Let’s discuss that mother funk. Being a mother can be challenging. If you don’t spend your days changing dirty diapers, convincing your son or daughter not to climb into the dishwasher, and plucking mashed banana from your own hair, then you will certainly never feel elation as a stay-at-home mother or employee. You could be balancing all of these tasks or have a career or business.
However, when the mood begins to wane from “Kids are crazy, but I am having so much fun” to “Why did I do that?” “When is it over?”, it can be difficult to get out of that mom trap.
So, let’s discuss what a mother funk is and how to create a way out of it so you can start feeling like your fabulous self again!
What is a mom funk?
If circumstances are such that your feelings could lead you to tears at any moment, and if you can’t seem to get yourself out of a low point, then this probably sounds like a typical mother funk. Days can each feel much the same as the next – lengthy, difficult, and not very rewarding.
The short fuse and frequent feeling overwhelmed while unloading the dishwasher, washing dishes, and picking up children are all side effects of mommy burnout.
Take a good look at yourself, and if you feel distant from your family and friends and spend most of your time on your phone on the couch instead of interacting with them, then you should do something positive.
Why a mom funk can cause problems
Many mothers can describe an episode of their parenting lives when they hit a mother funk. Some of them may even be very funny. The mom funk can be quite annoying, and the longer it lasts, the more damage it can do to your personal life.
Your relationship with your kids
If you feel fine one minute but the next you’re yelling at your children in a rage, this can affect their self-esteem. After all, screaming mom can be frightening!
Your relationship with your partner
Ideally, your partner will be pitching in and assisting with all the things that drove you into your parent funk. But if they’re on the receiving end of continual tears, tantrums, and arguments, this is the easiest way to the relationship funk.
Less motivation
A mother funk can make you lazy and lacking in energy. If you’re not interested in doing anything or doing work, you won’t be able to get out of bed in the morning. A mother funk can also prevent you from going out with friends.
How to get out of a mom funk
So, now that you are aware of the downsides of mom funk, it is clearly not something you want in your family. Also, it is not good for you or your family. But the good news is that there are 13 simple things you can do to get back on track and bring back you to a calm and content mother.
1. Get fresh air every day
Leaving the house can be a challenge if you find yourself in a funk as a mom, but the connection with nature is well worth all the work. Fresh air is beneficial for your physical health.
Not only does the increased oxygen help improve your blood pressure, heart rate, and digestive system, but it also helps strengthen your immune system and clear out your lungs.
This gives you added energy, so you are ready to tackle the many challenges of parenthood with ease. But that’s not the only fantastic benefit!
Going outside is invigorating. When you exercise, higher amounts of serotonin are released into your bloodstream, thereby making you happier.
2. Start exercising regularly
Exercise is an excellent remedy for anyone who has a low mood. High-intensity exercise such as running produces the body’s natural feel-good chemicals, known as endorphins.
This also aids nerve cell growth and stimulates the creation of new brain connections, which prompts the hippocampus to grow in size. This increases emotional stability.
A new workout regimen can be challenging if you are feeling down and tired after only a short night of sleep.
Try starting with a very easy walk or jog and work with this to build into a normal routine. You can start increasing your duration as you go along.
3. Start a gratitude journal
Are you burdened by the negatives in your life? Writing in a gratitude journal could help free you from a negativity bias and start focusing on the things that bring you joy.
Begin with a blank notebook or journal and make a list of the little things you love. These could be as small as the smile on your child’s face, the song you like to listen to on the radio, or the smell of macaroni and cheese for dinner.
By chronicling happy events, you will become more mindful of the good in your life and begin rewire your brain away from negativity. Start your 30 Days of Gratitude Challenge with today’s announcement!
4. Practice self-care
We need some alone time, but if your mother time has descended into mom funk, you may not even have enough motivation to get off the sofa.
It’s incredibly easy to tell yourself you don’t have time to care for yourself, or that it is self-involved. But in reality, self-care isn’t selfish. It’s an important step to recharge your batteries and fortify your soul in order to return home.
Self-care does not need to be any extreme activity like going it alone on vacation.
Why not try our 30-Day Self Love Challenge? You can also treat yourself to a busy mom gift!
5. Accept help
It takes a community to bring a family together. If there are too many childcare responsibilities on your plate, ask your nearest and dearest to help out.
