50 Ways to Be a Happier Stay-at-Home Mom

Being a stay-at-home mom is a blessing…that can sometimes feel like a curse.  You get to experience every beautiful moment of your child’s life…along with every miserable one.  You get to create the home of your dreams…and witness its daily destruction and resurrection.

It’s fulfilling, inspiring, and exciting…but it’s also thankless, degrading, and lonely.  So sometimes you just need something to help you be a happier SAHM.

So when you’re having one of those moments where you just need to hit the reset button, try one of these ideas!  They will help you refresh, perk up, and be a happier you.

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Say daily affirmations.

Daily affirmations will completely transform your life. I promise. Don’t blow this off.  This post can help get you started.

Embrace a form of exercise that you love so much you can’t wait to do it everyday.

And make sure to do it EVERYDAY.  Give running and yoga a fair shot. If they don’t do it for you, branch out to other options like swimming, kickboxing, walking, or biking.

Find a hobby.

If you ask me, this is the #1 biggest factor of SAHM happiness.  You need to find something that you are truly passionate about, even if you only get to spend 20 minutes a day on it.

Find a friend that is passionate about the same hobby.

Once you find something you love, find someone who loves it just as much!

Join an online group that supports your hobby.

This will keep you motivated, excited, and expand your social circle.

Find a way to make money.

Want to be the happiest SAHM in the whole world?  Figure out a way for your hobby to make money (here are some ideas to get you started).  It doesn’t have to be a ton. Just enough to feel like you’re contributing.  If you want to keep your hobby with no strings attached, there are plenty of other ways to make money as a stay-at-home mom.

Meal plan.

It will save you money, your sanity, and totally blow your husband’s mind.

Teach your kids to clean up after themselves.

But don’t freak out when it takes ten times longer.

Read books you love.

Take advantage of the library (you can borrow virtual books these days) or bookbub, so this doesn’t become an expensive habit.  If the book isn’t good, ditch it!  Keep searching until you find one you love (Here are some amazing ones to get you started).

Indulge in a TV show you love.

SAHMing can be lonely and the hours suck.  Enjoying a good show at 2pm while the kids are napping is one of the perks! And you absolutely deserve it.

Watch, read, or listen to something that makes you laugh.

Laughter is the greatest medicine. Watch a funny sitcom or read a funny book (or listen to the audiobook version), even if it’s just for 10 minutes.

Hang up photos of people you love.

These photos should make you warm and fuzzy every time you look at them. If they don’t, keep looking for better ones.

Hang up beautiful artwork.

This can be anything.  It just needs to make you happy when you look at it.

Listen to happy music.

If you have an echo, you can ask it to play things like “happy music”, “yoga music”, or “Christmas music”.  It will choose a playlist that fits and you don’t have to do anything else!  Just whatever you do, DON’T listen to sad music.

Get outside.

Whether it’s sitting on the porch with your coffee, raking leaves, walking for ½ hour, or doing yard work, just make an effort to get outside.

Write in a journal.

This doesn’t have to be Dear Diary kind of stuff, unless that makes you happy.  But spend some time everyday writing. It can be an overview of your day, ideas you’ve been thinking about, things you’re grateful for, or even just To Do lists.  Just make sure you give your brain this outlet each and everyday (and try your best to keep it positive).

Reread your journal.

A journal is a powerful tool, but rereading your journal is going to be transformational. It is a secret form of happiness that most people overlook.  You will be blown away by the things you forgot – some of which may be ideas you want to revisit.

Take a bath.

And use these bath bombs.  They’re unbelievable and totally affordable. They make the bath spectacular.

Enjoy a cup of coffee.

It’s a rare mom that doesn’t dream of the first cup of coffee, but don’t just guzzle it down.  Let yourself enjoy it. Take 5 minutes to drink it outside, in a cozy chair…or locked in the bathroom alone. Whatever you need to do.

Drink more water.

This will make you feel way better all day, it will curb your appetite, and work wonders on your skin. It’s an easy win.

Drink more tea.

Tea has the physical effect of water, but the mental effect of coffee.  Find a brand and flavor you love and give yourself an extra indulgence each day.

