There is such a stereotype that stay-at-home (SAHM) and work-at-home-moms (WAHM) just lay around eating bon-bons and watching Days of Our Lives (is that even on anymore?). It is so far from the truth! I wanted to give you a glimpse of my life and my schedule as a WAHM. I offer several time-saving, money-saving, stress-saving tips throughout!
My day always starts the night before. Does anyone else do this, too? The night before, I prep as much as I can for my next day. I run the dishwasher, tidy up, run a load of laundry (wash and dry), lay out clothes for my kids, pack lunches (my kids eat at school a lot, so I don’t have to pack lunches very often), meal prep the next day’s dinner, etc.
Wake-Up
I tend to rise around 6 a.m. Every wake-up is different because I try to wake naturally, and that is anytime between 6 and 7. I do have my phone set to ring at 7:03 a.m. (just in case).
Upon waking, I read two devotions and do a 5 minute guided meditation using an app called Simple Habit.
After that, I start on my chores. I make my bed, quickly wipe the sinks and toilets, clean counter tops, fix up the girls’ beds (they are 6 & 8 and do make their beds themselves, but sometimes the beds need straightened a bit), and finally, I end up in the kitchen. Once there, I fold the load of laundry that is waiting in the dryer for me. I also put away all the dishes that are now clean in the dishwasher.
It’s now 7:10 a.m. and it’s time to make the girls’ breakfast. They usually like toast, cereal, or oatmeal with frozen yogurt or a homemade smoothie popsicle, and sliced fresh fruit. I try to buy organic foods as much as possible.
Between 7:15 and 7:35 a.m. I make a cup of coffee, put away the laundry, straighten the mud room, get out book bags and jackets, and catch up on emails and/or messages. The girls enjoy a few minutes of television while they eat.
Get Ready for School
At 7:35 I send the girls down the hall (1 at a time, because why do kids have to incessantly fight with one another?!) to get ready for their day. They use the bathroom, brush teeth, and get dressed while I clean up their breakfast dishes. They bring their dirty laundry out with them. I help them wipe their faces and then I do their hair.
By 7:55 a.m. we are getting coats and shoes on. One of us feeds and waters the dogs, then the girls catch the bus for school. If the garbage needs burnt, compost needs dumped, or any outside chores need done- this is when I do them.
It’s amazing how much a person can accomplish in less than two hours!
Between 8:15 and 9 a.m. I make my phone calls for the day: check in with the hubs, and alternate calling my parents. While on the phone, I multitask. One day per week, I water my 40+ houseplants. Two other days per week, I pluck my eyebrows (yep, keepin’ it real).
By 9, I am gearing up to get my workout done. I love lifting weights and doing yoga. I have a weight machine in the basement and I use the app called Daily Yoga. This beats paying for a pricey gym membership ANDDDD I live 30 minutes from a gym, so I’d be spending more time driving than exercising. It just isn’t justifiable for me.
After exercising, I dry brush my skin, shower, brush and floss my teeth, and get dressed for the day. When I’m home, I rarely wear deodorant, perfume, or make-up. When I go out, I typically wear homemade deodorant, skip the perfume, and use Beautycounter or Burt’s Bees make-up. Having a simple personal care routine saves me a lot of money and time, plus I feel healthier not slathering myself in nasty chemicals that are found in most store bought deodorants, perfumes, and/or make-up products.
Intermittent Fasting
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I haven’t eaten anything yet. I do intermittent fasting. I don’t eat from typically 6 or 7 p.m. until about 10 or 11 a.m. I do not like to eat until I am hungry. And I do not get hungry right away in the morning. I never have! You can ask my mom… even in high school, I was never a big morning eater. Lunch and supper are a different story, though! (Please note that intermittent fasting isn’t for everyone, but it works for me.)
If I’m hungry, after getting dressed, I eat leftovers usually (another great money saver). If I’m not hungry, I start working. Most days, I grade English exams online part-time and I write these blog posts for all y’all! Other days, I may leave the homestead to run errands or go hang out with my husband. My “work” time is normally between 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Evening Routine
My “evenings” start around 4 p.m. One of us gets the mail, goes through it, and someone feeds the dogs again. I begin prepping supper and getting ready for the next day by checking lunch menus (making lunches, if necessary), filling and setting the coffee pot, etc.
The girls arrive home shortly after 4. We go through book bags and figure out what needs done for homework. My eldest takes her homework to her room and works on it, while I quickly go over homework with my youngest.
By 4:30 I am actively cooking dinner while my daughters set the table and help me cook. We always eat at 5. After dinner, the four of us work as a team to clean up the kitchen after we are done eating. If there is time after dinner, we will play a board game as a family. Baths and/or showers happen at 6 p.m.
6:30: time for a snack and a 20-30 minute show for each daughter. At 7:30 the girls and I read a book. Then, it is time to brush teeth and go to bed. They are usually tucked in by 8 p.m. and sound asleep by 8:30. They tend to read/look at books and/or play their LeapPad’s for a little while.
From 8:30 p.m. until I go to bed, I prep for the next day, enjoy some television, read a chapter or two in my monthly book, and catch up on some work (if I have the energy).
That’s my average day in a nut shell.
I will say that there are oddball things that come up that take me away from the homestead, shifting the course of my day. Some days I have to fit in paying the bills and balancing books, or doing the business bookwork, or taking my dad to the doctor. But, on average, this is how my weekdays go.
Weekends are a different story. I will write about that another day. 🙂
I will also add that my daily schedule changes slightly from about May 15th through October 15th. I get up earlier and work in the large garden we plant. I also try to get my computer work done before 1 p.m. so we can spend the afternoons lounging in a shady spot under a tree or swimming in our pool.
I really believe that having this schedule and structure in our lives helps all four of us live a less stressful, less chaotic lifestyle because it provides amazing structure and stability.
Try adapting structure and stability in your life.
Here’s another helpful tip: use a daily planner (yeah, like your teachers used to use). I use one and schedule my days two weeks at a time. Much of it is just copying the same activities from one day to another (because so much of our lives is on repeat). Do it in pencil to allow for scheduling changes. I feel like my planner is my lifeline to living a stress-free life!
Also remember, tomorrow is another day. If you didn’t get something done today, circle it and add it to tomorrow’s agenda. Star it so you know that it is urgent. It isn’t a big deal to move things around. That’s life, right! Expect the unexpected!
Did you enjoy this post? Please pin this image ↓
Happy Homesteading! (:
P.S. have any thoughts or questions? Tell me all the things in the comments! Also, you can contact us if you’d love to collab!
