How To Work and Be a Stay at Home Mom: 8 Tips & 9 Ideas

Being a stay-at-home mom is one of the most challenging jobs there is. You’re trying to keep the house clean, cook dinner, and take care of the kids. Unfortunately, all this work is unpaid. At some point, you may want or need a job to help provide for your family and find yourself looking for ideas about how to work and be a stay at home mom.

You may also be a working mom that no longer wants to commute and wants to spend more time at home with your family.

I fit in this bucket. I used to work over 50 hours a week, commuting over 2 hours every day to an office cubicle. I hated it, especially once I had my first child. I wanted to see her more and spend time with her, but I still needed to earn money.

Fast forward 5 years later, I switched careers from a lawyer to a product manager at a tech company and haven’t looked back. I work full-time from home, and it’s been life-changing. My job is flexible and family-friendly. Most importantly, I enjoy the simple pleasures of school dropoffs/pickups, dinner together as a family, and bedtime routines.

You can also find a job that will allow you to earn extra income from home. If you’re wondering how to work and be a stay-at-home mom, we’re covering everything you need to know to find the perfect job.

Benefits of Working While Being a Stay-At-Home Mom

You probably know some of the benefits of being a stay-at-home mom. But what about working from home?

Here are some of the benefits of working while being a stay-at-home mom:

1. It can help provide financial stability for your family.
2. It can give you a much-needed break from the kids and allow you to pursue your own interests outside of motherhood.
3. Working can help you build important skills and connections that can benefit you professionally and personally.
4. It can give you a sense of accomplishment and pride (although being a stay-at-home mom is an accomplishment in and of itself!)

For all these reasons, working at home can be rewarding and worthwhile.

Cons of Working While Being a Stay-At-Home Mom

Of course, there are also some drawbacks to working while being a stay-at-home mom:

1. Finding the time to balance work, household chores, household responsibilities, and self-care can be challenging.
2. Additionally, you may feel guilty about spending time away from your kids or worry that you’re not doing enough for them.
3. You may also feel like you’re not doing enough at work or struggle to find time to complete your tasks as you may find more distractions at home.

It’s essential to take the time to consider the pros and cons of working from home and decide if it’s the right choice for you and your family.

What Makes a Good Job for a Stay-At-Home Mom?

Once you’ve decided that you’re ready to find a job, you should consider what type of job would best suit you and your lifestyle.

There are a few different types of jobs that work well for stay-at-home moms:

• Remote jobs. If you have the option of remote work, take advantage of it! This will allow you to work from home and eliminate your commute, giving you more time to focus on your family. This could include writing, editing, virtual assisting, or customer service. These jobs often have more flexible hours, which is perfect for moms who need to be available for their kids. I’m a perfect example of how working remotely can be a lifesaver for many moms.
• Flexible hours. The second type of job has regular hours but is relatively flexible. This could be part-time work in a retail setting where you can set your own hours or working as a substitute teacher. Flexible jobs often have a regular income, which can be helpful for families who need stability.
• Low stress. It’s also essential to find a low-stress job, or at least not high-stress. This is important for moms with a lot on their plate who don’t need the added stress of a high-pressure job. A low-stress job could be working in a library, being a nanny, or working as a pet sitter.
• Family-friendly. The final type of job to consider is one that is family-friendly. This means that the company you work for has policies that make it easier for parents to balance work and family life. This could be working for a business that offers maternity leave, flexible hours, or on-site daycare.

The key is to find a job that works within your lifestyle. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box and consider jobs that meet these criteria but that you may not have considered before.

How To Find Time To Work While Being a Stay at Home Mom

Once you’ve decided what your ideal job looks like, you should think about when you’ll have time to work during the week.

The first thing you’ll need to do is figure out how to carve out time in your already busy schedule to work. To do that, you will need to manage your time wisely and figure out how much free time you have so you can block time for work.

