of my all-time favorites! If you enjoy it, also read “Heaven on Earth”…it’s lovely. x AmandaReplyCancel

  • Kristin Perks - This was such a beautiful post. I felt an immediate sense of calm after reading it! I will be working on this in my own daily schedule this week – can’t wait for the PDF! Thanks so much for this : )ReplyCancel

    • admin - Kristin, oh thank you love. I am so glad you were able to find some ideas in here for your own rhythm at home! Have a wonderful week! x AmandaReplyCancel

  • Hollis - I have been CRAVING structure in my life after transitioning to being part time stay at home mom to two young kiddos. I have never been an “organized” or orderly person, but I’m feeling like life is getting out of control. I knew you had posted about your day-to-day schedule on instagram so I decided to come to your blog to see if I could find more. I was shocked when THIS was today’s post. It is EXACTLY what I needed and I can’t wait to put some of your advice into action. It’s funny how the universe gives us what we really need sometimes. THANK YOU!!ReplyCancel

    • admin - Hollis, oh sweet serendipity…have a beautiful day dear one. x AmandaReplyCancel

  • Magda - I cannot wait for the PDF. Your life is so different from mine and I learn so much from you, always.ReplyCancel

    • admin - Magda, thank you lovely! It should be available later on this season πŸ™‚ x AmandaReplyCancel

  • Hadasha Cody - Love love loooove this! I crave rhythm and consistency but have a hard time figuring out how to actually put it into action in our day to day and this has been so eye opening on how to get started!! Thank you!!! I would love it if you made a template and would definitely use it! I already have your cleaning one in my kitchen 😍ReplyCancel

    • admin - Hadasha, lovely to hear! It should be ready this season for you πŸ™‚ x AmandaReplyCancel

  • Ann-Cherie - Hey there! Love love love this! Simple yet powerful! Can’t wait to start segmenting the day & also making sure it’s balanced with times for rest & refreshment! ❀ thank you so much for this! I was also curious& just wondering if you batch cook or meal prep at all for your dinners or if you cook dinner fresh every night? Much love! 😘ReplyCancel

    • admin - Ann-Cherie, every week looks different from the last, but I do make a lot of double batches of meals and then freeze them. I’d say we have at least one already made ahead supper that I just need to reheat. Last night we had roasted cauliflower, golden beets, and leeks with grilled chicken and the veggies were frozen from two weeks ago when I made them. It’s wonderful to be able to eat fresh without preservatives but also quickly, and I find that this method works well! x AmandaReplyCancel

  • Eleah - I love this! I’m an early-riser and an introvert so I totally understand the slow mornings to yourself to charge up for the day ahead xxReplyCancel

    • admin - Eleah, they help so much, don’t they! Cheers to a new day, lovely! x AmandaReplyCancel

  • Kasey - Hi Amanda, I’ve been using & loving your laundry detergent recipe for about 3 months now. Is there anything specific that you use for stains? I still spray oxyclean on them & wash with my homemade detergent but it doesn’t help like it used to when I used Tide to wash. Any tips? I love this daily rhythm post! ❀️ReplyCancel

  • Lauren - I love love love this! You should write a book ❀️ReplyCancel

  • Lydia - Thank you for this example and inspiration. I’ve been feeling the need to dial back on screen time but feel a bit stuck in guilt, need for my own computer work time, or plain laziness to do my own thing for an hour.

    My 3-yr-old does play independently in spurts but I find on days with no screen time, I’m wiped from being “on” so much. It’s so much easier when there’s cousins and friends around!

    Anyway, I’ve been ruminating about this a lot, winter is coming, and I’m excited about investing in some great supplies for crafts and getting us pointed towards a healthier rhythm. Thank you again <3ReplyCancel

  • Rachel - As others have said, I adore this post. The hardest thing for me is to focus on my children during an activity instead of running through my list of what I need/want to get done around the house. I find it so hard to relax during their nap when I want to get my chores done. I will try to implement this a bit more so I can give my kids my full attention and more fully enjoy the time I have with them!ReplyCancel

  • Antoinette - Oh my gosh, I will be waiting patiently for that PDF! I have a 2 1/2 year old boy and have been wanting to implement a daily rhythm for a while, but felt inadequate because it didn’t seem “insta-perfect,” whatever that means. I love that you are offering this! Thank you πŸ™‚ReplyCancel

  • Hannah - This post came at an opportune time as I’m thinking about our daily as well as weekly and monthly rhythms. I want to implement that great idea for how the kids end their meal and help clean. Right now, my 11 month old is too little to help out after dinner, but I have enjoyed telling myself I am “putting the kitchen to bed” each evening and that I would much rather face the dishes tonight than in the morning. It took a week or two but it became a routine that helps immensely! Will be referring back to this post, thanks!ReplyCancel

  • Gabriela - That is so lovely! Would love a daily rhythm sheet πŸ™‚ReplyCancel

  • Kasia - Hello Amanda,
    Thank you, thank you, thank you for this!! πŸ˜‰ You are amazing! Love your blog!!!!ReplyCancel

  • Britni - I have reading your blog for about 6 months. I can’t begin to tell you the calming effect it has on me. It’s almost like a home base for me to “return to calm baseline.” Looking forward to the PDF.

