Do you ever wake up some mornings and think, “Another day being a stay at home mom. I wish there were more to my life.”
As a stay at home mom, there are a lot of mundane things that you do. It’s normal to feel like what you are doing is not fulfilling.
In fact, I’ve felt that way too. There were times early on that I remember describing my role as both overwhelming and underwhelming.
Taking care of my child and running the household felt like a lot to do, but it was also a bit of a let down after working full-time previously.
Still today, 8 years later, there are days I catch myself asking, “Is this all there is? I should be doing something else with my life.”
It happens to all of us. And actually, it happens to more than stay at home moms. Everyone feels unfulfilled from time to time no matter what role or season of life they find themselves in.
What Fulfillment Means
The dictionary defines fulfillment as “a feeling of satisfaction that you get from doing or achieving something, especially something useful.”
That means being fulfilled as a stay at home mom can’t come from someone else. It can only come from you. You get to choose whether or not you are satisfied.
Do you believe that what you are doing at home and for your family are useful? I hope you answered, “YES!” Because the work you do for your family has far reaching impact.
Creating a stable, comfortable home life affects how your husband treats people at work. It affects who your children grow up to be.
Being Fulfilled as a Stay at Home Mom
I believe from personal experience that being fulfilled as a stay at home mom is a 2 step process. The first part is the thoughts you allow into your mind about being a stay at home mom. The second part is what you do with your time.
So now I’m going to share some steps you can take today to feel fulfilled. And remember, you’ll need to come back to this list and commit to it each day.
Being satisfied as a stay at home mom is a daily choice you make over and over again.
1. Remember why you are a stay at home mom.
Most likely, you became a stay at home mom by choice. I know that isn’t the case with everyone. However, most of us could be working and making a lot more money.
But we choose to stay at home and make our homes and families a priority. Do you remember why you chose to do that?
If it’s been a while since you thought about your reasons, take some time to write them down. Keep them in a place you can look at whenever you start to feel down.
2. Focus on the benefits.
There are so many great benefits to being a stay at home mom. Some are life changing like being able to teach your children or experiencing your baby’s first steps.
Other practical benefits include things like no childcare costs, better times of day to go grocery shopping, and a flexible schedule.
These are things that you would miss if you worked outside the home.
3. Follow encouraging online accounts.
There are so many voices competing for your attention online. Most likely, you spend time listening to them. Stay away from the negative perspectives about motherhood, and follow the positive ones.
Spend some time going through the accounts you follow. If they aren’t encouraging you, unfollow them. Then find some good ones!
You can join my facebook page or sign up to receive my weekly emails of encouragement.
4. Change your negative thoughts.
Do you every think about the things you think about? I know that is a mouthful.
But really, do you notice the words you say to yourself? I didn’t used to. I would let any thought come into my mind.
But several years ago, I started getting intentional about the things I allowed my mind to stay on.
Whenever I notice myself thinking negative thoughts about my role or my abilities as a stay at home mom, I put those thoughts to a stop and replace them with something positive.
The Bible calls that “taking our thoughts captive”. (2 Corinthians 2:5)
5. Start your day with prayer and Bible reading.
If you’re a christian, one of the best things you can do is start your day focusing your mind on something positive from God’s word.
Then as you go about your day, you have something positive to think about.
Praying is also important when it comes to being fulfilled. As you pray, you can talk to God about what you’re feeling, what you’re struggling with, and focusing your mind on Him.
6. Spend undistracted time with your kids.
There’s a lot to do each day as a stay at home mom, and your kids are with you all day long. You take them with you everywhere you go.
But do you ever find that you don’t actually spend undistracted time with your kids?
I realized that even though I was with my kids all the time, I wasn’t actually spending good quality time with them.
So each day, I try to do a few things throughout the day that are just them and me. No phones, no work, no school, no chores.
We read books, make something in the kitchen, talk, explore bugs in the backyard, draw with sidewalk chalk, or go for walks. These times spent with my kids are so fulfilling!
7. Take breaks during the day.
I also make sure to spend time by myself each day. We have an hour of quiet time in the afternoons at our house. My kids play independently and quietly in their rooms.
During that time, I work on the blog most days, but some days I simply rest. This time is so important for me to get a break from answering constant questions or being needed.
If you don’t take breaks during the day, you will quickly feel burnt out. Make sure to include moments of rest throughout your day.
8. Do something fun every day.
What do you enjoy doing? Some point during your day, do something you enjoy. That way you have something to look forward to and you do something that brings you happiness.
If you love to read, bake, go for hikes, swim, or craft, make a plan to do them. This may happen during quiet time without the kids, or maybe you can include them in the fun.
I love getting outside and taking walks. When my kids were young, I pushed them in the stroller. Now that they are older, they ride their scooters while I walk.
I also enjoy baking from time to time. Sometimes I include my kids. Other times I do it myself and give them something else to do.
If you’re looking for something fun to do, here are lots of hobby ideas.
9. Do something productive every single day.
Part of feeling fulfilled is accomplishing things of value. Sometimes being a stay at home mom can feel unmotivating.
You may have a hard time knowing what to do with your time. Instead, you end up sitting on the couch or scrolling through your phone.
These habits lead to a lack of motivation. I encourage you to create a daily schedule where you plan to do productive activities every single day.
As you complete your tasks, you’ll feel more fulfilled by seeing the things you accomplish each day.