I know it might seem impossible, but here are some tips to help you manage your time and keep your sanity intact:

1. Make a Schedule and Stick To It.

Creating a schedule and sticking with it is one of the best ways to stay on top of your to-do list. This will help you:

• know exactly what needs to be done and when,
• avoid feeling overwhelmed,
• and help you make time for everything.

While it’s true that our lives as moms can be unpredictable, you can do a “time inventory” to help you create a realistic schedule. Pick a few days over the next week to track what you’re spending your time on, and write down how long each task takes.

Review your findings and become aware of the “surprises” that come up during the day or week. You’ll start to see patterns repeat themselves and can devise a plan to be ready if and when those surprises pop up again.

For example, if one of your children stays home from school sick each week (as so happens to me), plan to get important work done well in advance of deadlines, so you’re not scrambling with a sick kid at home.

2. Wake Up Early.

Try to get up a little earlier than usual to take some time to yourself before the day’s craziness begins. I aim to get up at least one full hour before my kids do. This quiet time allows me to get some work done, relax, and gather my thoughts.

If you haven’t already, set up your ideal morning routine to ensure that you get a strong and productive start to your day.

3. Set Clear Boundaries.

As moms, we tend to say yes to everything. We’re constantly giving our time to others, which is honorable but is the #1 reason for overwhelm.

It’s essential to protect your time and set boundaries.

What this might look like for you:

• Politely saying no to things you don’t want to do.
• Letting your family know not to interrupt you while working except for emergencies.
• Turning off your phone while doing focused work.

This will help you: avoid distractions, stay focused, and get more done in less time.

4. Declutter and Organize Your Home.

You may wonder what decluttering has to do with making time to work. Well, having a place for everything and keeping everything in its place can make a world of difference when trying to manage your time. The more you declutter and organize your home, the less time you need to dedicate to cleaning and tidying each day.

Spend some time decluttering your house and getting rid of anything you don’t need. This will free up some time and help you feel less stressed.

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help (Especially for Childcare!).

Trying to do everything yourself is a recipe for disaster. Learn to delegate tasks and let others help you out.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to ask for help from your friends or family. Your support system will be more than happy to lend a hand, making your life much easier.

This includes child care if you have young children. There’s no shame in getting childcare when you need it. It’s a good idea to get a babysitter or put your kids in daycare, even if it’s just for a few hours a week.

6. Set up a Home Office

Having a dedicated space for your work is crucial if you're working from home. This will help you stay focused and avoid getting distracted by everything that’s going on in your house.

Having a home office makes it easier to mentally separate your work life from your home life, which is vital for maintaining a healthy balance.

7. Take a Break When You Need It.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed, don’t be afraid to take a break. Step away from everything for a few minutes and clear your head. This will help you come back refreshed and ready to tackle whatever needs to be done.

8. Set Aside “Me” Time.

It’s important to remember that you need to take care of yourself, too. Make sure to set aside some time each day to do something you enjoy, whether it’s reading, taking a bath, or going for a walk. This will help you relax, recharge, and be your best for your family.

By following these tips, you’ll be able to find a balance between your responsibilities as a stay-at-home mom, working, and taking care of yourself. Remember that taking things one day at a time is essential, and remain flexible even when things don’t go as planned. You can find the perfect balance for you and your family with a little effort.

9 Best Jobs for Stay-At-Home Moms

Here are some of the best stay-at-home mom jobs that are flexible and will allow you to continue putting your family first:

1. Freelance Writer

If you have a knack for writing, you can use your skills to earn money by writing articles or blog posts for clients.

Pros: This is a great flexible job for stay-at-home moms because it allows you autonomy and can be done on your own schedule. Plus, it’s a great way to earn extra money to help with family finances.

Cons: The downside to freelance writing is that it can be unpredictable. You may only sometimes have a steady stream of work and need to hustle to find potential clients.

2. Virtual Assistant

A virtual assistant provides administrative support to clients, often remotely.

A virtual assistant job may be perfect if you’re good at staying organized and keeping track of details.