    Any chance you have some words of wisdom on meal planning for the week? I struggle so much in feeling prepared and organized when it comes to supper time. I find I waste and over spend in the grocery store… with nothing to make when it comes time…
    Many thanks for your blog πŸ™ŒπŸ»πŸ’•
    BritniReplyCancel

  • Noelia - How do you do your chores around the house without the kids trying to get your attention all the time? I have a reading nook and Montessori or Waldorf style toys for them to play but my oldest daughter, she is almost 4 always ask me to play with her and is hard for me to clean or cook sometimes, or I feel like I have to obligate her to go play.ReplyCancel

  • Tessa - I always love when you talk about rhythms! My oldest two are in full time school and this is my first time staying home with a baby. He will be one in a month and I’m trying to figure out how to structure our days better. Any advice is appreciated!
    Also I have to add that your Spotify playlists are magical!ReplyCancel

  • Alisha - Thank you for this! The first paragraph really resonated with me, and with my maternity leave ending in a few short weeks I have been looking for the some motivation and guidance for how to structure our soon-to-be hectic mornings and evenings.ReplyCancel

  • Carolyn - It’s been hard getting into a routine this fall since I work out of the home part-time and my 3 year old goes to daycare on those days. So day-to-day everything looks and feels quite different. I am not typically a morning person and most of my workout / creative projects used to happen after dinner, but I’ve learned to embrace the morning hours. Just this fall I’ve started going to the gym before work just once a week, and it really sets my attitude for the day. I might try adding an at-home morning mini-yoga or reading time another day a week, even if just 15 minutes. Small steps, right? Curious to hear if you find it easier to have a rhythm with multiple kids than when you just had one? Sometimes the pack mentality is so helpful in the home I think! Next goal: teach my son to wash his own plate, I just love that! Do you set up the sink before dinner or do you have a little washing station in a tub somewhere? (such a long comment, oh my!)ReplyCancel

  • Deanna - Oh Amanda! This post was such a pleasure to read. Thankyou for all the helpful tips and the beautiful prose at the beginning. Your blog has been guiding me through this transition into motherhood (my only is now 1 year) in such a gentle and thoughtful way – just what my INFJ/P heart needed. Homemaking is a skill I was not taught while I was growing up – thank you so much for taking the time to do this! All the love to you and your dear ones.ReplyCancel

  • Lauren - Really love this post! I’ve been interested in hearing about your family’s daily rhythm for a while and look forward to establishing/recording my own, so definitely interested in that PDF. Your cleaning rhythm PDF is up on my fridge and I refer to it all the time! πŸ™‚ReplyCancel

  • Katie - I would love a PDF! We just had our second little boy, and we are in need of a new rhythm. Thanks for the post!ReplyCancel

  • Teri - Amanda! This is a wonderful post and so helpful to me. I sometimes wonder how others are doing things and this is something I ponder often. Thanks for writing out your daily rhythm! I think I’m going to implement some of it at home – making lunch first thing in the morning, reading after rest time, and I love your free play ideas and how they vary each day. Thank you!ReplyCancel

  • Berklee - I always love scrolling through your blog for inspiration, and this entry was a needed inspiration for this season! I have 3 little ones ages 5,3, and 1 and we are about to move into our renovated Avion trailer while we build our house, so life is a bit crazy to say the least. I feel a craving more than ever to have more routine in our day. And while living in such a small space for a while will definitely require it.

    I’d love to see a post on how you organize you kids clothes. I feel overwhelmed at times with three girls and all the clothes they wear and the sizes in between or to grow into. This trailer living is simplifying our wardrobes for sure, but I’d love to hear your advice! πŸ˜‰

    Thank you for such beautiful and practical posts! πŸ™‚ReplyCancel

  • Courtney - Good morning Amanda!
    Love rhythm and loved reading about yours.
    So, for your “9AM free play” are you pretty much engaged with your kids during this block? Playing, painting, etc. with them for the two hours? And then for next block do you also engage them in helping you with the chores?
    And THEN the 1PM block is “off” time for you?

