Around 1 in 5 parents in the US opt to become stay-at-home to concentrate on the raising of their child and the running of the household. While moms willingly opt for staying at home and know that it is the right choice for them and for their family, it can still be a daunting and overwhelming task over time due to the demands and stresses of the job.
Here are 6 hacks to make the experience — and your motivation as a stay-at-home mom — a lot easier.
Plan Out Everything You Can
Even if it’s the simplest detail in advance, it can really help. This is because you can easily become fatigued and drained throughout the day, so making as many plans and decisions as possible in advance when your mind is clearer will help you. For big tasks like family meals, planning is essential, so you don’t have to think on the spot what to make when you’re tired.
Get a Head Start
Don’t wait for your kids to wake you up and drag you out of bed; make sure to always try to get up before your kids wake up so that you can take the extra time (and peace and quiet) to get yourself together for the day, catch up with any chores, or even just spend time with yourself to relax with your morning coffee.
Get Your Kids to Help with Chores
When your kids are old enough, make them learn responsibility and help around the house so that everything isn’t on you. If you need to tidy up between looking after your child, have your child help in any way they can, such as teaching them to pick up after themselves.
Make Sure to Have You-Time
Being a stay-at-home mom doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t find time for yourself in the day, either. This can feel an almost impossible task, however, when every minute of your day is about your child (or children).
Be sure to take advantage of any time you can get, such as when your child is sleeping. You should find any activity which helps to relax you or distracts your mind. If you’re looking for an earnings boost, you can even look for opportunities like filling out paid surveys from the comfort of your home, to easily earn rewards that can help your household.
Take Official Time Off
You would take days off for any other job, so why not this one? Being a stay-at-home mom doesn’t mean that you have to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Find help from loved ones or professional services to seek out childcare, even just for an evening, so that you can have time off.
Go Outside
Stay-at-home doesn’t have to mean literally that for every minute of the day. Take your child out for a stroll, to the local park, or just spend time in your garden. Fresh air, natural light, and greenery will help your positive mood.
Being a stay-at-home mom is your own unique experience, so however you choose to plan out your days, do what works for you, and try not to compare yourself to other stay-at-home parents.