You may be responsible for scheduling appointments, managing emails, handling customer inquiries, and other tasks.

Pros: The virtual assistant job is a fast-growing field that offers you a lot of freedom: you can choose your own clients, set your own rates, and work from home.

Cons: Virtual assistant jobs don’t usually offer fringe benefits like health insurance, paid vacations, or sick time and might consist of monotonous, mundane work. This job might not be for you if you’re looking for a more exciting career.

3. Social Media Manager

If you’re good at promoting content and engaging with people online, you might want to consider becoming a social media manager.

You’ll be responsible for curating, creating, and managing social media accounts for businesses or organizations.

Pros: Social media management can be very creative work and teach you valuable skills such as story-telling, developing an online presence, and branding. Plus, you can get paid for hanging out on social media sites you already love, like Instagram and Tik Tok.

Cons: Representing a big brand with millions of followers can be a lot of pressure. Mistakes can be very public, making this a higher-stress job depending on the client.

4. Customer Service Representative

If you have experience in customer service, you can find many customer service representatives jobs that will allow you to work from home. This role typically requires you to handle customer inquiries and complaints.

Pros: It’s an easy job to work at home, and there are plenty of entry-level customer service representative jobs. This job works well for problem-solvers and extroverts who love talking to people.

Cons: This role can also be high-stress, as you might have to deal with many angry customers. You also must maintain a friendly demeanor at all times, despite how you’re feeling at the moment.

5. Data Entry Specialist

If you’re good at typing, you can use your skills to work as a data entry specialist. You’ll help businesses and organizations enter data into computer systems and databases.

Pros: Data entry is an excellent job for stay-at-home moms because it’s relatively easy to do, low-stress, and doesn’t require much experience. Plenty of online courses are available to teach you the basic skills you need for a data entry job.

Cons: Data entry can be repetitive and monotonous, so it might not be the most stimulating work.

6. Graphic Designer

If you have experience with graphic design, there are plenty of remote graphic designer jobs.

You’ll create visual images for businesses or organizations as a graphic designer.

Pros: The best thing about being a graphic designer is that it allows you to show off your creativity, and you can work as a self-employed contractor or in a part-time or full-time job.

Cons: It can become high-stress if you have to deal with demanding clients and work with tight deadlines.

7. Event Planner

If you’re good at organizing and managing details, you might love working as an event planner.

Your primary responsibilities consist of planning and coordinating events.

Pros: You get to be creative and work with many different people, and it can be rewarding to see your hard work come to life.

Cons: If you don’t like working with many people or dealing with last-minute changes, this job might not be for you. Also, although there are a lot of remote event planning jobs, you may still be required to work on-site on event days.

8. Bookkeeper

If you’re good with numbers, becoming a bookkeeper may be a natural option. You’ll be responsible for keeping track of a company’s financial transactions.

Pros: It’s a critical job that businesses can’t do without, which means there are a lot of job opportunities. It can also offer a lot of stability and benefits.

Cons: It can be repetitive and detail-oriented work, so if you are looking for challenging and stimulating work, a bookkeeper job may not be a good fit.

9. Recruiter

If you’re good at networking and enjoy helping people find jobs, a recruiter job is an excellent option for you. A recruiter’s responsibilities include sourcing and screening candidates for open positions.

Pros: You can work from anywhere, and many remote recruiter roles are available in the market. It’s an excellent job for people who are good at networking and enjoy helping others.

Cons: It can be high pressure if you’re working with tight deadlines to fill positions. It can also be challenging to keep up with the latest recruiting trends and technologies.

Concluding Thoughts for How To Work and Be a Stay at Home Mom

Being a stay-at-home mom doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your career. There are plenty of great jobs for stay-at-home moms to allow you to continue working and contributing to the family finances. Consider one of the options on this list and follow the time management tips above to ensure an easy transition as a work from home mom.

Good luck with your job hunt. You’ll find the perfect job in no time!