The joy of motherhood is one of the biggest blessings in the world. It is an exciting journey that brings you happiness and teaches you what selfless love truly means, but it sure does come with its own set of challenges. Many amazing mums have to take the plunge and give up their careers for the well-being of their children. People may think that being a stay-at-home is a privilege, but it can be a heck of an exhausting job. With all the responsibilities you may feel you will lose your identity but hang in there, here is a list of 5 ways that helped me and can help you save your sanity:
Schedule Time for Yourself
For moms even taking a shower and putting on decent clothes is difficult because the kids may cause havoc in your absence, but it is crucial. You need to set the right tone for your day, get dressed and get ready to conquer the day. Ensure that your kids have a routine so you can predict their needs and make out time for yourself. Make sure that you get a good night’s sleep, so you are energized for the day. You can try meditation, yoga or exercise to clear the cluttering thoughts and relax your body & mind before beginning an exhausting day. Mindfulness can especially help moms during the post-partum period and prevent depression & anxiety.
Step Out More Often
It is surprising what a little fresh air can do for your mood. Staying inside the house at times, with the same repeated routines may get you feeling bored and dull. To freshen up your mood and clear your head to step outside whether it is taking your dog for a walk, getting grocery or taking a stroll around the block. Also, make sure you relax and unwind, don’t be in a rush and stop yourself for a moment to witness the beauty of nature.
Divide Your Workload
Being a mother myself, I understand that you would like to manage everything on your own without burdening anyone else. But in the quest to be the perfect mom, wife, homemaker, pet-parent you end up neglecting yourself. There is no harm in dividing your workload. List down all the chores and assign each of these to one member of the house, be it your husband, kids or yourself. Remember that your kids are capable of doing some tasks and it will be beneficial for them. Research also suggests that children who take part in home chores grow as an individual with greater confidence in their abilities. You can delegate age-appropriate duties for all your kids such as putting toys away, helping set the table, making their bed, feeding the pet, dusting, etc.
Discover Your Passion
Amidst the chaos, new responsibilities, and many chores we often forget ourselves. But it is essential to discover something that ignites YOUR passion. The journey from an active career woman to a stay-at-home mom is a big transition, and you may feel that you have lost your identity. But pursuing your hobbies and interests will help you express yourself and make you happy. It will provide you the opportunity to keep your spark alive and prevent you from losing your personality while fulfilling the role of a parent. Look into exploring new interests as well and then once you put your kids to sleep start working for these interests.
Get Some Couple Time
As soon as a child comes into the picture, we change our priorities especially in today’s age when parents love to make their children the center of their universe. Of course becoming a parent is a big transition, you have newer problems to solve and things to figure out but don’t let your marriage suffer. It is vital for your sanity to spend some peaceful time with your partner. It can be any way you prefer, get a babysitter and head outside, have a romantic dinner or hit the club. If that is a rare possibility in your situation then just put on a movie after putting the kids to sleep and enjoy it with your Mr.
Written by: Kelly Newman
Kelly Newman is a Fitness Trainer and blogger. She loves to write about everything related to fitness and diet and wants to help people adopt a healthier lifestyle. She works with the team behind Health Listed and does extensive research to provide people actionable health and nutrition information.
