3 Ways to Stay Sane as a SAHM
Hey mama. At Dwell + Slumber, we know you’re not “just” a stay at home mom. You’re a lifeguard, cook, personal shopper, accountant, chauffeur, referee, counselor, and so much more. We know the work can be draining, physically and mentally. With that in mind, we created little cheat sheet that should help you keep it together even when the going gets a little rough.
1 | Get a hobby
Now, I know what you’re thinking. You’re a stay at home mom, you don’t have time for a hobby! And even if you do have a few free moments in your day, you don’t want to have to create something for yourself to do.
But let me tell you something.
A hobby, while it might take up from “free” time, is something for you. It’s something that you enjoy. And it’s going to be way different for each mama. Love working out? Then, for you, working out is “me time.” But to another mama, that might be the worst way she can think of to spend her time! Maybe you love reading. Do that. As a mom, a hobby is something that you’ll have to make time for. But at the end of the day, you’ll feel like you were able to do at least one thing for you.
2 | Unload the kids
Make this a regular thing. Even if it’s once every two weeks- once a month, even- find your person who can take the kids for 4 hours. Remember what it was like to drive in the car alone. To go into the store without feeling like you have a time-bomb attached to your hip. As much as date nights are awesome, getting alone now and then is essential to anyone’s mental health. You need time to think, mama! To decompress.
So, for the love of all stay at home moms, why not make a deal with a mom friend. Offer to take her kids for 4 hours, one day a month. And the next week, she can do the same for you. Sounds like a pretty fair trade to us!
3 | Improve something
Stay at home moms have a tendency to feel… stuck. Mama, you are so needed! We get it. The world may not revolve around you, but you’re the one who keeps it spinning! And as important as your job is, it doesn’t take long for GTL (garbage, target, and laundry) to feel mundane.
A lot of mamas also feel like they’re not as smart or important as their working-outside-the-home counterparts. And while we know that’s not true, in order to help you feel like it and show yourself that you still got it, why not try to learn something new. Yeah, it takes effort, but learning something new, improving in some way, can really help you feel like you’re still in the game and more than just a referee for small humans. Need some suggestions? Here’s a few:
- Grab a friend and try a new fitness class
- Subscribe to an e-course where you can learn a new skill in a weekend
- Attend a gelato making course
- Take one online college course
- Grab your hubs and join a salsa dance night
- Find a new cookbook and challenge yourself to make 3 new recipes next week.
Got any more suggestions? Give us a shoutout on Instagram and tell us what you do to stay sane as a stay at home mama!
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chelsea Damon is a writer and a mama who is passionate about coffee, joyful marriages, healthy lifestyles, and Dwell + Slumber! You can read more of Chelsea's writing on her blog, Living the Sweet Life.