Mental Overwhelm and 4 Tips to avoid feeling burnout as a WAHM (work at home Mom)
Okay, moms, we all know how hard motherhood alone is—not even mentioning your partner or other household duties. Figuring out what the humans in your house are going to do each day? Ummmm can you smell my overwhelm? Burnout is REAL! I have felt this as a WAHM many times. Mental exhaustion from it all can leave you feeling depleted and emotionally overwhelmed.
This is all enough, a full-time job on its own…not even mention being a business owner (or a working-at-home employee) who lives and works in their home all day! It took me a long time to let go of the “mom boss pride” and realize that your homegirl over here needed HELP.
I see you mama, trying to do it all and not pull your hair out. You feel pulled in a million different directions. You want to play with your kids outside, but at the same time, you really need to be meal planning and writing your grocery list for the week. Or you have just enough time to clean up the mess your toddler left for you in the bathroom. I see you and your struggle.
And guess what, you DON’T have to do it all.
You don't.
Here are 4 areas I recommend outsourcing to allow yourself to breathe and find more success in your business so that you can spend more time on things and with the people you love:
Cleaning service-
This frees up so much of your time and energy to focus on business. Think about it, businesses hire companies to clean their office buildings right? Your home IS your office, your workspace, and your home. You deserve a clean, less stress-inducing environment to work in.
*Budget tip! Find a newer company looking for new clients or referrals! See if they would be willing to give you an intro rate to try it out for a few weeks!Meal Kit Delivery Service-
Maybe you aren’t like me and maybe meal planning is your jam. But if not, it takes a lot of time and brain power to come up with nourishing, filling, and yummy meals for your family. Although chicken nuggets and mac-n-cheese are GREAT for busy nights and nights you do not feel like cooking, your family does in fact need to eat other things! Meal delivery kits allow you to pick out meals and have them arrive at your door, ready to go, and offer your family a variety of healthy and yummy options that YOU didn’t have to come up with. Thank me later!
*Budget tip! Most of the main meal delivery services offer intro deals for CHEAP! Try each one out at their intro rate and see if it works! Some great options I like to suggest are Hello Fresh, Every Plate (the most cost-effective), Green Chef, and Blue Apron.If you want a premade, no-cooking option, Factor meals are both delicious and healthy! Perfect for lunches for yourself or your partner to take on the go or heat up at home!
3. Subscription services-
Who wants to get down to the last scoop of dog food before realizing you needed to get more…like yesterday?! How about your kiddo yelling from the bathroom to bring more toilet paper only to realize that you also needed this, like yesterday? Anyone ever changed their baby’s diaper only to pull out the last wipe and think, uh oh….
Here are where subscriptions will save your sanity. Get that ISH on auto-ship, mama! Set it and forget it. Not only is it great for sanity-saving, but it also is automatically just great for finances. Most companies offer subscribing discounts, which are on things you already are buying anyway!
*Budget Tip! Amazon Subscribe and Save offer fantastic discounts for first-time subscriptions or monthly options as well. Honest Co offers great discounts on your diaper and wipes subscriptions and Chewy is great for pets!
4. A BABYSITTER-
You are a working mother, you need a break, you need to work sometimes and it is OK to hire help. A trusted family member is, of course, an amazing option if that is available for you! But if not, please find someone you trust to watch your kids. Maybe this is even preschool or an in-home daycare program that another mom runs! You deserve help! Trust me, I am someone who does NOT just trust anyone with my children…it is HARD.
*Budget Tip! See if a young middle or high schooler is looking for a little extra cash and you can pay them less while you are still at home! They can play with your kids and get some experience in childcare while you are still home to supervise and make sure everything is safe.
Overall, you are a working mama who deserves a village. Unfortunately, I know firsthand that villages aren’t really a “thing” anymore, and you have to create your own system for help. You are not meant to do it all, and you CANNOT do it all. I hope you will try some of these suggestions, guilt-free.