12 Reasons Loving The Domestic Part Of Yourself Doesn't Make You A Bad Feminist

There is something to be said for a household that functions like a well oiled machine. Knowing exactly where something is the moment you need it is sort of empowering. It's great knowing that you have got full control over what goes where in your house, and it makes us feel nearly heroic when we know the whereabouts of that one thing that our partners couldn't find.

I mean, maybe not scientifically but having the perfectly patterned throw pillow definitely doesn't hurt a sunny disposition. And despite what many haters might tell you, yes, they do actually serve a purpose. I'll get back to you when I figure out exactly what said purpose is.

Honestly, it's too easy to let your life fall into ruin. Seriously. I feel like all of us are, at most times, one succumbed-to impulse away from letting all of our careful adulting just fall completely apart and become the lazy messes we are in our hearts. Sometimes life is chaotic and messy and sticky, and the state of your mental status deteriorates because of said chaos.

But here's the secret: A clean house, and its associated feeling like you've got it all held together like a boss, actually makes you feel like a boss. And that gives you the boost you need to be a boss.

However, on that one Sunday when your house is sparkling from top to bottom, when every toy is in its respective box, when the kitchen smells like bleach and rainbows, it would appear as if you've got your sh*t 100 percent completely together.

If you know someone who doesn't love the smell and taste of fresh baked cookies, you need to immediately check their pulse and report them to Science™ because they are most definitely not human.

Whoever said that Disney World is the happiest place on earth has clearly never visited the home decor section of Target. I mean, all those frames and candles and duvets, all the trinkets and curtain panels and area rugs... It's all so heavenly, so chic. Each piece accents another so perfectly. It's like a walk through a park that smells like popcorn and new carpet while sipping on a mimosa and listening to Beyoncé on a warm, sunny day. Whoever coordinates that whole section, I bow down.

Cooking is sort of like science: When you get something right, it's the greatest feeling. Trying new recipes is sort of like being a chemist. It gives us whatever feeling it was that made Walter White make all that blue meth, except when our inner mad scientist is done, we've concocted a delicious macaroni and cheese casserole for our entire family to enjoy, instead not a deadly drug (although I could definitely make a very solid argument for the addictive nature of mac and cheese).

Don't hate because I'm killin' it. You will eat these brownies I'm baking and respect me for the boss I am. I own you all in this apron.

Again, as we've established many times already, I'm no scientist, but I'm convinced that the scent of clean linen releases the same endorphins that sex and wine and 50 percent off coupons do. And if you can smell the clean laundry before you even get in the house (it's a thing), even better.

Obviously one of the most important aspects of being domestic is feeding people, even if that's just yourself. What does home mean? It means food. It's the best part of being home. What can you not wait to do when you get off work? Go home and eat all the food. And if you have a family, this is doubly true. They'd likely starve without your efforts in the kitchen. And as far as we can tell, no one else is jumping up and down to roast a chicken, so there's that. You're welcome, family.

Maybe not, but it definitely looks cool. I do what I want. Is it five o'clock yet?

It's such a powerful truth that clutter plays a significant role in our level of stress. It bombards our brains with excessive stimuli, causing our minds to work overtime on things that aren't necessary or important (i.e., mountains of a toddler's mega blocks). Clutter inhibits creativity and productivity by inhibiting spaces in our brain that allow us to think, brainstorm, and problem solve.

So there you have it. Cleanliness and organization is going to reduce your stress and, in turn, make you happier.

If our families didn't know where their socks were, or what was for supper, or when their doctor's appointments were, they might literally lose themselves amid their own cluttered worlds. Being domestic isn't about looking pretty and prancing around with a martini and a poodle skirt (although, if you're into it, do you; I won't judge how you live your feminist truth, sis) — it's about taking care of a family and catering to the well being of everyone. Sure, throw pillows are awesome and clean kitchens are basically aphrodisiacs, but the most important aspect of domestication is taking care of a family. Now, go grab a bottle of wine and a magazine and bask in all of your clutterless glory.