Proven Tips You Need For Being A Stay At Home Mom

Being a stay-at-home mom has its fair share of misconceptions. Many people view staying at home with your children as a walk in the park; you get to play all day, watch TV, and live in your little bubble of happiness.

And yes, many days as a stay-at-home mom are like that! There are plenty of days where everything goes as planned, and you and your children have a wonderful day. But on the other hand, there is plenty of rough days while being a SAHM.

There are days where nobody in the house gets enough sleep, and you have a cranky toddler (or baby) screaming all day. Or days where your to-do list seems never-ending, leaving you feeling overwhelmed; therefore, nothing gets accomplished.

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Transitioning from working full-time when deciding to be a stay-at-home mom will take some getting used to.

The following tips are what I use to help make my life at home a little easier and help make this big life change a little less stressful.

Create a Daily Schedule or Routine

Creating a daily schedule or routine is critical. Even if you only follow your routine loosely, it will still help your day stay organized and bring a little bit of structure into your home.

When I started staying at home with my son, I always felt like I could never get anything done around the house.

Most days, it was hard enough to get dinner made in time for when my husband got home from working his long hours every day.

Once I realized that the lack of routine was my biggest problem, I sat down and wrote everything that we needed to do in our routine each day. I also started meal planning, which made preparing dinner so much easier!

After I had a physical list of things that I couldn’t forget to do, everything started to fall into place. Having a calendar like this one on your fridge will remind you what needs to be done!

Not only did this help me, but it was also beneficial for my son. Once he was out of the newborn phase, we had (roughly) set times for his feedings, naps, and playtimes.

After a little while, he started expecting certain activities throughout the day. Even at 18 months old, he still has an idea of how our day will go.

Make a Cleaning Schedule

Making a cleaning schedule is also crucial when making a daily routine. As I mentioned above, I struggled with getting things accomplished day-to-day in the beginning.

There were many days where I would forget to do the dishes or the laundry. I always felt like the house was a mess, and I’m the type of person who can’t stand clutter and messes.

Since my husband was working 10 hour days when I became a stay-at-home mom, I felt guilty if he came home and did chores. I felt like that was part of my job since I was home.

In addition to writing down our daily routine, I also wrote down everything that I needed to clean daily, weekly, and monthly.

I broke these cleaning tasks down into a schedule that wasn’t overwhelming for me to accomplish without my husband’s help. (Although he does still do the chores I hate doing, like cleaning the cat litter box and taking the garbage out. 😉 )

Declutter Your Home

If you have made a routine and are following a cleaning schedule and still feel overwhelmed, it might be time to declutter!

I wouldn’t say I like having things pile up in our home. Especially since having a toddler, more things in the house means either more things to clean or pick up and put away.

If you want to start decluttering, I suggest you go through one room in your home at a time. Don’t move on to another room until you finish the one you’re working on!

Don’t Skip Showers

It can be so easy to skip something as simple as a quick shower. You’re trying to run your household, you have so many things to do, and maybe you think you will shower at night.

But then nighttime comes, and you just want to go to bed. I get it! But if you can find time to shower in the morning, you will feel so much more on top of things.

Self-care is so important, and many SAHMs skip over it simply for lack of time.

Get Dressed Every Morning

In addition to showering in the mornings, make an effort to put some clothes on that aren’t PJs.

Even if you are wearing leggings and a simple tee shirt, putting more normal clothes on will help you feel ready for the day.

Eat a Healthy Diet

We all know that eating healthy is vital for our physical health, but it’s also imperative to our mental health.

When you are eating junk food often, you might not feel the greatest physically, but it might also bring your mood down.

In this article from The Healthy, they talk about the different effects fast food has on your brain. Added symptoms of depression are one of many downsides to junk food.

I have also found that when you are at home, it’s easier to snack all day. If you aren’t buying junk food, it will be more accessible to snack on fruit and veggies.

Do Excercise That You Enjoy

Being a stay-at-home mom can make it a little harder to get some things done. Exercise can be one of those things! (Unless you count chasing a toddler as exercise, which some days I do. 😉 )

If you have an exercise that you enjoy, you will be more likely to make time for it in your day. A bonus is if it’s an activity your child can do with you!

Teaching your child simple yoga poses or going on a walk together are just two examples of fun exercises you can do together to provide a great bonding time.

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• Memorable Mother’s Day Interview Questions For Kids
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Find People You Can Connect With

Sometimes being a stay-at-home mom can be lonely, especially if it’s just you and your newborn. Try to find people you can connect with!

For example, if your local library has a storytime, you can try starting a conversation with another mom there. If your children are close in age, you can try meeting at a local park for a playdate.

Even if it’s virtual, finding people you can chat with who can also relate to whatever you are going through is excellent.

If you don’t have mom friends where you live, you can search for Facebook groups to join where you can talk with other moms.

Leave the House

If you rarely leave the house, you can start to feel a little trapped. Now, leaving the house doesn’t mean you have to go to a store or run errands.

Even stepping outside for 15 minutes and be a big mood changer and can help you have a different outlook on your day.

Also, check out this article for the best tips for going shopping with your baby. These tips are game-changers!

Less Screen Time

With screens being so accessible and in so many forms like phones, TVs, or tablets, for example, it’s effortless to get distracted throughout the day. Limiting your daily screen time can have a lot of benefits.

Having less screen time has been a huge positive change for me. When I’m not checking my phone so often, it allows me to stay present. I am also more motivated to get things done around the house. Not to mention, getting rid of items like cable TV is a significant money-saver!

Find a Hobby

Hobbies are fantastic things to have! When you find an activity that you love to do, it can relieve stress and encourage creativity. Working on a hobby as a stay-at-home mom can also give you that much-needed recharge.

A hobby can be anything you enjoy doing. Some great examples of hobbies are gardening, baking, painting, writing, crochet/knitting, reading; the list goes on! For more hobby ideas for moms, check out this post!

When it comes to becoming a stay-at-home mom, there is a chance you will feel a little lost in the beginning. As with any new venture, it takes time to figure everything out.

Rest assured, knowing that there will be a day where you realize your days are going smoothly and you feel a little more on top of things. Just remember, you got this, mama!

Before you do, check out these related articles:

• The Best Activities For Newborns To 3-Month-Olds
• Birthday Traditions Your Kids Will Love
• Postpartum Recovery Essentials Every New Mom Needs
• How To Make The Best New Mom Care Package
• Fun Gift Ideas For New Dads

Do you have any tips for being a stay-at-home mom? I would love to know in the comments below!

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