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Being a mum is a rich and rewarding experience, and it is a privilege to be one. We grow tiny babies in our wombs for about nine months, give birth to them and nurture them. New babies bring so much joy and happiness, but being a mother is the hardest job in the world. Your mood can change in a matter of minutes, from feeling happy and satisfied to feeling grumpy and exhausted.
Unlike other jobs, you don't get paid a salary, you get no holidays or sick days, you have no start time or close time, you get no promotions or bonuses, and you get no thank you from your 'employers' sometimes. It is quite easy to feel overwhelmed or get depressed when caring for someone else 24/7.
For stay at home and work from home mums; it very easy to forget about yourself when caring for your children. You do not have to go into the office so you have a good excuse to remain in your pyjamas all day. I remember finding it extremely difficult to get dressed on some days. I was just so drained, I couldn't be bothered to even take a shower since we were stuck indoors most of the time; I was the un-showered and tired mummy on those days.
Once you have children, it is easy to take your physical and mental health for granted, but to be a happy stay at home/work from home mum, it is necessary to remember to take care of yourself.
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Here are some secrets of being a happy stay at home mum:
1.Get some sleep
The importance of sleep cannot be over emphasized. One study showed that an extra hour of sleep a night impacts happiness more than a pay rise. I know how hard it is to sleep when you have children, especially tiny babies. The alarm does not get the chance to wake you anymore, your children do that for you. There is a lot to do during the day so having naps may be impossible.
Sleep deprivation has a lot of negative effects, some of which are:
•Moodiness and irritability
•Weight gain
•Fatigue
•Lack of motivation
•Stress
•Concentration and memory issues
These are just few of the negative effects of sleep deprivation. I will advise you to sleep as much as you can, when you can. When your babies nap during the day, forget all about the chores you need to do, and get some sleep. The chores can be done later in the day. Try to get as close to 7.5 hours sleep at night by going to bed as early as possible.
2.Get in the shower
Having a shower in the morning prepares you for the day. I have a shower and get dressed first thing in the morning, even before my babies wake up, and that alone puts me in the right state of mind for the rest of the day.
3.Leave the house
I am a work from home mum so I have no office to escape to. However, I try to leave the house every day to clear my head and to get some air. I will advise you to leave your house every day even if it is just for a 30 minutes' walk. Walking does wonders for your mood and health; it is a good form of exercise, it helps you stay fit and healthy; most babies enjoy going for walks in the buggies and you get to see the outside world again. A win-win for everyone.
4.Schedule in some well-deserved 'me' time
Have a dedicated day set aside every week for yourself and get someone like daddy to do the baby-sitting for the day. A trip to the salon, shopping, a proper massage, girls' day out or night out, or just lying in are some ways to make time for yourself. We need to nurture ourselves before we can nurture others. So start scheduling in that important 'me' time.
5.Embrace the positives
You get to care for your children all day, every day. They grow up before your very eyes. You get to hear the first words; you see their first walks; you get hugs and salivary kisses all day, of course some days will be harder than others, but you get to experience it all and bond with your children like no other person can. Those are the positives on being a stay at home mum, embrace the positives, ignore the negatives, relax and enjoy the bumpy ride, they grow so quickly.
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