Eat fresh food every meal.

Fresh food tastes better and it’s way healthier.  This WILL make you happier.

Sleep more.

I know, you’re laughing. But seriously, consider using that peaceful time after the kids are asleep for your own sleep.  You don’t have to do it every night, but more sleep will make you so, so, so much happier.

Get dressed every morning in something you love.

You don’t have to get dressed up…unless you love it.  If yoga pants are your thing, make them fabulous!

Pick one small area of your home and declutter it.

When you declutter your home, you declutter your mind!  You will be so glad to get rid of the things you don’t need or want.

Make a list of short- and long-term goals.

This is the first step in achieving your dreams. And sometimes it’s the hardest one!

Get your hair done.

Or take the time to do it yourself.  Just make sure when it’s done, you feel beautiful!

Start running and sign up for a race.

Running is one of the few exercises you can do with your kids in tow and participating in races adds a fun element of accountability…not to mention something to look forward to.

Make a doctor’s appointment you’ve been pushing off.

If there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s that you’ve kept your kids up-to-date on their vaccinations and check-up’s, but don’t even know the last time you’ve seen your general practitioner, if you even have one.  Pregnancy and the years after hit our bodies like a truck. So schedule the appointment you’ve been pushing off, whether it’s the dermatologist, dentist, allergist, or therapist.

Visit with a friend.

This is where playdates come in handy!  Schedule one with someone that you enjoy being around.

Join an organization with a powerful cause.

This will give you a greater purpose for those monotonous days.

Start planning your dream trip.

Even if you won’t be able to take it for 20 years, you’ll enjoy dreaming and planning for it.

Create a bucket list.

Let your imagination run wild and make a list of all of the adventures you want to take or things you want to accomplish.

Learn to speak a new language.

This can keep you busy for a lifetime and will open your eyes to an entirely new culture.

Plan a date with someone.

Whether it’s your husband, sister, or neighbor. Just plan an outing, even if it’s just for coffee.

Call an old friend just to catch up.

Talking to someone is entirely different than liking their Facebook posts, so pick up the phone and talk the old-fashioned way.

Make a list of all the things you’re thankful for.

You can dedicate an entire journal just for this.  It is scientifically proven to make you happier.

Watch an inspirational documentary.

This is one of the first things I do to perk myself up!  Here’s a great list of documentaries to get you started.

Write a thank you note to someone.

This will not only make you feel better, but it will take something off your plate (because you know you’ve been meaning to write those thank you cards!)

Buy yourself some flowers.

You don’t need to wait for someone else to buy them for you. Put them somewhere that you’ll see often.

Go stargazing at night.

There’s something really peaceful about staring at the stars, so sneak outside after the kids go to bed and stargaze for a bit.

Change the sheets and make the bed.

Nothing beats fresh sheets and a freshly made bed. You’ll at least be happy when you slip into it at night!

Make a handmade gift for someone.

This doesn’t have to be a for-no-reason gift. Think of the birthdays and holidays coming up and come up with some good ideas for handmade gifts.  They will mean more and the process of making them will make you feel great!

Pick an area of your home to clean top to bottom.

It can be a room or even just a certain corner. Clean it as if you’re trying to sell your house.  You will feel so productive and it will make you smile every time you walk by.

Trade massages with your husband.

I want to tell you to go get a massage, but I know how unlikely that is as a SAHM! So offer to give your hubby one, for one in return. THIS will be worth it.

Make a list of things that make you happy.

Store this with your daily affirmations!  Even just reading it will make you feel better.

Create a 5 year plan.

Make it achievable, but also audacious. Set milestones, and hang it up somewhere!

Light a scented candle.

Or if you’re a worry-wart like me, invest in a candle warmer and use that instead.

Open the windows to let in light and fresh air.

Sometimes this is as close to going outside as you can get.

SMILE.

Our actions become our habits and our habits become our realities. You CAN train yourself to be happier.

I really, truly hope this list will come in handy and make you happier!  Let me know if you have any other secrets that work in your life!

If you’d like more tips on reaching financial freedom, living a fulfilled life, and raising happy kids, subscribe to MBAsahm for notification of new posts!