Top Ten Ways To Stay Sane As A Work At Home Mom
The other day, someone asked me what it's like to be a work at
home mom. I just blinked back at him, my mind blank. How could I
possibly describe life as a work at home mom? Only someone who's
lived it can understand the juggling act it requires.
Work at home moms have the usual responsibilities of being a mom
- folding laundry, scheduling doctor's appointments, helping
with homework, reading bedtime stories, and basically being on
call 24-hours a day. In addition, there is the conundrum of how
to find time to work and answer emails, do networking, update
bookkeeping, make phone calls, and more. And, it must fit into a
24 hour day. So, how do we do it? How do we stay sane in the
chaos?
It's disclaimer time. I am not the person to give advice on
sanity. I'm pretty sure I filed away my sanity last year when I
did taxes. I have my days where I say "That's it! I'm getting a
regular job!" But, then I talk to my wonderful friend who
reminds me of the reality of the real world -- the traffic, the
boss who won't let me go to my son's field trip, and the fact
that I'd probably have to buy pantyhose again. She manages to
slap some sense back into me every time. I hate pantyhose.
Working from home the last few years, I've picked up a few handy
tips. They aren't magic beans, that, when planted, will grow you
a nanny and a housekeeper, but they can help you to enjoy being
a work at home mom just a little bit more.
10. Freezer Cooking! This is my personal life-saver. Spend one
day during the week or one day each month assembling meals and
your reward is a freezer filled with food. Then, when it's time
to make dinner, just grab a healthful, inexpensive meal from
your freezer, heat it up and serve. Think about it. Next time
you cook dinner, quadruple the recipe and put what you don't eat
into the freezer for later. Presto! Magic food will appear in
your freezer the next time you need it.
9. Pay it Forward- By helping others, it reminds us that many of
our own problems are much smaller than they appear. Whether you
donate money, give blood, or volunteer your time, you are
setting a beautiful example for your children. Involve your
older kids and make volunteering a family activity.
8. Stay Healthy - Dust off your rollerblades, strap a pillow
across your bottom and hit the pavement. Or surprise your
children and the dog with a nice long walk.
7. Organize, organize, organize! If you're spending hours each
week sorting through piles of paper, looking for receipts or "to
do" lists, that is wasted time and unnecessary frustration.
Sweep the Magic 8 ball, the empty jar of peanuts, the Slinky,
and the Snickers wrapper off your desk right now. You can do it!
6. Save Money - As Benjamin Franklin wrote in Poor Richard's
Almanac "A penny saved is a penny earned." Work at home moms
know how hard it can be to earn a penny. So, do everything you
can to save those hard-earned cents.
5. Time Management - Don't let Time Stealers make you work any
longer than you need to. When you're sitting in front of your
computer or talking on the phone, that is time away from your
children. Always remember your "why". WHY are you working from
home? If the reason is to spend more time with your kids, then
figure out how to make that happen!
4. Learn and Learn some More! - Find a mentor or someone who you
like the way they handle their business. Network with other moms
who are successful, take online classes, or hire a coach. Invest
in yourself and you'll invest in your business.
3. Play with your Kids - Whether you sit down to play a board
game, or drive Hot Wheels around the carpet, there's always fun
to be had. If you need some ideas, check out
wwwShowKidsTheFun.com
2. Keep your sense of humor. Laugh every day! Turn off your
computer, put in your copy of The Village People "YMCA" (I know
you have one) and Dance! Dance! Dance!
and the number one way to stay sane as a Work at Home Mom .....
1. Always remember "The days are long, but the years are short."
Although it oftentimes feels like the days drag by as a work at
home mom, remember that the years are flying by. It's that
reminder that keeps me grounded on days when the projects are
heavy and the beach is calling.
If you're looking for me, you can find me at the beach!