Are you a stay-at-home wife?
Have you wondered about how to thrive as a stay-at-home wife?
The world is rapidly changing, and so are the different gender contexts.
Previously, a “stay-at-home wife” used to be perceived as an unambitious woman who was forced to care for the family and let her dreams be buried.
However, the definitions have changed.
A stay-at-home wife could be a married woman who manages her husband’s and children’s affairs.
She balances the family by being available and doing many administrative duties.
A stay-at-home wife could also be a married woman who works remotely from the comfort of her house.
This phenomenon is not strange, as remote working is embraced worldwide.
Even companies with physical work arrangements also have hybrid working arrangements in their policies.
A stay-at-home wife could even be a married woman who runs her own business(es) from home.
With more online selling platforms, women entrepreneurs are limitless as they do not necessarily need a physical shop to serve customers globally.
Cool innit?
Well, whatever your definition is, if you are a stay-at-home wife or considering being one, this article is for you.
We will be exploring how to thrive as a stay-at-home wife
Please read on:
How To Thrive As A Stay At Home Wife: 10 Helpful Tips
Even though there is more acceptance for stay-at-home wives due to globalization, it still comes with its unique challenges.
If you have chosen this path, I must warn you that some days will be tough.
However, you can see the following tips as a tool kit to help you navigate your season as a stay-at-home wife:
1. Always remember your WHY
Knowing the reason for doing anything is very important.
Once that reason is defined, keeping it in your face will help you stay on course and achieve that goal.
Why did you decide to become a stay-at-home wife?
Did you choose this path to give your family a slower pace?
Did you choose this path so you are more involved with your children?
Did you become a stay-at-home wife because it aligns with your personality and values?
Was it an agreement between you and your husband?
Whatever your reason(s) are, make them plain and constantly remind yourself of them.
They will be a propellant in the harrowing days when you feel like giving up.
2. Know the value you bring
Whoosh! This point is so important.
In the past, stay-at-home wives were perceived to be laidback women who binged on rom-coms all day.
This made many stay-at-home wives low in esteem and shrink back.
Honestly, there is no stopping people from assuming that because you are a stay-at-home wife, you are a lazy, couch-lounging woman.
However, it all starts and ends with you.
You need to know what your decision to be a stay-at-home wife means for your family.
Does it save your family money?
Does it give your family the right balance?
If your husband is the globe-trotting type, does your availability help your kids get the love and support they need to grow into wholesome adults?
If you are a stay-at-home mom who homeschools her kids, you should also consider what benefits your sacrifices bring to your family.
You need to understand and acknowledge the value you bring to the table because you are valuable.
Be confident in this knowledge.
You are valuable, and you are a value adder!
3. Be self-aware
Being a stay-at-home wife doesn’t make you a superhero.
You are a human, and you will have good and bad days.
Self-awareness will help you take stock of how you are doing within.
It is easy to get sucked up into work every day!
In fact, for stay-at-home wives, it is more challenging because you are within the same space every day, and the line between work and everything else is thin.
This makes self-awareness of utmost importance so you can quickly recognize your triggers or when you are close to burning out.
Burnout is real.
4. Prioritize ME time
Self-care is the most important care because it takes one with a full tank to fill up others.
As a stay-at-home wife, a lot is hinged on you, and it is easy to lose yourself in the process of tending to work your business, and your family.
Don’t bench yourself because you are trying to work hard.
Prioritize self-care.
What does self-care mean to you?
For some, it is a good night of uninterrupted sleep or a solo date
For others, it is hanging out with friends and lighthearted conversations.
For some, it is a few hours at the movies, a spa date, a vacation, etc.
Whatever this means to you, ensure you speak this language to yourself daily and weekly.
Be kind to yourself.
Get out of the house and enjoy life.
Do the things you enjoy: stay hydrated, exercise, eat, and rest well.
You deserve to be loved, too; start by lavishly loving the lady you see when you look in the mirror.
