With kids to care for, homes to manage, and seemingly endless to-do lists, many moms are more stressed and anxious than ever before. If you’re a mom who works from home while you have kids with you, this stress can feel overwhelming at times. In addition to your regular work duties, you’re also juggling care for your kids, often at the same time. When this happens, it’s hard to catch a break.
Unfortunately, too much stress can take the joy out of the things you cherish most in life, like raising your children or working at your job. Plus, it can really take it’s toll on both your physical and your mental health.
While some occasional stress is normal, it’s important to keep it under control. If you find yourself stressed-out all the time, use these tips to help you manage your sanity and become a happier work-at-home mom.
Practice Self-Care
Self-care is more than just a nice idea or an occasional bubble bath. If you work from home, it should be a top priority. How do you figure out what self-care means for you? Take some time to think about those things that help you feel rested and recharged. For some, it’s a brisk lunchtime walk in the sunshine. For others, it might be reading a book or doing some journaling.
When you figure out what it is that helps you relax, choose one self-care task and schedule it in your planner every single day. It might feel strange at first when, but over time it will become a habit and you’ll look forward to that time you have to recharge your batteries daily.
Take a Break
One of the biggest challenges of being a mom who works from home is that you might feel pressure to spend any free time you have working. It is good to make sure you’re dedicating enough time to your work, but filling in all the gaps of your day with business is not healthy.
There needs to be a balance, because rest and recreation is what keeps us all on task. If you find you’re overworking, take some time to stop and play with your kids or bake a cake. Sometimes just sitting and resting can give you the stress-relieving break you need.
Exercise
Staying healthy is a stress-relieving activity that’s good for everyone. Exercise produces endorphins, improves sleep, and can greatly reduce your stress and anxiety.
Studies show that exercise even improves mental fitness, making you better able to concentrate and more productive when it is time to work. Don’t think you have to hit the gym everyday in order to get these benefits. Something as simple as taking the dog for a walk or running outside with the kids can count as your daily dose. Check this post out for more quick exercises you can do anywhere, or look at this post for exercises you can do with your baby.
Learn How to Say “No”
Being overbooked is a huge cause of stress for many moms. Because so many of us want to fill a number of roles (mom, partner, worker, friend), we feel that we have to please everyone in order to be successful. This just isn’t true.
Learn how to let go of the overcommitment, and only focus on those things that bring peace and joy to your family. It may be hard at first, but setting boundaries about what you’re willing to do will strengthen your family, reduce your stress and increase your overall health.
Ask for Help
Many moms have the feeling that they need to manage everything themselves. However, this constant need to control everything can become a stressful nightmare.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help from those around you. This could mean asking your spouse or other family members for help in managing household duties while you work from home. It could also mean delegating regular chores to your kids. You might have to learn to lower your expectations, but in the process you’ll reduce your stress.
Reconsider Multitasking
Multitasking is good in some instances – listening to an educational podcast while you fold laundry, for instance – but it usually doesn’t work for more important tasks. In fact, it can even cause you to be less productive and more stressed out than you realize.
Rather than trying to tackle everything at once, focus on just one task and complete it. Once you’re able to cross that one item off your to-do list, you’ll be more motivated to keep going.
Get Organized
Is your house completely cluttered with stuff? Studies show that having too much stuff is actually a recipe for stress. When a house is cluttered with stuff it can cause chaos, both physically and mentally. Take some time to purge, organize your workspace and pare down your possessions and you’ll likely find yourself living with less anxiety as well as less clutter.
Get Enough Sleep
Sleep is so important in helping curb stress and anxiety, yet many moms don’t get enough of it. It can be hard when you have so much on your plate, but sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is to get to bed at a reasonable time and make sure you get 7 to 8 hours of sleep.
Final Thoughts on Managing Stress
Being a work at home mom can be extremely challenging, but it’s also a blessing. When you’re overwhelmed and stressed out, it’s hard to see that blessing in the midst of it all. As you incorporate some of these stress-relieving tips, remember to give yourself some grace. Raising kids and working from home is a big job, and the truth is you’re probably doing much better than you realize. High-five, mama!
If you’re working from home, please tell us a little bit about yourself by commenting below! Also be sure to sign up for our work at home newsletter to get free downloads, outstanding advice and novel ways to work at home or grow your business.
