Life Happens
We are getting into the cozy season and that brings cooler temperatures and with that, unfortunately, comes illnesses. We all try to avoid it but eventually most of us come down with some sort of sickness during the winter months, especially if we have kiddos. When you are a homemaker life does not stop. Those kiddos also don’t stop! Balancing an illness while managing your household can be a lot! Keep reading to see how I handle this challenging situation.
As a note, sickness can be seasonal, which is what this blog post is about today, but read my blog post here on how to keep up with the chaos of life when you have a chronic issue going on if that topic resonates with you. For now, let’s get into how to handle homemaking when you are sick.
Happy Fall… So Why This Topic?
I LOVE fall! It is by far my favorite season. Cozy, crisp air, delicious foods and drinks, and the excitement from the approaching holidays can be felt which is so fun and nostalgic. Even though I love the fall and I actually find I feel better in the fall than I do spring and summer I still always end up getting a cold at some point. After moving from one area of Texas to another I also have found that the fall and winter bring some seasonal allergies with it that make me more susceptible to illness as the cooler temperatures begin.
I have had a lot of health stuff going on recently (in fact I am writing this as I recover from a surgery), and while I would categorize these issues as more chronic concerns which I discuss in this blog post, it did get me thinking about how challenging homemaking can be when you are sick. Not everyone has chronic issues but everyone gets sick at some point. Homemaking is such a unique job because it is the type of job you cannot take a day off from. When life doesn’t stop and you can’t take a day off then what are your options to heal AND not to lose control over your home responsibilities?
Balancing Healing and Homemaking
The balance of healing and homemaking is by far the hardest thing to sort out when it comes to getting sick, especially if you are a parent. The mom guilt can be real when you are sick and don’t have it in you to do your normal mom routine.
The other thing that drives me crazy about getting sick when it comes to my responsibilities is the idea that my clean home may become quickly unclean. The unclean I can handle for a short time, but the biggest issue is the concern that by the time I get back around to cleaning it may take way more time and energy to clean. My number one tip for an always clean home is to clean consistently that way the dirt and grime does not have time to build; however, when you are sick and it has that time it can be tough to come back to cleaning as things may feel so far gone.
In order to not struggle with mom guilt or the stress of the future cleaning struggles and the upset of your surroundings while being sick here are my top suggestions.
Healing
Healing should really be your top priority when you are sick. Let’s face it, most of us struggle with this, again, especially if you are a parent. Life does not stop to give you time to heal. Even though it is hard, healing should be your main focus because if you are not at your best you can’t give your best.
I often remind myself of the example of being on a plane and the oxygen masks dropping down. The directions are to put your mask on before helping anyone else. This may go against our nature, but if we don’t prioritize ourselves and we end up passing out from lack of oxygen then we won’t be able to help anyone else. We can do a lot more for those around us and for ourselves when we put ourselves first. “Put ourselves first” is usually a statement that moms especially struggle with, but there are times when it is what we should do.
If healing is our top priority then what does that realistically look like when life just keeps on moving? Here is my list of things that I recommend you do. They may not all be doable for you and your particular situation, but there may be things you can do that I can’t because of my situation. It is about finding what works for you to help you get through a short but tough time, but hopefully this list can resonate and help most people.
Healing To-do’s:
– Ask for help:
This is one of those things that depends on your situation. Not all of us have someone we can ask for help, but many of us do. It can be hard (I struggle with this one as I figure many do) but it is exceptionally helpful and probably one of the biggest game changers when it comes to actually being able to rest.
– Embrace the mess:
This can also be really tough to do, especially if you are like me and your surroundings affect your mood. Here’s the thing, it is just a short period of time that your home will be messy. Even if it does end up taking a little extra elbow grease to get things back to the pre-sick clean it won’t be too bad because you have kept up with your home up until getting sick so just try and let it go. (Sometimes you feel so crummy this ends up not being so hard!).
– Nourish yourself:
Part of prioritizing healing is eating nourishing foods, staying hydrated, and getting some much needed sleep or at the very least rest. The BRAT diet (Bananas, Rice, Apples, and Toast) is easy to make and easy to eat. If you have someone who can make foods for you even better, but just be sure to stay hydrated, eat a little as you can, and try and get as much sleep or rest as possible.
