Quit Your Day Job

6 Reasons Why I am Starting a Career as a Housekeeper

I hold a BA in English as well as my Personal Trainer Certification and I have been in many professional roles throughout my life. Among these are an ABA therapist for Autistic children, Preschool Teacher, Administrative Assistant at a prestigious financial firm, Development Director for a Frozen Yogurt Chain, Events Coordinator at a private company, Personal Trainer, Nanny, and my current role of Stay at Home Mom.

I am at a point in my life where I want to re-enter the workforce. I want to take on a role I enjoy and I don’t want to deal with co-worker drama and some of my social anxieties around that. I also want to have a job that benefits my mental health and well-being as well as fulfills parts of what I feel is missing from my own life. And I want the career to have some bang for the buck — it’s not all about the Benjamins but let’s be real here…I want to make some good money while I work!

I am going to become a private Housekeeper. Go ahead and scoff…I could care less. Or feel free to send your support and that will filter out the real ones who read this.

I live in a very affluent area — near one of the top 15 wealthiest towns in the country. It is an area where people are constantly in search of not doing anything for themselves. People are silly rich — and perhaps slightly lazy. They want to hire other people to perform their daily tasks. I am going to profit off of this wealth.

I am grateful we are able to exist in this part of the world, but my family is on the outskirts of wealth that surrounds us. I do have a cleaner who comes every two weeks, but with teenagers and small children, my house is pretty much a mess in between. But I also understand I have the privilege of being home with my children and living well off of one income. Although we don’t NEED me to work, I want to and our kids aren’t getting any cheaper either.

I had a fear others would laugh at me and put down my idea of becoming a Housekeeper and then I realized I don’t really give a shit what others think anymore so I am moving forward with my newly planned career. Below I will speak to the reasons behind my re-entry into the job force as a Housekeeper.

1. MONEY: I want to be able to make a pretty decent amount of money in a short amount of time. I am able to charge between $35 and $40 per hour in this role. I can charge additional money for a deep clean — up to twice the hourly rate — or for additional services like running errands or walking the family dog. I am taking on about 15 hours a week at this point which is $525–600 a week. That’s nothing to laugh at!
2. THERAPEUTIC BENEFITS: I love to clean. The energy it burns and the calming effect it creates leave me with a sense of peace. At this point, I have two young children and can barely pick up one thing while they are trashing the next. It’s damn frustrating! After cleaning my own home I feel a sense of relaxation, completion, and satisfaction and then it is trashed by my small humans in seconds. I will be able clean another’s home and not see the mess be made before my eyes. I will be checking things off a “To Do List,” which is something I really love.
3. EXERCISE: True story…exercise is my Bae (Before Anyone Else) and cleaning is an excellent burner of calories. It requires a mindful way of moving your body so as not to injure yourself while bending and turning. You can squat while you pick up toys, stretch as you wipe counters and clean cobwebs, work your biceps/triceps/shoulders as you scrub the bathroom walls and toilets.
4. FLEXIBILITY: I want to work when I want to work. Ain’t no way I can deal with that nine to five BS. I have a little one at home still and I will be completely honest here…I need a break from him right now. He is cute but chaotic. My older son is in school but not for a full day and I can work around those hours. I will work three days a week while 5 is at school and 2 is with my mother-in-law who doesn’t mind his all day shenanigans. I can pick up more hours next year when they are both in programs or keep it as I will start — the Housekeeping world is my oyster!
5. ENTREPENEURIAL ELEMENT: I will be starting my own role and will be able to define it as I please. Yes, there are standard tasks a Housekeeper is expected to perform, but I can say “yes” or “no” to whichever I prefer. I can fold laundry at one person’s home and choose not to at another’s. My role will be curated by me. I may even grow my business in a way that allows me to hire other employees in a few years and work less hours on my own while making more money.
6. EDUCATIONAL: I love to learn. In fact, learning is one of my absolute favorite pastimes. I will pop in my Airpods while I clean and catch up on all of my favorite podcasts and audiobooks. It is almost impossible to find the time to do this on a regular basis and now the time will be carved out for me while I am getting a workout, having some alone time, making money, and serving other humans in this world.

Right now I am at a crossroads of loving being home with my children but needing a freaking break from the constant chaos and stress that normal Stay at Home Momdom brings along with it. I will be taking a role that allows me to stay with the family long term if I choose or to leave when I feel the time is right. I am very excited about my new professional adventure — even if I am coming back home to my own messy home.

Do you love your career? Do you want to do something that seems unconventional but are too afraid to make the leap? Maybe this is your sign!

Go for it! The worst that can happen is you don’t like it but you’ll never know unless you give it a try!