Being a stay at home mom is a full time job. You have to make sure your kids have fun and do their homework, do the chores around the house, clean up after your kids, and a whole slew of other things that need tending to. This whole process can stress you out, even as much as a working mother. So what can you do about it? Do you just take it until it boils over and you snap? Rather than doing that, here are some tips for stay at home moms like you to do to help make your life less stressful.
1. Set a Schedule
Preparing yourself for the day takes the edge off of the entire day’s work. Knowing what time to do what will allow you to keep a routine and make the work easier. However, life can be unpredictable at times for stay at home moms, with their kids waking up at odd hours and demanding attention a lot of the time. If you want to make a schedule, it is best to do it the night before, when you go to bed. That way you can plan things out in your mind and not have to worry about planning in the morning.
2. Get Some Fresh Air
Just because you are a stay at home mom does not mean that you can’t go outside. Getting some fresh air will allow a change of scenery and can help you relax. Take your child with you to the park or the library. Go for a walk or go to the supermarket. You can even go to get a haircut or a manicure to spice things up. Maybe you can volunteer for the school play or the church sale? The possibilities of going outside are endless and do not mean you have to isolate yourself within your own home, making it a prison.
3. Set Time for Yourself
If you don’t do some you time, you’ll likely go insane and snap unintentionally at those you love. Destress yourself with a hobby, perhaps blogging or gardening. Maybe you can even take up crocheting or painting. If you don’t want to pick up hobbies, reading a novel or writing in a journal might be something to think about. Even the little things can help you relax, liking taking a shower or a manicure. The types of things that stay at home moms can do are endless and is different for each mom, but they all lead to a less stressed out you.
4. Socialize
Being a stay at home mom can be isolating, as you’re not constantly talking to coworkers and don’t have time with your friends or even your husband. Take the time to go to groups and playdates for the kids. Meet up with a few friends or go out with your husband for a little bit. Talk with other stay at home moms, as they will feel the same way that you do. If you’re very introverted and prefer relationships on the Internet, that works too. Just a little chatting in a chatroom can help relieve your loneliness, even if it’s just a little.
5. Naptime Benefits
Naptime is one of the most important times of the day. Why? Because it is during that time when your kids are sleeping you have extra time for yourself. Use it to unwind or get some work done, maybe go take a shower and freshen yourself up. Or you can take a nap with your kids. As the early stages of motherhood tend to have you waking up in odd hours in the night, a good nap can be enough to recharge you. Be productive or do not be productive at all to unwind, you’ll feel better in the end.
6. Include Dad
Obviously when you have kids you don’t have as much time with your husband as you once had before. This can cause rifts in relationships that can end up turning into a disaster. Spend some time with him once in a while. Go watch a movie together, go out on a romantic date, walk the dog together, anything really. Even just cuddling up to each other in bed can buy you some much needed interaction time with your husband. Chatting with him throughout the day, though not while he’s working, can help keep your relationship with him up, but spending some amount of time with him will make it stronger.
7. Nobody is Perfect
It goes without saying, nobody is perfect. You’re not perfect, your kids are not perfect, nothing is really “perfect.” Still, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try just because of the thought of your work getting messed up again. Strive for good enough, rather than perfect. So what if your house is a little messy? At least you were able to finish one thing in the day, other than taking care of your kids, right? Along with that, you can enjoy life with your kids by not being an adult for one second. Forget about the fact that they just drew crayon onto the walls, join them! Settle for less than perfect and you’ll find that you will be less than stressed out.
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