How Vintage Living Changed My Motherhood & Homemaking

Dec 29

Created January 12, 2021 | Updated January 2026

There have been a few seasons in my motherhood where I reached a level of exhaustion I had never known before. The first came early, after a very high-risk pregnancy and weeks spent with my twins in the NICU, learning how to mother two fragile babies while still healing myself. Later, there was the challenge of finding balance while raising two toddlers and working from home, trying to hold together motherhood, marriage, and daily life all at once.

But the season that finally brought everything into sharp focus was working full-time outside of the home while still longing to be fully present as a wife, mother, and homemaker. I was carrying the weight of constant mental and physical exhaustion, feeling like I was drowning in responsibilities, and struggling to maintain any real balance between housework, parenting, and caring for myself. The pressure to “do it all” quietly revealed a hard truth: the idea of having everything together is simply unrealistic.

Eventually, I reached a breaking point—one that felt uncomfortably familiar, echoing the postpartum anxiety and depression I had experienced after my boys’ NICU stay. I knew I needed to make a change before spiraling further. That season, more than any other, led me to simplify, slow down, and rethink the rhythm of our home. It was there that my love for vintage-inspired slow living was born—not as a trend, but as a way to bring peace, structure, and intention back into everyday life.

The Wake-Up Call

As a natural list-maker and journaler, I wrote out everything that was weighing on me:

the Common Stressors:

A messy home: Despite my efforts, the house was always in disarray.
Poor nutrition: Even with a background in nutrition, I resorted to mindless (stress) eating.
Work-life imbalance: Juggling my job, home, and having intentional time with my kids and husband
Lack of self-care: My exhaustion led to endless scrolling and consuming, quite frankly, nonsense, instead of spending time on things that could lighten the mental load.

I knew I needed to reclaim control over my environment and my habits. That’s when I remembered my love for all things vintage living.

Vintage Inspired Slow Living

Drawing inspiration from the 1940s, 50s, and 60s, I began incorporating vintage routines into my daily life. This shift brought structure, intention, and peace back into my chaotic days.

What Is Vintage Living?

Vintage living isn’t about glamorizing the past. It’s about taking what worked and applying it in ways that make sense for your life today—which, honestly, will look different for everyone. I can only share what has worked for me and what I continue to come back to as I try to live a simpler life.

For me, vintage living means creating a life that’s less driven by technology and more centered around homemaking. Not in the sense of a spotless, never-lived-in home, but a comfortable, deeply lived-in space—one that feels calm, nourishing, and peaceful for both the people who live there and those who come to visit. It’s about keeping the energy of the home grounded and wholesome in ways that support the entire family.

Simplified routines: Homemakers of the past had structured days focused on home management, family, and intentional rest.
Tech-free time: There was no social media or constant bombardment of notifications. Life was slower and more intentional.
Family-centered activities: Evenings were for board games, family dinners, or reading together, creating deeper connections.

Transforming The Daily Routine

HOMEMAKING FOR HOLISTIC WELLNESS

Homemaking became my anchor. Simple tasks like tidying, cooking, and organizing weren’t just chores—they became quiet acts of care for both my family and myself. Moving through the day with intention, rather than rushing from one thing to the next, helped restore a sense of calm and steadiness in our home.

Decluttering: Creating a cleaner, more orderly space eased my anxiety and helped me feel grounded and in control again.

Gentle daily movement: Instead of structured workouts, my days were filled with natural movement—stretching while I cleaned, moving my body through simple tasks, stepping outside for fresh air after meals with the kids, or taking a few moments to slow down and breathe. When I stayed consistent with these small, everyday rhythms, my energy gradually returned, and I began to feel more like myself.

Creative outlets: Cooking, decorating, and embracing DIY projects and thrifted finds gave me a way to be hands-on and creative again. These moments felt far more restorative than endlessly scrolling during the little pockets of rest I had, and they helped me reconnect with the joy of creating a home with intention.

INTENTIONAL REST

Inspired by vintage lifestyle routines, I redefined rest as productive downtime. If you read vintage homemaking books, they almost always talk about how important it was to take rests during the day. I was surprised by how many tips there were for self-care in addition to homemaking.

Some of the things I made more of a priority to embrace were:

Reading real books or vintage magazines (so fun!). I even subscribed to physical magazines again dirng this time and it was such a gift to get that magazine (I did homemaking-centered ones) and hold it in my hand rather than looking up on my phone.
Enjoying quiet evenings with my husband, playing cards and/or watching a show we both enjoyed
Practicing mindfulness through journaling
Taking time to give myself a simple but effective “vintage” skincare routine (cleanse, moisturize, massage)

REDUCING TECHNOLOGY USE

I drastically cut down on social media and limited my tech use. I quit social media completely for six months and felt such a shift within my home. I was less distracted, not comparing, and more focused on what was in front of me. It changed everything.

Quick update: At the end of 2022, I decided to go back to social media. Within one year, I abandoned it all again. In fact, if you’re reading this blog after 2024, chances are you found me through something like Pinterest, because I don’t even promote it anywhere else anymore. Simple, mindful tech use—and extreme (or no) social media—has literally changed the game for me, and there is no going back.

If you are looking to do the same, you will not regret it! Things you might notice

Reclaim time for meaningful analog activities
Reduce mental clutter and anxiety
Being more mindful and present with family

A Vintage Slow-Living Playlist (1940s)

Your Quick Guide to Vintage-Inspired Slow Living

Actionable Steps to Embrace a Slower Lifestyle

Create a Simple Daily Schedule:

Morning: Tidy up, prepare meals, and plan the day.
Afternoon: Focus on work or personal projects.
Evening: Engage in family-centered activities or quiet hobbies.

Declutter Your Space:

Start with one area and build momentum.
Use vintage homemaking techniques for organizing.

Limit Technology Use:

Set specific times for checking emails or news.
Replace scrolling with reading or creative hobbies.

Incorporate Movement into Homemaking:

Dance while cleaning or stretch between tasks.
Walk outside with the kids for fresh air between meals.

Find Inspiration in Vintage Media:

Explore vintage magazines, books, and online archives.
Watch TV or movies that are gentle (they don’t have to be vintage, but things that have a calm vibe to you!)
Listen to instrumental or classical music