Relax in Your Space as a WAHM!
This is a guest post by Martine De Luna of Dainty Mom:
I’ve been a work-at-home mom writer for the past year and half. I think my job rocks: I get to keep house, cook my family’s meals, be with my son and husband (who also works from home), set my own business hours, and do what I love, that is, write for a living.
For a natural homebody like me, this arrangement is ideal.
However, it comes with a caveat: When working at home, the lines can easily get blurred between work and necessary “down” time. This is especially true for me as a writer; my mind is usually working non-stop – churning out content, copy and creative projects for my clients.
I need to relax, unwind and recharge my constantly working brain.
How to Relax as a Work-at-Home Mom
I’ve learned that I need time to relax in order to function more efficiently in my writing, my housework, and as a wife and mom. In order to achieve this, I’ve had to change up a few things at home.
Here are some of the ways I balance working at home with relaxation, which I believe have made me a better worker and homemaker.
1. Create a stress-free bedroom. If you are a mom who works from home and lives in a small space such as an apartment or condo (like me), your bedroom is more than just a place to sleep; it’s a place where you can totally unwind, meditate, read a book, or listen to music.
Make it stress-free:
- Keep your bedroom almost totally bare-bed, a dresser that’s pretty yet functional, maybe a
corner seating area, a few throw pillows on the bed; just the essentials. - Hang up a few beautiful photos on the walls.
- Use subtle lighting, scent the room with essential oils, and choose cool, relaxing hues for your beddings. Each time you step into your room, you’ll feel more relaxed immediately.
2. Create relaxing spaces within your home. Let the corners and key areas of your home reflect a relaxed mood.
- Keep your countertops in the kitchen almost totally bare, except maybe for a happy bowl of fresh fruit or a coordinated display of storage jars.
- Try putting fresh flowers in your dining room or living room; they have a way of softening a room, giving it a more relaxed
vibe. - Only keep what’s essential on your desk or work space-your laptop, planner, maybe a dock for your mobile phone; keep papers, files and office supplies neatly in the desk drawers.
3. Give yourself a daily “time out” from work. Each afternoon, I put my computer to sleep and give myself 30 minutes to relax. I read a book, take a power nap, give myself a home facial, pray, or call in for a home service mani-pedi-the list is endless.
Give yourself a “time out” by doing something that relaxes you. Make sure you plot it on your daily agenda so that you don’t
forget to clock out for some “me time.”
4. Schedule regular “time outs” with the family. Schedule downtime with the family as well. In our home, a “time out” from work can mean reading with our toddler or playing blocks and puzzles with him, or taking after-dinner dessert trips as a family once a week on a weekday.
These established times during the work week help us reconnect as a family, and are a respite for me and my husband since we both work from home.
It’s important to establish a routine of relaxation and de-stressing when you’re a work-at-home mom (or dad!). Strive to create relaxing spaces in your home, and take necessary breaks from work. Not only will your work week go by more productively, but you’ll also be creating a more peaceful, purposeful home for your family to enjoy.
How do you create a space and routine that is peaceful and productive for you as a work-at-home mother?
Photo: Amorette Dye
About Martine De Luna:
Martine De Luna is a freelance writer and editor, newbie blogger-for-hire, and work-at-home wife ‘n’ mom. She’s passionate about simple living, healthy eating and intentional parenting, and blogs about practical and inspirational aspects of being a work-at-home mom over at The Dainty Mom.
Great tips Martine! As a work at home mom myself I have also created my own structure and process in which I work…but I’m always on the lookout for more techniques and tips!
Thanks, Joey! Glad to know I might have helped you out in some way. I love staying at home, and I need my home to be pretty AND functional so that it serves me well–and even inspire me–as I work from home.
I’ve definitely found that structure and schedule, as well as a clean, ordered desk, are essential to my work and success as a work at home mom.
Equally important is the understanding and cooperation fo my family. My husband has been wonderful about helping me make the time to write and helps with the house and children while he’s not working to make sure things run smoothly around here.
Maria (Work at Home Mom) recently posted..One Website or Many?
Hi Maria, I completely agree. Structure and Schedule are my two must-haves as well. Having a clear head and a focus on what needs to be accomplished also helps me pack in a lot more in the few hours I work each day. And yes, a support system is definitely a blessing too. So glad to know you have everything in place to be successful and happy at what you’re doing! Thanks so much for sharing!
Hi, Maria!
Yes, support is key. My husband and I have come to an agreement that our weekly dates with our son a non-negotiable. We both need it, and so does our son. I love that my husband and I can also talk about our plans to make our work-at-home experience more enriching. I’m very grateful for that.
Just in time Martine. Thanks a lot for this article. As a new blogger I am struggling to create the right atmosphere at home as a Work-at-Home Mom. This article helps a lot. Great job Prerna.
Thanks, Swapna. Glad to know you found the tips and ideas helpful. Hope they inspire you to create your own relaxed workspace and routine:-)
Hi, Swapna! That’s great to know. I’m relatively new to blogging myself, and I’ve learned that being a stay-at-home, work-at-home mom blogger can get a little stressful if I don’t manage my time and my relaxation well!
I love your tips but I would say you need to revisit number 3 and extend that 30 minutes to a couple of hours, make the mos of working from home!
Hi, Lessa!
I’d love to extend those 30 minutes to more, but for now, this is what works for me. On Thursdays, though, my husband and I leave our baby with the sitter and spend half the day together, just us. It’s like revisiting our dating years, in a way! We go for a nice lunch or dinner, maybe go to the spa for a massage, or just hang out together about town. We have a non-negotiable rule about this once-a-week date!
Also, there are days when I DO have more than 30 minutes to “time out.” On particularly busy days, 30 minutes is all I can spare! But on other days, when everything falls into place or I finish my work, I do extend that time.
Excellent tips, Martine! Although I’m not a work-at-home mom (although I’d very much like to be one), I can imagine how difficult it is to carve out time for yourself. You do need a separate physical space solely devoted to work. When you step out of that zone, leave your work behind.
Thanks, Pepper! It used to be difficult to juggle everything while working at home; some nights, I really lost sleep over stuff–literally. Thank God I began to create these routines for myself and to respect those places in my home that are solely for rest.
Martine recently posted..Home Office of the Week: Dotted Simplicity
thanks for the lovely post, ms. martine. very helpful tips from you, as usual. being a work-at-home-wife can sometimes drive me crazy.
Hi, Cham! Glad you picked up a few tips.
Martine recently posted..Home Office of the Week: Dotted Simplicity
Great tips! I have the option of working at home sometimes, but I find that I actually prefer to go into the office. Otherwise I have SUCH a difficult time keeping work-time and personal-time separate that it stresses me out. Next time I’m working from home for the day, I’ll try your suggestions about scheduling some downtime…maybe as a reward for finishing what I need to do for work. I think the suggestions about an uncluttered bedroom and kitchen are great for all parents….I find I get very stressed if my surroundings are visually chaotic. I’m a better mom if I feel like things are “organized.”
Ellie @ Musing Momma recently posted..From “only” to big sib: Part 2 of Part 3