To ask if you're a SAHP and have nothing to leave the house for...

[NomsQualityStreets]

how do you stop yourself from falling into the "pit of lazy?"

Just that really, I'm a SAHM to 2 under 3s and on the days the eldest is not at nursery and we don't need to go anywhere I really struggle to get myself motivated and even dressed in the morning and it then seems to roll over into the whole day where I do the bare minimum.

How do I sort myself out?

I guess you should aim to do some physical exercise everyday, for you and your children. A walk to the park? The local shop? A bus ride? Don't the children get bored at home all day?
It's always good to have fresh air too.

Plan it in advance then stick to it. You can tell them if you really want to make yourself do it, or risk their disappointment. I find it much easier to go out anyway. Less mess and kids are happier/easier when they’re distracted. But then I have a 4yo who needs ALL the attention.

I gave 2 under 2s and intend to busy myself with toddler/baby groups, arrange play dates or meet up with friends and family or go for long walks. We go out every day most weeks (dependent on weather) just so me and the kids don’t get bored of endless CBeebies! I also put my work out gear on first thing in the morning and do half an hours exercise while the toddler is eating breakfast in the high chair and baby is napping - this means I have no choice but to get dressed!

I was definitely in a place where I wouldn’t even get dressed until half way through the day at one point because I fell into the lazy trap and felt there was no point but I snapped myself out of it. The turning point for me was getting a fit bit and challenging myself to do a certain number of steps a day. This meant having to get up and do things even if only housework and playing quite active games with the kids.

Take them out? Must be boring for them aswell.

Invite people over. It’ll shame you into action. My mil pops in most days it’s the only reason my house is always clean.

I do think you need to try to get out a bit and get some routine just for your own sanity though.

I'm a SAHM and my kids both start to misbehave if they stay in the house for too long and being stuck in for a full day is my worst nightmare. Even with the snow at its worst, I still made sure I went out each day as the alternative was too horrendous to contemplate. If your kids are more home bodies then there's nothing wrong with staying in. If it feels like cabin fever is setting in I always find playgroups and playdates good, relatively low stress ways of getting out the house.

Also if you do want to get out more, make sure everyone is dressed early in the day and that change bags etc are all ready to go as part of your daily routine. That way getting out and about seems so much less of a mission as the bulk of the work has already been done and if it's part or your routine you just do it without thinking rather than needing specific motivation if you know what I mean. As we get up before the crack of dawn, my kids are always dressed and have eaten breakfast by 8am which means we have the full day to do stuff in.

I have 3 under 3. I always get up shower & get dressed before dh leaves in the morning then I eat my breakfast in peace before the older dc wake at 8am

Make a plan for the following day the night before and stick to it......

Take them out? I always think it’s good for the dc to get out I’m the fresh air as much as possible, bloody boring even for little ones being inside for too long. Even a little walk to the shop or round the park.

Invite a friend over with dc for a play day?

Look up local baby groups? I take mine to 2 a week at the nearest library

Swimming? Me and mil take mine swimming once a week

Do activities at home? Painting, making bread, all play toys together

I've taught mine they're not having breakfast unless they're dressed because it stopped the tantrums about getting dressed. So now I have to get dressed first thing or 2yo tells me off for eating breakfast when I'm not dressed.

Agree with planning ahead. My DS1 goes to preschool 3am's a week (DS2 naps), and for the pm we stay home and play/bake/craft. For the other 2 weekdays I have things planned in advance (eg have a play date, go shopping, go to the park). It's easy to become unmotivated. Have a look at your local children's centre timetables, and plan ahead for any activities that they have on offer. It definitely helps to have a support network too, being a SAHM, with other parents. I have 1 great mum friend, and our once a week play date is a sanity saver for both us and the kids!

I’ve got into a housework routine. Living room done during morning nap. Kitchen done while they’re eating their lunch, other jobs during afternoon nap. And unless the weather’s bad try and walk at least around the block. Routine is really key for me because otherwise I wouldn’t do it. If I have it in a rhythm I work through it. Bigger ones quite like pottering. And now the weather is getting better little jobs in the garden like potting up bulbs can be fun. Or you can get them to be peg monitor while you hang out washing.

To be honest, if you’re all alright with it - just enjoy it! We’re up and dressed and breakfasted and out of the house nearly everyday for the school run and it’s tedious in the extreme.

If they're happy there is nothing wrong with not going out every day. Unless staying in is just tv.

You need some sort of routine, so that you're not having to consciously decide every day. So it's breakfast, walk to the shops in the morning, then lunch and the park in the afternoon. Go to the library for story time once a week. Go to a toddler group once a week.

It's really boring for kids to be in the house all day. It's okay if the weather's really bad, but a couple of days a week is just too much for them.

I'm not a SAHP but I only work 3 days a week. I've often fallen into just staying in the house, especially now it's been so cold!

I find showering and dressing as soon as I get up and getting my toddler dressed usually puts me in the mood to get out and do something - usually we go out for lunch and then go to the park. Otherwise it's really easy just to potter about the house all day.

Who takes your oldest to nursery? My oldest is now at school and I love that I have a reason to get up and dressed and out of the house early for that. After that I don’t feel so bad for lazing around with my toddler, as I’ve already been out.