    Love learning about how other mamas do life.ReplyCancel

  • Joy - yes please to the printable!ReplyCancel

  • Mumzi - My daughter sent me a link to you. you have some wise words and beautiful ways, the calm you give is so great, definitely an old soul in a young body, I love your site. sincerely MumziReplyCancel

  • Samantha - I’ve been needing to implement a better, more mindful routine and this couldn’t have come at a better time. Thank you! It’s helpful (as a visual person) to see a daily schedule laid out. I’m currently trying to figure out how to manage conflicting nap schedules. Would love your suggestions if you have any πŸ™‚ I’m also curious, do you run errands on the weekends? Thanks again mama. Love your blog so so much!ReplyCancel

    • admin - Samantha, usually our errands consist of grocery runs, and I do those once a week in the mornings when the store opens up with Alfie. For other things, we are lucky enough to live near markets so we make those a part of our walk and pop in if a store if we need something small. If it’s a bigger errand, then the weekends are my favorite time to do that so Andrew can either come along or stay home and hang with the kids! And thank you for your kind and encouraging words about this space, it means so much to me! Have a lovely new week! x AmandaReplyCancel

  • Gretchen - Many thanks for this thoughtful post. We’re just coming off a cross country move to a new city, looking for a house to plant roots, and starting jobs- the feeling of unsettled-ness (is that a word?) is high. Your thoughts on rhythm and your example of what it can look like brings with it relief, optimism, and excitement for me. Looking forward to shifting into the simplicity of this not only for our 14 month old daughter, but my partner and I as well. πŸ™‚ReplyCancel

    • admin - Gretchen, you are most welcome, my dear. Our rhythm is just as much for me as it is our kids, and it impacts Andrew and I’s marriage in a beautiful way too. So nice to hear you found a bit of inspiration to try in your home here! x AmandaReplyCancel

  • Alexandra - I’ve just begun to really get serious about a daily rhythm in our home and so welcomed this post to help me along. I love how you suggest writing out non-negotiables (and making sure there are life-giving elements to those – like coffee!). We’ve had a daily teatime in place since my oldest was a wee one and now he helps me bake something for it on Mondays. It is such a special ritual and even my two year old will ask for “more tea please!”ReplyCancel

    • admin - Alexandra, I adore this! Stella is into tea as well with me when we do school together and it’s really sweet. I really believe in taking the few extra minutes to do little rituals throughout our day, like lighting a candle or sipping tea when we read because it makes the experience so much more cozy and memorable. Thank you so much for sharing, I absolutely love hearing the way other’s do things in their homes! x AmandaReplyCancel

  • Suzanne Sparks - Yes please!ReplyCancel

  • Suzanne Sparks - I’d also love to know your morning yoga routine!ReplyCancel

    • admin - Suzanne, I LOVE Adriene’s videos online – she has a YouTube channel! I normally do it 2-3 times per week so nothing too strenuous. x AmandaReplyCancel

  • Jen Bowden - You’re writing is an absolute breath of fresh air! Thank you for the careful and beautiful way you live your life and for sharing it with me.ReplyCancel

    • admin - Jen, thank you for this kind note. What an encouragement you are! x AmandaReplyCancel

  • Carmie - I’m looking forward to the Daily Rhythm PDF! I have been wanting to add more structure to our days as it seems like it’s mostly just chaos with two young toddlers and a newborn. I think this would be really helpful in getting me started and working out the details.ReplyCancel

  • Hilli - Thank you for sharing yor day routine with us. I feel so inspiring. ThanksReplyCancel

  • Rochelle - Amanda, I love this. The season is finally changing for us and I’m feeling the urge for a newroutine; all my kids’ extracurricular sports end this weekend and I know we’re excited to spend more time at home in the afternoons now. My children are ages nine to a crawling baby and I homeschool the older three and then I have a preschooler.

    The biggest question I have about your routine is when do you do school with Stella? And also, how many days are your kids all home with you and how many days are they out of school? And, do the kids help you with chores or do you do them by yourself?

    Throughout the day which parts are the kids with you and which parts are the kids without you?

    Thanks! I eagerly await your new PDF. I think that will be a big help for me. Also, do the kids help you prep dinner?ReplyCancel

  • Sophie Laskar - Thank you so much for this post!ReplyCancel

  • Callie - Amanda, I have followed you for a couple of years and one of the things that has so drawn me to you is your emphasis on slowing down and living intentionally. It is so easy for me in our fast-paced, hectic world to believe that it is better to be go, go, go. Although, intellectually I know this is not true, it is still hard to change. But more than ever, lately, I have been working on slowing down, staying home, creating rhythms and routines that bring me more peace and that create a wonderful environment for our 10 month old daughter to grow and thrive in. Thank you for this post; it was helpful to me and even calming just reading through it. I am making steps now to create our own rhythm that works for us and that puts more margin into our days and gives us space to breathe and live deeply and richly, rather than always at surface level, if that makes sense. πŸ™‚ReplyCancel

  • Our Daily Rhythm Printable » Homesong - […] *I recommend you read this post before printing and writing up your rhythm. […]ReplyCancel

  • Jennifer Carvalho - This is really useful. I work and my children are older and in school, even so, I think a more intentional nighttime rhythm would really help us…..
    Thank you!ReplyCancel

  • Courtney - Seriously, thank you. Just this morning I was staring at my 14 month old, battling feelings of doubt and failure as I felt like our days were chaotic and full of just time fillers, and not intentional activities. Thank you for your wise words in how to develop this as well, it shouldn’t choke or condemn… just help guide.

