This post is all about 10 ways to get your joy back as a mom.
Do you love motherhood and everything about it, but along the way you feel that you lost yourself and your feeling of joy as a mom? If this is you, and you are desperate to find yourself again and get back your joy, this is for you. You are definitely not alone in feeling this way because I also have felt this which was the inspiration behind me writing this blog post. You CAN be a happy, joy filled mom and leave the days of you feeling angry and depressed in the past. Here are 10 ways -that actually work- to get your joy back as a mom.
10 Ways (That Actually Work) To Get Your Joy Back As A Mom
1. Self-Care
Ok, I know this is hard as a mom but it is something that is absolutely necessary for you. If you are like me (and most moms out there) then you probably put yourself on the backburner and take care of everyone else’s needs before your own. As a mom it is definitely our jobs to make sure our kids needs are met before our own, but then we tend to forget about our own needs. Here are a few examples of self care us moms can do to help us feel alive again and get our joy back in motherhood:
Get enough sleep: This is crucial for us moms and our mental health.
Develop a skincare routine and do it every morning: This might seem silly, but having a skincare routine will actually make you feel like a new person, ha! Try it and you will see what I mean.
Take breaks when you need them (and are able to) even if it’s just going for a drive: Taking a drive alone can really help us to reset our minds and come back home to a clear mindset.
Exercise as often as you can: I know I know, this is WAY easier said than done but if you make this a habit even if it’s just a couple days a week, you can do it!!
Spend time doing things you enjoy: Spending time doing things you love doing can really help you feel more like yourself and bring you joy. Remember that hobby you used to love doing? Start doing it again!
2. Find Something Good About Every Day
This might seem hard to do if you’re having a bad day or it feels like none of your days are good. But really, there is always something you can find good about your day. When we are in a negative mindset, it can be so easy to be negative and think that nothing is going right. If you spend just a little bit of time thinking about something good, you will always find something even if it’s something small. If you find yourself unable to think of something good about your day, maybe you should try journaling and writing down your entire day to help find something good. Focusing on the good rather than the bad is a sure way to help you get back your joy!
3. Pursue a Passion You Have or Once Had
This is something I really believe can help us as moms to get back our joy and feel like ourselves again. For me, starting this blog was a passion that I pursued, and I will say it has made me feel alive again. That might sound really silly but sometimes us moms (especially if you stay at home) can feel so isolated and feel a little bit of worthlessness not making an income to contribute to our family-or atleast that was the case for me-with nothing to occupy our minds other than being a mom. Finding a hobby that you could perhaps turn into a side gig and make a small income can help us feel so much better!
4. Get Outside With Your Kids As Much As Possible
Of course this is if the weather allows, but even on days that are a little bit on the chilly side, bundle your kiddos up and head outside for some fresh air and vitamin D. Even if it is only for 30 minutes a day, getting outside can do WONDERS for us as moms trying to get back our joy. Taking your kids to a park, going on a walk, or even just sitting outside on your patio can make our mindsets shift out of negativity. Make it a habit to get outside for at least 30 minutes a day every day (weather permitting) and see how much joy just doing that can bring you!
5. Wake Up Before Your Kids And Plan Your Day
Ok so this one I am even still working on, ha. But the days I have done it I can tell a MAJOR difference in my mood throughout the day. So, I encourage you to get a cup of whatever your favorite drink is in the mornings, grab a journal (and a planner if that’s your thing), and sit down in the stillness before the chaos of the day. Write in your journal the type of mom you want to be for the day, what your goals for the day are – even if they are small, write down and remind yourself of affirmations that lift you up and bring you joy.
If you are a planner like me, grab your planner and plan all the things you need to get done within that day. Need to run to the grocery store? Make your grocery list. Need to tackle chores? Starting with your most important one, write down your chores so that you can check them off once completed.
6. Meal Plan For The Entire Week Ahead
This might seem like a super silly tip in helping to reclaim our joy as moms, but if you are a mom, you KNOW how stressful it can be when 4:00 rolls around and you have no idea what to make for dinner. I don’t know about you, but the stress of not knowing what to make for dinner every night is enough to put me in a bad mood. I encourage you to sit down on Sunday night of every week and plan your meals for the week. Pinterest is a great way to find some easy, cheap, and healthy meals.
Once you have your meals planned for the week, make your grocery list for Monday morning and you will be thanking yourself when Monday evening comes around! If you don’t have the time to run to the grocery store, put in a grocery pick up order Sunday night that will be ready Monday morning after you drop the kids off to school. It’s a win-win!
7. Keep Your Home Free From Clutter
You might not realize it, but the conditions of our living space can absolutely affect our joy. Having a cluttered space or home can make us feel more stressed out, heavy minded, scattered brain, and just feel icky. If you have a cluttered home and feel like you are missing joy in your life, try cleaning the clutter one spot at a time until it is clean and tidy. Having a clean, well-organized home and space will make you feel like a new person when on the journey to reclaiming your joy as a mom. Do it and you will see what I mean! If you need some inspo or help with decluttering your home, check out my blog post on my other blog 11 Best Tips to Keeping Your Home Tidy and Organized – By Hannah Ruth.
8. Spend Time Reading Your Bible and Praying Frequently
Out of all 10 ways to get your joy back as a mom, this is definitely the most effective one, because ultimately the place where our joy comes from is our Lord and Savior. In no way am I perfect at reading my bible and praying, because trust me- I am a work in progress. But I will say with honesty that the days where I start off by getting into the word and praying over me and my family and asking the Lord to give me joy, are days where I feel joy the most. He is the one where our joy comes from, ultimately.
9. Eat A Well-Balanced Diet
What we are feeding our bodies really plays a part in how we feel. If we are constantly eating junk-we will feel like junk. If you really work at prioritizing your diet and eating healthy, whole foods and less processed junk food, I can promise you it will make such a difference in how you feel. I’m not saying to completely cut out fast or junk food because sometimes it’s ok! But in moderation. Focus on what you eat and what you are feeding your family (meal planning comes in handy here) and choose healthier options where you can.
10. Form Connections With Other Moms
Friends really do help in bringing joy and rejuvenating our minds-but only if you have the RIGHT friends. I am really picky on who I choose to come into my circle and who I actually call my friend. If you are associated with and are friends with others who have negative mentalities, are always complaining about their husbands or kids, you will also fall into their hole and become like that. Don’t be afraid to say no to these type of people (unless they are willing to change) because these types of friends will NOT help us on the path to reclaiming our joy as moms. Find one or more really good, sincere, trustworthy friends who choose to lift you up and encourage you on a bad day, rather than join with you in negative thinking.
You got this, Momma!
These 10 ways I have listed are the best ways to get back your joy as a mom. I know some (or all) of these will take time to form a habit but with work you CAN do it, because YOU are worth it!! And in case you are reading this and do plan on trying your best to incorporate these ways in getting your joy back, just remember that YOU are enough for your child(ren) and God made you their Momma for such a good reason. Now go get your joy back, Momma!