5. Schedule everything
“Tick tock says the clock, what you have to do, do quick” is no phony rhyme.
Time truly flies fast, especially for stay-at-home wives,
It is easy to wake up feeling like you have the whole day only to look at your watch again and see that it’s almost nightfall.
So, schedule everything.
Time is a commodity, and you should spend it wisely.
Scheduling will help you crack the time management issue, thus making time work for you.
In fact, sleeping and waking up at the same time each day can train your body to maximum effectiveness.
Have a daily to-do list.
Everything that’s important enough to warrant your time should be on the list.
Have a resumption time and closing time for your work.
Such practice builds self-governance that produces exponential productivity.
It will even give you some work-life balance because one of the challenges of working from home is knowing when to stop.
It can easily turn a person into a chronic workaholic.
You can also take it up a notch and create a minimalist workspace for yourself within your home and dress for work, too.
6. Understand your tradeoffs and delegate
Most stay-at-home wives burn out quickly because they want to do everything themselves.
Yes, women are generally great multitaskers, but remember that you are not an octopus.
Stretch yourself, but don’t break yourself in the process.
If it is important for you to spend time with your spouse and you’ll be too tired after showing up for your remote job, doing endless chores, and cooking, then you need a trade-off.
You can order dinner for the family or eat out instead; that way, you won’t be stressed.
Stay-at-home wives also need to learn how to delegate.
The narrative that the kitchen is the woman’s office is stale; get the much-needed help.
Leverage technology, bulk cook, bulk buy, let your husband help and get a nanny to watch the kids some days.
Learn to receive help from your support systems, starting with communicating your need for help to them.
This will keep the feeling of overwhelm far away from you.
7. Find your tribe
Man is a social being, and the desire for relevant relationships and connection is in every human.
The path of a stay-at-home wife could sometimes be lonely, but finding your tribe infuses strength and gusto into you.
Since practically everything you do is within the confines of your home, you need to be intentional about this one.
There are communities online and offline with women in similar seasons as you; be open enough to reach out and build friendships.
There is this fulfillment that comes from relating with someone who really gets it… find that someone.
You’ll need them on your journey.
8. Invest in yourself
Don’t fossilize.
Learn new things, take online courses, read, and get a skill.
One of the greatest investments you can make is the investment in yourself.
Don’t shelf your dreams either; you can start prepping for them.
And who even says you can’t start living in them right now?
Whatever you do, don’t stop learning and evolving into your next upgrade.
You go girl!
9. Be present and authentic
The dynamics of every family are unique; know this and know peace.
Be comfortable in your authenticity and celebrate it.
It is easy for stay-at-home wives to work mindlessly every day, but you will miss out that way.
Life is in seasons, and if you are a stay-at-home wife in this season, embrace it and make the most of it.
Give the best of yourself to your family.
Be present each day to take in everything; no emotion is a waste.
It is only a matter of perspective.
Don’t run on autopilot and go through the motions like a robot.
Some days, being present may mean you don’t let the opportunity to build a memory for a lifetime pass because you are obsessed with work or chores.
Let your hair down and be free.
Laugh and live.
This phase is part of your life, and it is beautiful!
Take it all in.
10. Practice gratitude
Comparison is a thief of joy, so choose gratitude.
Gratitude is an intentional act that re-engineers your mood and powers your life.
It can transform a bad day into the happiest of days.
Practice gratitude every day, and you will always find more reasons to be grateful.
This will make you approach each day with excitement and expectations.
Journaling daily is one way to do this.
You will find that you are more blessed than you realized.
Exercise yourself in gratitude.
Final Thoughts
Being a stay-at-home wife is a season in your life; it doesn’t define your life’s essence.
You can thrive and live a bedazzled life as a stay-at-home wife, no matter what society says.
Remember to extend grace to yourself and stay present in this season.
I am rooting for you!