We as stay-at-home moms have the privelege of staying home with our kids day in and day out. We are so blessed to be able to do this, to invest countless hours and days teaching them and nurturing them with everything in us.

They say the years are short.

But the days can indeed feel long.

We are so happy to be home with our kids, and yet the day-to-day can feel overwhelming and exhausting. It can be a struggle to know how to structure our days so that we have a balance of busyness and relaxation, excitement and routine.

Today I want to share with you 10 Tips For Scheduling Our Days as Stay-At-Home Moms.

How To Plan Your Day.

1. Get fully ready for the day.

Get dressed. Put on makeup. Braid your hair. Do whatever it is you do to get ready for the day.

When you’re at home with your kids and don’t have much planned, it can be tempting to lounge in your pajamas and messy hair for a while. This isn’t bad. But I know I often feel better when I get myself fully ready for the day early, even before my husband goes to work. That way he can watch the kids for a few minutes, and I can get myself pulled together. It’s not long or elaborate, but it makes me feel ready to take on the day.

2. Reset the house.

Tidy your house at different times throughout the day. These don’t have to be fixed times or complete overhauls. Rather, just tidy as the opportunity presents itself.

Make beds. Do some dishes. Clean up the bathroom. Pick up toys. Let your kids play and make messes, but by doing routines tidy ups, things never get out of hand.

3. Do one BIG thing a day.

Don’t overcommit or over plan. When you have kids, life moves slower. Interruptions are normal. And you’ll probably find that life runs smoother if you have less big stuff on the calender. We as Moms already have a lot on our plate – discipline, diapers, laundry, cooking, and dishes. These things fill most of our time. Doing just one BIG thing a day is a great addition to these routines. Perhaps that could be getting groceries, meeting up with a friend, planting the garden, or deep cleaning the house.

4. Prep dinner.

Don’t wait for 4 o’clock to completely start thinking about dinner. If you have planned ahead and prepped ahead, it makes actually COOKING dinner so much easier.

This could mean taking the meat out to thaw and cutting some carrots. It could mean peeling potatoes and mixing up a sauce. It could mean filling the slower cooker. It could mean cooking the whole meal! While some days just don’t allow early prep, I’d recommend doing it as much as you can. It really makes a difference.

5. Embrace repetition and routine.

Be okay with doing the same thing every day, whether that’s eating the same breakfast and lunch, singing the same cleanup song before bed, going on the same walk around your neighborhood or reading the same picture book to your child. There is nothing wrong with, and in fact a lot of wisdom and security, in doing the same things every day.

Kids, and maybe even adults, thrive on repetition. Of course there’s a time for spontaneity and adventure, but there’s also so much beauty in dependable routines. Though a lot can happen spontaneously, this is also a great way to implement rhythms of Bible reading and prayer. You don’t need to come up with all new ideas and activities and meals every day. You are allowed to be repetitive.

6. Invite your kids into household tasks.

Let your kids help you with chores. Ask them if they would like to help you switch the laundry from the washer to the dryer, mix up the bread dough, or organize the winter clothes. Doing this will probably slow you down, but on the flip side, it will give you quality time with your kids, allow you to actually be productive, and teach them real life skills.

7. Move

Do something active. This could be going on a walk, doing a workout video, or just playing outside with your kids. Moving not only makes us physically stronger, but it also relieves stress and can help us better show up for our daily life.

8. Slow down, and recharge.

Take time to pause. We Moms are busy, and it’s easy to fall into endless cycles of work and productivity and attending to needs left, right, and center. We can get frazzled that we’re not going to have enough time to finish our tasks and get to every job.

But sometimes we need to slow down. For us. And for our kids.

This might mean sitting down to sip your coffee. Perhaps it’s reading a picture book to your toddler. Maybe it’s playing with your baby. It most certainly is trying to get enough sleep at night.

And all of this stems from your rest in the Lord. His work is finished, and He is in control. And so you can rest…on the inside…always.

9. Connect with your spouse.

Prioritize your husband. Ask him how his day was and really LISTEN.

Remember that he is your best friend, the one you get to grow old with.

Your relationship with him is second only to your relationship with the Lord. It’s more important than any other earthly thing, and the enemy is out to steal, kill, and destroy it.

Protect it. Fight for it. Invest in it.

10. Accept that some days are just hard.

Know that some days are just hard. You might lose your patience. The house may get overwhelmingly messy. Sickness strikes.

And it’s going to be okay.

Hard days don’t equal a hard life. Moments of weakness don’t make you a bad Mom.

Easier days will come again, and God’s grace is greater than every sin and struggle.

What an amazing job we have as stay-at-home Moms to order our days freely and invest in our children’s lives liberally. I hope these tips spark some inspiration and encourage you on your motherhood journey.

FAQ About SAHM Life

1. How do you keep up your energy as a SAHM?

I prioritize a few things: Going to bed a decent time, getting fully ready for the day, working out, eating nutritious food, coffee, and napping when I can.

2. What are some easy dinner ideas for a SAHM?

We love spaghetti, chicken fried rice, or taco salad!