Six Tips to Keep Moms Sane During Quarantine

COVID-19 quarantine has brought about a new “normal” for most people, and for many moms, this new way of life is drastically different than the way things used to be. The days of packing lunches, sending the kids off to school, and trying not to be late to sports practice are gone. Whether you were a stay-at-home mom before the quarantine or a working mom, many people are finding themselves spending a lot more time with their kids than before.

For some, just having them at home at all hours can be a source of stress, and trying to homeschool them on top of it can make you feel like you are losing your mind, especially if you also have a full-time job. If this is you, you’re in the same boat with so many other moms. To help give you confidence and make you feel at ease, we’ve made a list of ways you can get through this quarantine with your kids and come out sane on the other end.

#1 – Routine, routine, routine!

 You need to establish a routine both for yourself and your children. This one might seem obvious, but that doesn’t make it any less important. If you haven’t done this already and you feel like you’ve been floundering, it’s not too late to start! The most important part is that you stick with the routine and whatever practices and activities you choose to include.

This doesn’t always have to mean planning every day out to a “T”, but by including small things into your routine, you can replace chaos with regularity. A good tip for busy moms who have younger children is to spend time with the kids first and then break away to get things done. In this way, you’ve prioritized your attention on them and can let them know that you will have to take a break at a specific time, or when a timer ends.

A timer can also be useful for controlling other chaotic situations. Additionally, if your kids always tend to do something you find obnoxious or irritating (like drumming on the pots and pans every chance they get), restrict that activity for a set amount of time each day or every other day. Controlling the most chaotic aspects of your day will make it easier to build up that routine.

#2 – Get outside (if possible)

Depending on where you live, this one might not be as easy to accomplish. If you can, make sure to get some outside activity every day. Even just going on a walk can have many benefits for your mental and physical state, including building up your immune system as well as alleviating stress and anxiety.

If you have a backyard or place to play outside, your kids can use that time to tire themselves out a bit so they don’t have all that energy built up at home. With some cities and states starting to open back up, taking walks and going to parks are becoming easier to make happen. Don’t feel forced to stay indoors every day, but remember to practice safe social distancing when you do leave.

#3 – Make use of peace and quiet

Any mom knows just how much noise even one child in the house can make, and they also know what a gift quiet time can be. Some moms might feel pressured to always find some new fun activity for kids to do to keep them occupied, but there is just as much to be enjoyed from downtime. Having some designated quiet time throughout the day can give everyone a much-needed break and help refresh your focus.

The kids don’t have to be always active and participating in exciting activities, and quiet time is a great tool to help them calm down and give their mind a break from sitting in front of a screen or working on homework. At the same time, it can give you those precious hours needed to get some work done that you haven’t been able to get to.

Although it might be difficult at first, make sure to enforce this quiet time so that it also becomes part of your routine. This can be anything from spending time away from each other alone in their rooms, reading or listening to a book, to even doing a quiet hobby like drawing.

#4 – Don’t be afraid to ask for advice

This is a time of uncertainty for everyone and no one expects you to be an expert quarantine parent. The truth is, it’s a learning process in different ways for every mom out there. There are many parents that are having difficulty dealing with the foreign task of schooling their children at home and being much more involved with teaching than they’re used to.

This frustration is completely understandable because it is such a new situation for many, and in response, school teachers and homeschool moms have been posting advice and encouragement for getting through this semester. If you have school-aged kids and you feel like life has become overwhelming with this quarantine, ask some other more experienced moms about what they have seen work for their kids in the past. There is a wealth of knowledge to go around that we can all benefit from, and many are more than happy to share their wisdom with moms who are struggling during this time.

#5 – Go easy on yourself

Some days may feel like they’re perfectly organized, some may feel overwhelming and chaotic, while others look more like watching TV on the couch for most of a rainy day. Don’t let the difficult moments make you feel like a failure. Be patient with yourself and remember that you’re still learning how to navigate this new version of normal. When things feel like they’re falling apart, or you realize you haven’t done anything productive for the past week, or you just can’t seem to figure out the problem why your kid’s Zoom calls for school aren’t working, take a deep breath and give yourself some grace.

Take some time for yourself when you need it too. Break open a bottle of wine, sew together a facemask for a healthcare worker, spend some time listening to your favorite music or podcast as you do simple tasks, anything that will de-stress you. Tomorrow is a new day and this way of life isn’t permanent. And when this is all over, you might be able to look back and see how you’ve become stronger and more sure of what you are capable of.

#6 – Protect your family

It’s times like these that, while they may drive us crazy sometimes, we realize how much our families mean to us. As a mom, you want to protect and support your kids in any way possible. But what would happen if you were no longer there to provide for them? Whether you are the sole provider, share the breadwinning with a partner, or your focus is on parenting, having a plan if the worst should happen will give you peace of mind more than all the tips we talked about.

With a life insurance policy, you can be sure that your kids will be well taken care of if you were to pass. Show your family the love, support, and protection they need by getting coverage today. To get started, you can contact us or get a free quote from our online generator.