5 Essential Tips to Thrive as a Stay at Home Mom

Being a stay at home mom is an amazingly fulfilling experience. It is one that I will forever cherish. However It is also the absolute hardest thing I have ever done! In the words of Jimmy Dugan, “The hard… is what makes it great”.

After the birth of my 1st daughter, I vividly remember the day my mother left after staying with my husband and I for 2 weeks. I was scared, excited and clueless as to how I would begin my journey as a new mommy. Looking down at my baby girl I couldn’t wait to be present for all the milestones and “first time” experiences. I also was petrified at the thought of my new normal and not having an in-house veteran guide. As time went on I slowly wished for the “road map” for this new stay at home lifestyle. Here is that cheat sheet!

Thriving as a Stay at Home Mom

1. Get Dressed

Lounging in yesterdays yoga pants or staying super comfy in your pajamas is very tempting. Especially if you are running on your 4th cup of coffee and absolutely no sleep. However just the feeling of putting clean clothes on each day gives you a small sense of purpose. You will definatly experience a self-esteem pick-me-up by simply sliding into a fresh pair of jeans and t-shirt or a maxi skirt and a nursing top. It really can be just that easy!

2. Exercise

I know I know, the dreaded workout. You don’t have to be super official with a sports bra, water bottle and towel to get in some exercise. Moving your body in an intentional ways doesn’t need to be complicated. A walk outside with your child or parking further from the entrance of Target will do the trick. If you’d like to be official, casting a free workout from YouTube would be the ultimate calorie burner! Seriously, any intentional movement does wonders for your mental and physical health. Those happy endorphins will give you such a positive and energizing outlook on your day.

3. Build in a Break

Regroup and recharge! Building in breaks in your day is a game changer. Setting aside even the smallest amount (10 or 15 minutes) of time throughout the day just for you is vital. This is your time to just take a breath, play a mindless game on your phone, try out some new lipstick, listen to your favorite podcast or just take a power nap to recharge. These points throughout the day are designed to focus on your needs so you can continue to be the loving and attentive mama you want to be.

4. Create a Consistent Schedule

This one benefits both mommy and child. It’s not about having a rigid framework that you must stay in day in and day out. It’s more about having a gentle guide for your day to make your everyday flow easily. Having pre-designed routine to fall back on when life gets crazy is super reassuring. Plus, children both crave and thrive on consistency and routine. It helps to regulate them both physically and mentally.

5. Plan Activities for your Kiddo

Get out of the house! A quick google search for local family or child friendly activities and/or events (often free) to attend with your child are always a winner. For example, public libraries often provide age specific story times. This is a great way to meet other moms and kiddos. Free days at your local children’s museum is always a hit. Or, a quirky new coffee shop might cater to the stay at home crowd with a small play area for young children and lots of yummy caffeinated beverages for adults! Get out there and take a look!

Summing it Up

Being a stay at home mom is amazing, fantastic and HARD! These quick hitters of getting dressed and exercising paired with a solid schedule, built in breaks and fun activities will have you well on your way to rocking the stay at home mom gig!