As a stay-at-home mom, you have a unique workplace – your home – and the job of being a mom is one that runs 24/7. While there are certainly blessings that come with it, for many moms that stay home with the kids, they run themselves ragged. Here’s how you can get through it without losing your sparkle.

Plan ahead the night before

As soon as your little ones are tucked into bed, take 10 to 15 minutes to plan the next day. Maybe you have certain errands to run or places to be, so get that diaper bag ready and do breakfast prep. It will leave you less frazzled in the morning, especially if you have a baby in the house.

Build your village

It really does take a village when it comes to raising kids. If you don’t have any friends or family nearby, it’s time to start building your own village with other moms. Take your kids to the park and those mom groups and don’t be shy about giving out your number. It can be a great relief in having another mom around so you won’t feel outnumbered.

Don’t get so hung up on cleaning

Ok, so that poop explosion needs immediate attention. But those dishes? Just leave them for now. It’s better to have a little mess and maintain your sanity than to have silverware that shines.

Go places

Being cooped up in the house every day with the kids isn’t helpful for the children, or for you too. That doesn’t mean you need to go everywhere every single day, but even a simple trip to the library, the park, or a walk around the neighborhood with the kiddos can help. There are often plenty of free things to do too, so if your budget is tight, look to those places that can give you something to do without you needing to spend a dime.

Take care of your needs

Self-care is something that stay-at-home moms tend to neglect the most. You’re still a person and a very important one at that. If you don’t meet your own needs, it will be impossible to meet those of your children. Take that bubble bath with a sheet mask on when your husband gets home, drop the kids off with Grandma and Grandpa so you can meet a friend without the kids for once, and make time for your own health in the way of exercise and proper nutrition. Meeting your needs will make you an even better mom.

Learn to live in the moment

As stressful as it can be to stay at home with the kids, they won’t be little forever. When you change your perspective, you’ll remember to enjoy this precious time. It will all go by so quickly and before you know it, you’ll be sending them off to school. So, join in with those dolls or trucks, play a video game, chase your kids around, and live in that moment. One day you’ll look back and realize it was the last time you got to do those things before they grew out of it.