Have a frank discussion with your spouse about where and when you need assistance. If you have relatives or neighbors nearby, then accept their offer to babysit if they have agreed to it.
You can turn to your social circle and invite someone to have a playdate to give you some relief. You can return the favor at a later time.
6. Be aware of your partners’ needs
Strong communication is important when a couple has children together. Take the time to listen to each other and understand each other’s emotions. It may be tempting to play the “blame game”, but this will likely make you appear to be the accuser.
It may be tempting to say that only you are messed up, but there is a good chance that there is also a dad funk at home. Try to be understanding and be supportive of each other.
7. Take a break from social media
Everything other people wear is spotless, they live in a beautiful home, and they’re getting delicious organic food. This can cause a mother funk spiral.
8. Make new friends
Going through a maternal funk can be unpleasant, but it doesn’t have to become that way. There will be hundreds or thousands of other mothers in your town, neighborhood, or city who have been through similar situations. Find some of them out!
If you already have mom friends, try reaching out to them and setting a date for the playground. If you don’t have any mom friends, then there are many women eager to chat at baby groups or hang out at local playgrounds.
Be proactive about exchange rates, and be sure to mention that you are having difficulty. You will be profoundly moved by how closely other mothers can relate to your experience.
9. Try to stay organized
Do you have a lot of toys, books, and old clothes in your house? Children often bring a lot of stuff home, and your town can quickly become overwhelmed with the litter. Worse, physical clutter and disorganization can also be related to anxiety, and this can contribute to your mom’s funk.
If you’re having trouble keeping your home clean, you might want to follow Marie Kondo’s KonMari method of organizing. Instead of dividing items into individual rooms, you arrange them by category and keep only the essentials and belongings that spark joy in you. You will be left with a clean and organized house that you will enjoy living in.
Be sure to take a look at our list of mom hacks to save time!
10. Keep on top of your finances
The only thing worse than mom funk is when you have a lot of financial issues on top of a bad mood. Unfortunately, if you’re in a bad mood, you could be tempted to overspend when you can’t think straight.
Budget management is key to living within your means and reaching your savings goals. Try some budget-friendly living tips to prioritize your finances, and get back on track with your budget.
There are some important steps.
11. Start a side gig
If you’re unemployed and recently home with the kids, a side gig suited for family life might help you get on your feet again. Many stay-at-home-moms are working as an independent contractor, handcrafting items for sale, or selling used goods on eBay.
Not only will a side gig help you develop a hobby and improve your self-worth, but it can also earn you some extra income.
If you have a child or toddler and childcare is not available, you can begin your side gig slowly. These opportunities might be available at naptimes or in the evening. It will become easier to move about your home as you grow older and make more money.
12. Reduce your screen time
Screentime is a common source of strife in families. However, it’s not always just the children who are addicted to their devices. Not only are screens antisocial, but they’re also bad for your eyes and your mental health when you use them too much.
This is largely due to the blue light emitted from them, which may also make sleeping problems worse. If you want to scroll through your Twitter feed instead of talking to your family at dinnertime, then you should try to snap out of your parent funk and inject a little positivity into the room.
Set some boundaries about when your family can use the TV and for how lengthy, and strictly follow them. You might choose to screen together in a friendly manner. Such activities help overcome isolation and loneliness and are great ways to pass time. As an example, watching movies or visiting with family using Facebook Portals can help people overcome isolation and loneliness.
13. Play with your children more
Sometimes giving yourself a little nostalgia can help to lift your mood. Your family will be delighted to watch you play like a child again, and even pretend to be a monster or a jungle cat.
Doing something silly and laughing out loud is one of the best ways to relieve stress. A hearty chuckle can drastically reduce stress hormones such as cortisol and increase feel-good endorphins.
Say goodbye to your mom funk!
The first step is to recognize that you are having a hard time. Being a mother is tiring, so it is not bad for you to be down in the dumps on occasion.
Yet remember that the days pass by quickly, but the years are fleeting as a mother. So make the most of your time with your children as they grow.
If you have attempted the directions above and your symptoms are more severe than a mom funk, you may be experiencing depression. In this case, you should speak to a physician about treatment options. Be sure to contact us if you need help.
