Yesterday I shared with you some of what I have faced transitioning to becoming a Stay at Home Mom (SAHM). The transition
was hard for me in ways that I did not really expect it to be. It had never
crossed my mind that I would feel a little bit lonely in this new season of
life. Today I wanted to take time to share with you some things that I believe
truly help me to enjoy being a Stay at Home Mom. One thing I have realized in
this transition is that the more intentional I am about my time, the happier I
am. I love being a SAHM, but it isn’t always easy. Here are some things I have
learned that help me to enjoy staying home:

Start
Your Day Early: Now, if you are the mom of a newborn, I would probably give
you a break on this. Those first couple months, you definitely want to soak up
every ounce of rest you can get. Having a newborn is a lot of work. But when
you are out of that stage, starting your day early is extremely helpful. I
would go even further to say, starting your day before the little ones is even
better. I experience a total difference in a day where I roll out of bed to the
baby crying versus a day when I set my alarm to wake up before him. Even if it
is only thirty minutes before the baby, it is extremely helpful. Jase is up
between 8-8:30 right now, so I try to get up around 7am. I like to do my
devotions and maybe even grab some breakfast before he wakes up. The silence in
the morning is rejuvenating and a great way to start the day.

Spend
Time With the Lord: I know not everyone who reads this blog is a Christian,
but in my life I truly find a difference in the way my day plays out on if I
spend time in God’s presence or not. I am more patient and less likely to worry
about so many things when I am spending time in the word. I am a much better
mother when I am seeking God at the start of my day. The days that I don’t get
around to it, I really can tell a difference.

Exercise:
I know when your days are built around feeding a baby, changing the baby,
laying the baby down for naps, keeping your house somewhat in order, and
hopefully squeezing in something for yourself the last thing you want to do is
exercise. But I can tell you from experience I feel a hundred percent better
about myself when I have spent time exercising. Even if you only spend twenty
minutes, it makes a huge difference. I have more energy throughout the day and
we all know mom’s need all the energy they can get.

Shower/Get
Ready: Showers help you feel refreshed. I know it is easy to bum around,
and sometimes it doesn’t make sense to get all ready when you aren’t going
anywhere, but it really does help your mood. Sometimes getting ready for me is
showering and throwing on yoga pants, a V-Neck, and my hair in a bun. I know
that isn’t an all out getting ready, but because I got out of the sweatpants
that I slept in I can feel a little more put together. I don’t like to lounge
around in jeans all day; they aren’t incredibly comfortable to be on the floor
with my child in. Yoga pants offer a happy medium – comfy, yet I don’t look like
a bum.

Open
the Blinds: I cannot tell you how great letting the sun shine in through
the windows feels. It brightens up the house in turn brightening up my mood.
Who isn’t happier when the sun is shining?

Schedule
Play Dates: Yes, even for babies! Play dates are sometimes better for mom’s
than they are for the kids. We are made for relationship with people, so don’t
spend every day stuck inside. Call a mom friend and go to a park, or the mall
play area, anywhere! Get out of the house and spend time with other people, you
need it. If you don’t have very many mom friends, reach out. It is hard at
first, but it is incredibly worth it.

Turn
off the TV: Some days I am not even watching it, but it just stays on in
the background for noise. Or maybe I have a Mickey Mouse on just in case Jase
wants to watch it. Turning the TV off and replacing it with music alone makes
me feel like I am not being lazy. I truly believe it also encourages
productivity. Most of my free time when Jase is napping is spent on the
computer because I work from home. It’s easy to do that with the TV on, but
when I turn it off it encourages better focus. How about trying to turn the TV
off and replace it with music or a podcast, even if it’s just for an hour.

Be
Intentional: Being a SAHM you don’t always have deadlines to meet or
someone there to tell you when you are doing an incredible job. I love feeling
like people need me. Not in a conceited, “You couldn’t do anything without me”
kind of way, but I just like feeling appreciated. It always meant so much to me
when my boss would compliment me on a job well done or when he thought I was
doing an incredible job leading my area. It made me feel like I was
accomplished and important. I know that I am important as a mom, and I know my
job is one of the most important jobs out there, but you also don’t get someone
telling you that a lot. There isn’t someone coming behind you saying, “You did
a great job keeping the baby occupied today” or “You did an incredible job
cleaning the kitchen.” So sometimes it is hard to feel like what I am doing is
important, even though I know it is. Sometimes it is harder to feel like I am
doing anything at all. Being intentional about what I am spending my time on
makes a huge difference. When I have a list of things to accomplish, and I do
them, I see that I am accomplishing things. Taking control of my time allows me
to feel like I am being productive even when things seem meaningless or
routine.

Find
Something For You: I think this is the most important. It’s easy to get
lost in being a wife and a mother – but that is part of you, not all of you.
Find something for you, something that brings you joy. Whether it’s working
out, sewing, crafting, writing – whatever it is, find something that allows you
to still have your place. It is like an escape for you to feel like you have
something that is yours. This blog is mine and I will be sharing more about
that next week.