    One question though… when do you grocery shop? Haha. Do you just take one of those two hour blocks for errands?ReplyCancel

  • Ashli - Hi Amanda, just wondering a few things.
    I have a 9, 6, and 3 year old. When we do free play, our home tends to turn into a circus. How do you keep your kids calm? They also fight alot and it breaks my heart. The kids wont clean up after themselves and just seem overall not content. I have tried to take out many toys as i felt like they might be overwhelmed and help with the mess. It doesn’t seem to matter.

    Are you hands on with all they do or are you multitasking?

    I want my house calm and happy. Feeling like quite the failure these days.

    Looking forward to your thoughts,
    AshliReplyCancel

  • How I Feel After Creating a Daily Routine as a Stay at Home Mom - […] this month I was reading a few blogs for leisure when I stumbled across a post about daily rhythms that stopped me in my tracks. I poured over the author’s every word and […]ReplyCancel

  • Chelsea - Hi Amanda!
    This post has been of great help to me. Truly. It has changed my day to day in such an amazing way to have a daily rhythm. Thank you for inspiring me! I’m just curious- what type of school do you send your children to when they are not learning at home? Is it a Waldorf or Montessori preschool/ grade school?ReplyCancel

  • Pat - Amanda, I just discovered your blog today. I love it! I’m in the process of establishing some more intentional rhythms for this stage of our lives. I am very interested in the Daily Rhythm PDF Template you mentioned. I hope this is something you are still planning on creating and sharing. I love your photos, blog layout and content. I homeschooled our two children for 17 years. Our youngest will graduate from university in May~~PatReplyCancel

  • Homesong Rest Retreat | Week One: Restoring Rhythms » Homesong - […] smoothly, and thereby respectively, make you feel more present and nourished? Next, READ my post on Creating A Daily Rhythm for yourself, and better map out your existing day to best balance areas of your life so feel as […]ReplyCancel

  • Jennifer - Hi! I have been working my way through this weeks tasks, starting with printing out a weekly cleaning rhythm and working on our daily rhythms. I am a very structure and organized person. It’s the only way I can operate. Otherwise, I feel frantic and overwhelmed. I need calm and routine most of the time. I am introverted but both my husband and daughter are extroverted. So I make plenty of space for social outings and spontaneity to balance our world. Right now it’s a little complicated as my husband is currently deployed. So our daily rhythms are different than they normally would be. I’m currently playing both parents and the only one here to field the demands of our life. But we can still find our rhythms that help the days flow.

    Reestablishing non-negotiables and taking back time from social media is a great start. Do you do your daily rhythms for just the week? Or do you include you weekend? I find myself stuck on the weekends because they are less structured and more fluid most of the time. One weekend might look entirely different from the next. So do you try to establish rhythms for that or just let it flow on the weekends?

    I am not usually an early riser. My whole entire family is made up of night owls. But I would like to give the earlier mornings a try. It might change the whole tone of our day from rushing around to intentional time spent. We are also normally pretty good at meal planning and prepping. But with my husband gone, I’ve dropped the ball because it’s easier when he’s here to help and my daughter is a pretty picky eater. So I kind of find us in survival mode at this point. It is a goal to figure out a meal planning system that works well for us while he is away.

    I’ve struggled since my daughter was born (she’s almost 5) with a cleaning rhythm that works well. I think because my expectations are unrealistic in what I can accomplish in one day. Add in the social media pull and I’m overwhelmed. Perhaps a little bit every day approach will help. Also, asking for help in this area (I’m terrible at that) during this time would make it easier for everyone.

    I’m not quite as free from my devises as I would like to be since my husband is deployed. I have my phone nearby at all times in case he can call, text or email. But the break from social media has been a breath of fresh air! I have accomplished several things that I had put on the back burner, got back in touch with the things I really enjoy and even tried a new recipe last night. My daughter is benefiting from my undivided attention and the days feel longer with more time to get things done. I still have a little anxiety and feel the tug to check in or post but it’s getting easier. Thank you so much for the work you have put into this retreat and for sharing it with us.ReplyCancel

  • Sarah - Can’t wait for the Daily Rhythm pdf! Love your cleaning one and Having it posted somewhere in the house would be great.ReplyCancel

  • katherine - Very nice post! Looking forward for the Daily Rhythm PDF template.. Will surely try it for my family..ReplyCancel

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