– Be cozy:
If you have kids around, especially little kids, the mom guilt can be a huge struggle. If your children are willing, encourage them to cuddle on the couch or make a cozy spot on the floor that they can camp out on and everyone can watch a movie or take a much needed nap. Don’t panic if they are not up for the chill time. If you find yourself in this position then try and find activities that will keep them entertained for periods of time that allow you to get as much rest as possible. I tend to keep a couple of activities hidden away for times like these or other rainy days when you need something new and exciting to keep the kiddos attention while you tend to other things (in this case resting!).
Homemaking
Homemaking likely won’t be the thing you want to focus on when you are sick, but when you are the one keeping things going it often is something you have to focus on. This means that your daily laundry list of to-do’s will feel like it is being stacked up on you while you rest – a no-go for true rest and healing. Let’s discuss the things I do to make sure I don’t feel completely buried by the overwhelm of my responsibilities while I work to recover.
Homemaking To-do’s:
– Let it go:
This may be hard for you to do, but honestly just let it all go. Don’t worry about the cleaning routine you aren’t getting to, don’t worry that your child is having a “boring” day (as long as they are taken care of), and don’t sweat the small stuff. Easier said than done I know, but the more you can let go of things the better you will be able to rest and heal. Mental rest is just as important as physical!
– Do the little things:
You may not feel up to following your typical cleaning routine, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still do a little spot clean here and there when you feel up to it. If you go to the kitchen to get a drink and there is some water on the counter that will leave a water spot then just wipe it off. This doesn’t require a bunch of time or energy but will save you extra cleaning time later and peace of mind now.
– Do what you can:
Things get a little trickier when it comes to things that will break the household if you don’t do them. I’m not talking about your cleaning routine and worrying over the dust collecting on the table you stare at across from where you are resting. The things that upset the household and cause things to come to a screeching halt are running out of dishes, clean clothes, and so on. These categories tend to be the areas that have to be kept up with each day or week so that things keep moving for everyone, including you. Ideally, go back to our healing list and ask for help if you can and have someone ready and willing to help you. If you are on your own, and especially if you are on your own with dependents that need you to keep things going then here are my suggestions.
The On Your Own List:
– Keep things minimal:
Keep dishes and laundry at a minimum when you use various items. For instance, a robe, or sweatpants can be potentially re-worn, especially if all you are doing is resting. While you will still accumulate laundry, repurposing items like clothing, or using the same drinking glass through the day will minimize clean up. Try to use items that are easy to care for. For instance, using dishes that are able to go into the dishwasher versus requiring extra effort like handwashing is key.
– Do the mini things:
Do a small load of dishes each night or every other night as dishes accumulate. Most dishwashers now offer small load options to save on water. The same goes for laundry. Do a small load here or there as needed and don’t worry about putting all the laundry away. Will it wrinkle? Maybe, but that’s okay. A week of wrinkled clothes is not the worst thing to ever happen. Actually, if that’s the worst thing you have going on in life then you are doing really well!
– The struggle with food:
What on earth do you do about meals, especially if you have multiple mouths to feed? This can be a tough one, but keep it super duper simple! I think people tend to make food either too simple or too complicated. We go from the popcorn button on the microwave or instant mac and cheese to a five course meal. Find the middle ground. I plan to post a blog on this topic soon where I will share my top easy and quick dinner ideas that are actually delicious, pretty nutritious, and made with only a handful of ingredients that you almost surely already have on hand. Until then, think sandwiches, quesadillas, salads, even stir-fry. There are some really easy meals that can satisfy the whole family even when you have no energy to cook!
Rest, Rest, and More Rest
I feel certain that nothing here is groundbreaking. You probably already know a lot of the information you just read, BUT the kicker is you actually have to do them. It can also be helpful to have these reminders. All too often do we homemakers, especially the moms out there tend to just keep going, but this also all too often makes us sicker than if we had just taken care of ourselves. No matter what you take from this the key is rest. Is it easy to rest as a mom and homemaker? NO! But it is key. You can be there for your family and for your household when you feel your best, so rest, rest, and rest!
Praying you don’t get sick – but if (and when) you do here’s hoping this post gives you some peace of mind, the feeling of permission that it is okay to rest, and the camaraderie of your fellow homemakers out there struggling but resting right alongside you. Here’s to healing!
When you are well and ready to tackle cleaning your home check out my free Cleaning Checklist by signing up for my email list which you can do at the bottom of the homepage or throughout the blog website! Just be sure to click on the button that says “Download Your Checklist!” and you’re in. Also, if you are curled up on the couch or tucked in bed check out my blog post on how to make your home feel super cozy all year long. Maybe you can implement a few things to make your healing time a little bit cozier and more enjoyable too!
