11 Ways to Make the Transition to a Stay at Home Mom Easier

I didn’t think transitioning to being a stay-at-home mom would be difficult. I daydreamed about all the fun things I’d get to do. All the organizing, the cooking and baking, the gardening and the fort-making I could dream of. But I’ll be honest with you. It’s lonely. It’s confusing. I sometimes feel lost. Like, who am I anymore?

Stay-at-home moms are never truly understood by those who aren’t in the same role. On the outside, it seems like every mom’s dream. And for most, it probably is. It is for me too. I just had to develop myself in my new role.

The first few months, I was all over the place. I mean, scatterbrain central. I had so much time, but never enough time. My husband would jokingly ask, “what have you been doing all day?” I literally couldn’t answer.  I mean, yes, of course, I was taking care of our daughter and all that comes with that, but nine hours would go by and I’d maybe get a load of laundry in. What was I doing all day?

The answer popped up on my phone one afternoon. Your screen time was up 41%. 

Oops.  I was literally wasting my day on my phone. I felt so frustrated with myself. I wanted this time at home to be fruitful and productive. 

I knew some changes had to be made.  

Here are 11 things I did that made my transition easier and more productive. 

Schedule and Routine

This might sound like a no-brainer, but for me, it was essential, and I didn’t know how important it was (or how unorganized I really was!) until I created an amazing routine that fit my needs. I also knew that I would need to take care of myself if I was going to be the best version of me for my daughter and family. Exercise, healthy eating, restful sleep, getting myself a planner (and using it!) – all of these things became a priority and part of my routine.

Start a Blog

I never saw this one coming.  I didn’t even know what a blog really was until a friend recommended I start one to help market my Etsy store. I thought blogs were kind of like journal entries that you published online about your day or that fun vacation you took. Clearly, I was still living in the 90s. I started watching some YouTube videos about starting a blog, and I was hooked after that first video.  I binged. I studied. I researched. It’s a LOT to learn, and it can be overwhelming.  Here are some helpful tips if you want to start a blog (I highly recommend you do!).

Find a Cause to Support 

I was super excited about this, so much so that I actually carve out time each week in my schedule (see how much you need a schedule?!?) to help promote and support. My friend recently started Bubble Baby, a bamboo baby clothing line (don’t even get me started on my bamboo clothing addiction!) that, not only has amazingly adorable prints, but also supports organizations related to each of the prints, all while trying to leave the smallest carbon footprint possible.  Her newest print is a sea turtle print, and a portion of proceeds will go to support N.E.S.T. (Network for Endangered Sea Turtles). 

Improve Your Health

As part of my daily routine, I started implementing some new health regimens and made them new habits.  They were small additions, but I know long-term, they will greatly benefit my health and well-being. After working with a functional medicine practitioner, I incorporated new supplements based on the lab results I had done.  I also because obsessed with herbs and teas after following Lindsay Fuce of wellnesswithlinds on TikTok. She owns Drink Symbi, which makes some amazing tea blends, including Anxi-Tea, which I loved when my PPA was at an all-time high.

Get Creative!

There’s something incredibly satisfying about creating something. It doesn’t have to be big or elaborate.  But by all means, go big if you want! For me, it was Etsy and blogging. I actually started two Etsy stores: Seventeen Designs, where I create custom apparel and home decor, and Little Green Sprout Co, where I create themed calming corner printables. There are so many ways to be creative that you may not have thought about.  Painting, drawing, and even coloring with adult coloring books. And then there’s baking and cooking – so many amazing recipes out there waiting to be tried! And don’t forget about music – playing an instrument, singing, writing a song. The list is endless! If you need some ideas, check out my blog post on creativity. 

Meal Plan and Prep

This one I still struggle with, as I’m sure most moms do, working or not. Some days I feel super inspired and other days I can’t think of anything to eat except 2 eggs on toast.  I’m still working on finding my groove and figuring out a routine that works for me, but so far, having a meal plan and a shopping list has been really helpful. Not only does it take the guesswork out of what to make for dinner, but it helps me save money since I’m not buying food we don’t need. Looks Delic is also one of my favorite sites to get recipe ideas.

Give Yourself Permission to Mourn 

I know this may seem odd to the mom who has always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom, but for me, I LOVED my job.  I loved my boss, and coworkers, and I loved the work I did in education. I didn’t want to leave my job. But I also didn’t want anyone else raising my daughter, so I knew I was making the right decision.  It was still hard, and still sad.  And that’s okay.  Give yourself permission to mourn your work life. It’s a big part of your life you are giving up, but the rewards are far greater. 

Identify and Remove Time Wasters and Distractions 

This one was- and still is- really challenging, and honestly, very humbling for me.  One of my biggest distractors was Facebook groups. Particularly, buy, sell, and trade groups for bamboo baby clothes.  It became an obsession for me.  I don’t know if it was a high or a rush, or if I just enjoyed the community of it, but I became super invested in the bamboo world. To be fair, there are some amazing benefits of bamboo baby clothes. But it became so distracting and really disruptive to many aspects of my day.  I finally had to leave the majority of those groups.  Being present was something that I realized was slowly being overshadowed, and I didn’t want to look back on my daughter’s young years and regret how much time I spent on my phone. 

Give Yourself Grace and Be Realistic About Your Expectations 

Again, another humbling one.  I wanted to be supermom.  I wanted to cook all the things and DIY all the things and garden and write and do house projects and swimming classes and all of it.  Sigh.  At the end of the day, what I really want is to help alleviate as much stress for my husband, who works so hard so that I can be home with our daughter, and to raise my daughter well.  Everything else will just have to fit in somehow.  But one thing I want to stress is to figure out your best routine and schedule and home needs, and just do the best you can. 

Find Other SAHMs and Connect With Them Regularly

So kind of like online dating, right? I mean. Basically.  I went on the Peanut app for a while to see if I could find some mom friends near me.  I’d scroll profiles, “like” their profiles, send messages, and get back maybe 20% of responses.  But I did manage to meet up with a few moms that I really enjoyed getting to know. I also found just going to the park and chatting with moms nearby was great too!

Get on the Same Page With Family Members 

I think everyone has a little different idea of what a stay-at-home mom is or is supposed to be.  And honestly, I think this just comes down to people’s expectations of you.  It’s similar to a new job; your boss gives you your job duties, expectations, etc.  It’s important that everyone in your family communicates their expectations, and that you communicate yours as well. This will make it much easier to talk things through before any misunderstandings or assumptions are made.

Sit down with your partner and discuss the changes that will come with your new role as a SAHM. This might include a shift in financial responsibilities, changes to daily routines, and a redistribution of household chores. It’s important to make sure that both you and your partner are on the same page about these changes and that you’re both comfortable with the new arrangements.

Final Thoughts

These 11 things have made a world of difference for me. It’s been such a rewarding journey and I am so thankful for the gift of staying home with my daughter. I’m sure many moms who’ve made this transition will agree. And while every situation is unique, I’m sure there are bits and pieces here that can be helpful to other stay-at-home mamas out there. What are some things that helped you? Let me know in the comments!