15 Ways a Stay-at-Home Mom Can Thrive Amidst Struggles

As a stay-at-home mom, the daily responsibilities and demands can quickly become overwhelming. Juggling the needs of children, household chores, and other obligations can leave you feeling stressed and depleted. In this blog post, we’ll explore practical tips and techniques for managing your stress and staying centered, even when life feels like it’s spinning out of control.

Challenges of Being A Stay-at-Home Mom

• Burnout
• Overwhelm
• Lonely
• Exhaustion
• Doing It Alone
• Judgment
• Mom Guilt
• Anxiety
• Stress

 

How to be a Sane Stay-at-Home Mom

Studies show that stay-at-home mothers are prone to depression and anxiety. Stay-at-home mom jobs include being a chef, janitor, maid, nanny, and so much more- and on-call 24/7! It’s no wonder we are so stressed out and overwhelmed. The next time you have doubts about how much you actually do, just imagine having to pay for those services. You do them all for free, day in and day out.

How Do Stay-at-Home Moms Deal With Being Overwhelmed?

1. Mindset- Having a positive mindset will definitely help you to make it through each day. Think of all of the benefits of being a stay-at-home mom, such as saving money on childcare and being able to spend extra time with your kids. When it gets to be too overwhelming, just remember that it’s a temporary time and it will change before you know it as your kids grow.

2. Self-Care- This doesn’t just include taking a bubble bath or getting your hair done. Do something to lift your spirits regularly. Treat yourself to a special spa treatment or new outfit each month. If you cannot afford the time or money for that, create a mini spa experience at home. Take time to do something that brings you joy each day. If you aren’t fortunate to have family nearby to give you a break, try taking time when your kids are napping, at school, or already in bed. If that isn’t possible, find a new activity to keep the kids busy while you do something that you enjoy. Taking a small break from yourself is so important to your mental health and being able to take care of everything and everyone at home.

3. Routine- Creating and sticking to a daily routine can help keep things organized. Figure out what works best for your family and try to recreate that each day. Having a routine helps everyone to know what to expect each day and when things need to get done.

4. Planning- Rather than rushing around trying to figure out dinner- plan ahead. I like to add items to my grocery list as they come to me, so I have to utilize my phone’s notepad so that I don’t forget anything. Make a grocery list and add to it regularly, and plan out meals in advance so that you don’t have the stress of doing it all at mealtime and realizing that you are out of ingredients. Pinterest is great for finding and saving recipes that everyone will enjoy.

5. Keeping in Contact- It’s easy to feel isolated as a stay-at-home mom. Take time to reach out to friends or family members regularly. Join some mom groups online, and plan play dates. Also, don’t forget to plan regular dates with your partner or spouse. It’s a great way to have fun and stay connected and makes it easier to communicate and voice what you need help with and what you’re dealing with or going through.

6. Ignore the Haters- As a stay-at-home mom or a working mom, you’ll always have people that have negative thoughts about you or about the way that you do things. Remember that you are the mom, you know what your kids and your family need and what works for you. If someone makes a rude comment about your parenting style, don’t take it to heart or let it hurt you. You do amazing things each day and deal with so much stress and overwhelm on a regular basis, as long as your family is thriving that’s what matters.

7. Take a Break- If your husband works and it’s just you at home every day, talk with him and plan out when you can take breaks and time to yourself. If you don’t ask for help, chances are your spouse won’t even think about it. Schedule an appointment or go shopping once a month, let your partner know in advance so you guys can work out your schedules and so that you get your much-deserved breaks and “me time.”

8. Declutter- Clutter makes keeping the house clean an even harder task and it causes anger and anxiety. Keep your home cleaner and in order by regularly decluttering. Go through each room once every couple of months and get rid of things that you don’t use anymore. It’s also a great way to make a little extra cash.

9. Get Organized- Having organization is helpful to keep track of daily schedules, plan out in advance, and keep a tidy house. Use your phone’s notepad or a planning app, or a regular pen and paper planner. You’ll be amazed at how writing things out can help you to stay organized. It also shows you how much you accomplish each day. The Stay-at-Home Mom Management Bundle is an amazing resource to keep everything organized and in its place.

10. Assign Duties- Kids of most ages can help out around the house. Younger kids can do simple tasks such as picking up their toys and dirty laundry. Older kids can help with dishes, laundry, mopping, and more. Most kids enjoy helping you clean, especially if you make it fun. Create songs or games and work together to get things done.

11. Exercise- If you’re anything like me, exercise isn’t my favorite activity. Especially when I am already exhausted doing all the things each day. But, exercise will give you energy and help you feel better about yourself. I never regret working out. Take a twenty-minute walk each day or turn on the tv and find a workout you can do at home. I love Beach Body workouts- they have so many to choose from! You can also find a lot of free workouts on Youtube.

12. Find a Hobby- Start a new hobby alone or do something that the kids can enjoy too. It’ll bring a sense of new peace to you when you get to relax and have fun doing something that you like to do. Gardening, baking, painting, and writing are all easy hobbies that you can do at home. You could also find courses or podcasts to help you along your hobby journey.

13. Practice Gratitude- When you make a note each day or week of all the things you have to be thankful for, it will keep you going even on your toughest days. It’s easy to overlook the things we have in our lives when we are so busy or stuck in a repeat cycle.

14. Set Goals- Just because you’re a stay-at-home mom doesn’t mean that you can’t have goals and dreams. Looking to lose 20 pounds? Set a goal! Wanting to paint a room in the house? Set a goal for when you can do it. Goals are crucial to keeping us moving forward and it’s so rewarding when you crush those goals.

15. Remember the Benefits- It is a blessing to be able to be a stay-at-home mom. Many moms would love the chance but can’t because they don’t have the option. You get to save money on childcare and be present in all parts of your child’s life. And remember: the days are long, but the years are short.