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Being a stay at home mom is a rewarding and fulfilling role, but it’s also one of the most challenging jobs out there. With no official clock-in or clock-out times, mental and physical burnout is almost a given.
But there is good news!
Although, It’s your job to balance household responsibilities, childcare, self-care, and so much more. You can make the most out of this rewarding and fulfilling role, by treating it like you would a full-time job.
This blog post is all about treating your role like a job, to find that stay at home mom life balance.
Create and Set a Schedule for Better Time Management
Like you would any traditional job/career, you need to set a daily at home mom schedule that will provide structure and productivity. It will allow you to find balance and satisfaction in your daily life. Create a routine that includes time for children, household chores, and something just for you.
I stand by and preach the schedule-blocking method for your day. Blocking out your day allows you to have enough time for different tasks. Allowing you to take the day with purpose and organization.
You’ll soon realize that you have enough hours in your day to get the most important tasks done. Realize I am not saying you will get everything done, just what’s a priority for the day.
Don’t forget that a perfect day starts with a perfect morning routine. Do you like to start the day with coffee, or a shower, or a little bit of makeup? Whatever it is, create your dream daily routine to make sure you get that personal time to yourself.
Define Your Roles and Responsibilities
If you were ever a working mom, then you know you had a clear role and what you were responsible for. As a stay at home mom, your responsibilities may include child-rearing, housekeeping, cooking and meal prep, and so much more.
Defining these roles can help you avoid burnout and achieve stay at home mom life balance so much quicker. I became a stay at home mom at the end of 2022 and I was having a hard time adjusting from stepping down from my career.
It felt like all of a sudden I had no real role and I was just mom all the time. Giving myself a “job” description has definitely helped me adjust to managing my home like a business and I, the CEO. I became the best version of myself almost over night.
To give you an idea of what I handle:
- Budgeting/Finances
- Meal Planning and Cooking
- Housekeeping/Daily Chores
- Child Rearing
- Appointment Scheduling
Having clear titles to what I actually do on a daily basis has helped my mental health and marriage state tremendously. It helped my husband and I communicate our expectations while helping me manage my time more effectively.
Creating expectations helped because all of a sudden that load of laundry was just a part of keeping the household running. That meal plan I needed to take care of was an admin task just like checking my emails.
My to-do list was a breath of fresh air when I tackled it with a “this is my job” mindset. It was a huge help to my new role as a SAHM. When I clocked in, I have tasks that I work on before my husband would come home.
Prioritize Tasks and Batch Similar Tasks
Not all tasks are created equal, some are less important than others. Prioritize what is most important and what can get done together in the same block. For example, if you are making breakfast, go ahead and prep for tonight’s dinner.
Cleaning out the pantry can wait its turn and so can cleaning up the living room. By prioritizing your tasks, you help reduce stress as you find your perfect stay at home mom life balance.
Set Goals and Family Life Meetings
Just as you would in a job, set goals for yourself as a stay at home mom. Your goals could include child development, household organization, or personal development (like starting your own business).
Remember all those office meetings that could’ve been an email? Well, there’s a reason they exist. Once you have set up all your goals, you need to discuss them. They set the very tone for the week, day, or even month.
Set aside a Sunday afternoon and gather all the family members to discuss the week ahead. No topic is off limits in this meeting. Mention the age-appropriate household tasks every child is responsible for this week or even when Chance’s play dates are happening.
This will help everyone stay on track and give everyone clear objectives for the week. This will help make the most out of your vital role as a stay at home mom.
Invest in Self-Care
Spending time taking care of yourself is (say it with me) IMPORTANT! It is essential to you and your family’s well-being. You cannot show up as your best self if you neglect yourself. I like to rework the meaning of Check yo’self before you wreck yo’self.
Meaning make sure you’re good by walking in the park, reading a good book, or just sipping a cup of coffee by yourself. Wake up at least one hour before the kids and hubby, get dressed, and have a slow morning, even if it’s just vegging out on social media content.
Take a lunch break just like you would at a traditional career. Remember, it’s not selfish to take care of yourself and your needs; it’s a necessity for you and your job. It will help you get through the hard days knowing you have little breaks coming up.
Outsource What You Can
In the workspace, the boss typically outsources tasks to focus on the most important ones in their role. You may have an accountant and underneath her, is an assistant, and so on.
You could outsource:
- Daily Cleaning
- Deep cleaning
- Laundry
- Meal Prepping
- Grocery Shopping
A successful stay-at-home mom knows when she needs a little help and with so many avenues to automate life, it’s easier now more than ever.
This will allow you more free time to focus on what matters to you and your family life.
Find Support Groups
Just as if you were physically in the workforce, employees often rely on peers for support and advice. When I became a stay at home mom, I turned to mom. She had been a stay at home mom for at least 24 plus years. I knew she would be able to relate and give helpful advice whenever I needed it.
Her sharing of her experiences helped me not feel so alone. She also gave me the confidence that I could find my own unique solutions.
It takes a lot of effort to run a household and it can feel incredibly lonely. Finding that support will allow you to get your feelings out and may even find advice to help you manage better.
Stay Educated in Your Field
Although there is a lot of on-the-job training, it’s important to stay updated. There are many child development, parenting, and personal development books to help you become a better parent and person.
Some Personal Development Books I recommend are:
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
- Good Morning, Good Life by Amy Schmittauer Landino
Some Parenting IG Accounts I love and Follow:
- BigLittleFeelings: Toddler Experts
- Destini Davis (destini.ann): Certified Parent Coach
Communicate With Your Partner
Maintaining open communication with your spouse is so important. Discuss your daily struggles, achievements, and routines. Your partner’s support, love, and understanding will make your job as a stay at home mom more manageable.
My church had an analogy that I absolutely loved. We (us, moms) are like a thermostat. We set the temperature of the household. Give your household the most comfortable setting by taking care of and maintaining you.
This post is all about finding perfect stay at home mom life balance. Life is already tough as a mom or if you are the default stay at home parent. Create a schedule, take a morning nap, and clock in to work. But don’t forget to clock out too.
