Time management isn’t always easy, but it is important. When a woman is a stay-at-home mom, managing her time can become very stressful. That stress can be magnified if her husband works odd hours. An inconsistent or difficult schedule can make it harder to cook proper dinners, get the children to bed by herself, keep the house clean, and have enough quality time with her family. Fortunately, there are some ways to make things easier, even if the odd hours continue. Here are some things all stay-at-home moms can consider, so they can adjust their schedules to make the best use of their time and reduce their stress.
1. Get Children Involved When They’re Old Enough
For parents who have children old enough to help out around the house, there are plenty of ways to get kids involved. From an early age, children can be taught to put away their clothing and clean up their rooms. They can also help with things like loading and unloading a dishwasher, cleaning the kitchen, setting and clearing the table, feeding pets, and other tasks around the house. As moms pick age-appropriate tasks for their children and teach those children how and when to do things, it makes those moms’ jobs easier and far less stressful.
2. Develop a Family Calendar to Keep Things Organized
Planning things out in advance goes a very long way. That’s especially true for busy moms who have young children at home. When a husband works odd hours and isn’t always there in the evenings or on the weekends, that can make things even more complicated. With a family calendar, everyone can see their own tasks and schedule, along with the tasks and schedule of other family members. As children grow and get involved in more activities, being able to see everyone’s information at a glance can make things even easier to handle.
3. Plan a Husband’s Chores for When He’s Home
Doing chores around the house shouldn’t be limited to “women’s work.” There are plenty of chores a husband can do or help out with when he’s home. As a stay at home mom, agreeing on who does chores and when those chores will get completed can be a great way to keep everyone happy and make things fairer. Even when a husband works long hours or has a demanding job, a stay-at-home mom works hard, as well. Splitting up the chores between the parents, and including the kids if they’re old enough, can help ensure that everything gets done and no one feels like they have to do it all.
4. Join a Support Group or Mothers’ Group
There are many groups for stay-at-home moms, that can provide them with a lot of help and support. Sometimes just being able to commiserate about difficult things can help a lot. For any mom that stays at home with her children, having help is a great thing. Reach out to groups in the area, and see whether they feel like a good fit. While it’s another thing to make time for, it can be well worth it for the stress reduction and enjoyment that can come from connecting with other moms.
5. Make Time for Some Leisure Time
Every stay-at-home mom needs some leisure time that’s just for herself. Preferably, she gets to leave the house and go somewhere else for that time. Having someone babysit for a few hours, or having her husband watch the kids for a day, can really help a mom enjoy a bit of her own space and time. It’s a great way to relax after a long week, and feel refreshed and ready to take on a busy home life once again. If it’s not possible to leave the house, it’s important to find a quiet location so disturbances will be rare.
6. Remember That Tomorrow is Another Day
Even the most organized mom shouldn’t expect to be able to do it all, all the time. That’s important to remember, because there are always other times when things can get done. Make sure the most important things are accomplished first, and then let the rest go if there’s not enough time in the day. Being happy and healthy is important to being a good parent, so make sure that taking time to rest is a priority. Doing it all in one day isn’t necessary.
