The ability to be a stay-at-home mom is one that can be an amazing opportunity for you as an individual and for your family. With that being said, many people don’t understand the challenges that come with this role. If you’re used to having a career and you leave it to be a SAHM, you may feel dissatisfied, or there may be times you feel lonely or disconnected from the rest of the world.
When you opt to be a SAHM, there are things you can do to be more successful, just as you would likely do if you were in a job role outside of the home. You can choose to thrive as a mom who stays home if you take steps like the ones below.
Get Dressed Everyday
It might sound cliché, but the importance of showering and getting dressed every day is something you shouldn’t overlook. Stay-at-home moms tend to start feeling as if they’re losing themselves in some cases, and that might be because they are. You tend to more easily slip into a rut if you’re in your pajamas all day and your hair hasn’t been combed in a week. Taking care of yourself is a critical part of thriving as a stay-at-home-mom.
Leave the House Once a Day
If you want to be happy and thrive as a mom who stays at home with your kids, don’t let staying home mean that you actually only stay home every day. It can be a challenge to get out the door with little ones, but knowing that you’re going to be leaving the house every day can help you keep a sense of structure, and it can fend off isolation you might feel. Try to switch up your routine and explore new places. It’s good for your little ones and for you.
Connect Online
A lot of people will recommend that you should get out and meet other mom friends. That’s of course great, but you might be shy or not find opportunities to do that. Maybe you just haven’t clicked with any new friends.
That’s okay, but you can build a social network of other like-minded moms by reading blogs and getting involved on social media profiles and comment boards. You might even find that your online friends become your real life friends over time.
Create a Schedule
If you were still working in an office, you would likely follow a schedule every day. Do the same if you’re a SAHM. Outline a daily schedule for yourself and your family, and work to stick to it. It can help you stay motivated, and as an added benefit, schedules are also great for children, particularly little ones who still need to be fed every two hours and need several naps a day.
Work From Home
Even if you already have a lot of demands placed on you from your children and family, you might want to work from home, even if it’s just a few hours a week. This will help you have more of a sense of purpose if you find you struggle as strictly a stay-at-home mom. You could be a freelance bookkeeper, an editor, you could sell items on Etsy.
Whatever your strengths are could be turned into a work opportunity.
If you’re a SAHM who doesn’t necessarily feel fulfilled, you can make steps to change that like the ones above, and turn your experience from one where you’re simply surviving to one where you thrive and truly enjoy your days.
