Homemaking comes with a lot of responsibilities. Some of which can be… well, overwhelming. So here are some strategies on how to reduce overwhelm as a homemaker.
If it seems that everyone else has it all figured out, yet you’re lacking. And you’ve even asked yourself the question “why do I get so easily overwhelmed?”
Believe me, you’re not alone in that feeling. Homemaking and mothering are intense sometimes! But it doesn’t have to be all the time. So I hope this post can help to ease the struggle in some way.
Prayer
It may be that you’re in a difficult season of life right now and feeling frequent moments of overwhelm.
Recognising our own weaknesses is important, as it reminds us Who we should truly rely on, Our Lord. Allah loves that we ask for His aid and He is the best of Helpers.
Increase in ibadah (worship). Pray the supererogatory prayers, make plentiful du’a (supplication), give in charity and increase good deeds.
“You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).” (Surah Fatiha 1:5)
Reduce Overstimulation
Reduce the noise, both physical and mental. Pay attention and discover what your triggers are, you’ll then be able to start learning how to manage them.
What I’m about to say will be controversial to some, but hear me out…
It’s time to set some real boundaries for yourself. If you’re truly struggling with overwhelm and it’s affecting your everyday life, then you might need to make some serious changes in terms of what’s in your control.
Set your phone aside and minimise your screen time. Get rid of the TV completely (yes, really). Stay off social media.
And lastly… stop constantly multi-tasking. Now I know, as a mother you’re pretty much multi-tasking the majority of the time (not by choice). However, what I’m referring to is the jumping between 5 different tasks at once. Rather try completing one, then moving on to the next.
Simplify
A sure way to stop feeling overwhelmed by housework is to give yourself less labour. Each item in your home takes work. When you reduce the amount of things you have, you significantly reduce the workload.
Slowly, but surely make your way through your home and eliminate the non-essentials. Even visual clutter alone can have an impact on your stress levels, so you might want to start there.
Take the Time to Learn
Most new things are a challenge initially. However, once you take the time to learn a skill and build on it, you’ll see it can eventually be done with ease.
Cooking from scratch for example, may feel like a daunting prospect if it’s not something you’re accustom to, but as you persevere it becomes second nature.
Prioritise
As I’ve mentioned in How to be a Good Homemaker “Prioritising means we are then able to concentrate on what is most important.”
So when you’re battling overwhelm rest assured, you don’t have to do all the things, focus on the important ones.
Slow Down When You Need To
We all know (I hope) that working 24/7 would be impossible; because our bodies need sleep. But we tend to forget they also need rest.
So take some time out of your day, everyday, to sit down, rest your limbs, admire nature, nourish your body and calm your mind. You cannot show up as your best self if you are burnt-out.
Having khushoo’ (tranquility and submissiveness) in your prayer, or sitting and learning some of the deen, are some definite ways to bring rest to your heart and your mind.
Don’t Do it All Alone
The homemaker (i.e. you) being assisted with the household duties, is part of a family living harmoniously together. It’s highly recommended for a husband to aid his wife if he is able.
Additionally, children should partake in certain responsibilities at home. Of course more can be expected from an older child. However, even children from age 1 can begin joining in with super simple tasks such as:
- unloading the washing machine
- putting toys away in toy baskets
- wiping up spills
- picking books up off the floor and putting them on the shelf
Disclaimer: I hope this goes without saying but it’s best I write it anyway.
You’re not expecting toddlers to do chores. Or even do said tasks to completion. You’re simply inviting them to join you with your daily tasks. For us these jobs may seem “mundane”. But for a toddler, it’s just another way of having fun and spending time with mama.
Plan Ahead
Planning ahead helps you to manage your time more efficiently. You’ll then be more productive and able to focus on your top priorities.
It Doesn’t Have to Be All or Nothing
You don’t have to do everything and especially not all at once.
Focus on learning one skill at a time, then once you’ve got the hang of that you can move on to the next. And continue this way, adding more as you go.
Remember with hardship there is ease
“For indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.
Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.” (Surah Ash-Sharh 94:5_6)
This is a glad tiding from Allah. Distress and hardship do not last forever, they will be accompanied by ease, so do not despair.
