Want to Leave Your Career to Focus on Family?

Over the years, many women are trading their fancy corporate careers to transition into a life at home, making a family and home-centered way of life.

I was one of those women who, I would say, got lucky to have this option even with the challenging economy. It was 2018 when I decided to stop working and focus solely on family and home matters. With this new role and dynamic in the family I was left feeling confused and at some point lost during the transition. While my husband fully supports me, there were times that I felt alone in my journey and isolated from the world.

To be honest, I did not expect to go through the emotional challenges since I’ve worked from home since 2012. But there I was one day crying while washing the dishes not knowing why.

If you are a mom or a woman who want to transition into a more home and family-focused way of life, whether you’re leaving your job behind to care for the kids, or shifting into work-from-home, here are some tips to help you prepare to become a homemaker:

Have a vision of what homemaking looks like.

Do you have an ideal vision of what the life of a homemaker looks like? Does it look like playdates and ice creams with your child? Spontaneous mid-week dates with your husband? or hours lost in worthwhile hobbies? While it’s hard to predict what it will be like for you, it helps to have the vision to keep in mind.

Set expectations with your husband.

Since you’re no longer helping support the family financially, setting expectations with your husband is an important step that can’t be ignored. Does he support you with this transition? What are his expectations for your new role? What will the financial dynamic look like when you leave your job and income? Will he earn enough to support the family? Do you need to find a side hustle while at home? Talk about it with your spouse and find a place where you both agree on.

Start saving money long before you resign from your job.
Having some savings is always ideal to prepare you for some surprises or emergencies in the future. Saving a portion, say 10-20% of your net income will come a long way.

Rethink your budget and expenses now.

Not adjusting the budget before leaving their work is one of the biggest mistakes most you can make. You must make room for the transition and get used to living in a one-income household. This will save you from overspending and blowing your next month’s budget.

Refine your skills as a homemaker.

Being a homemaker may seem so relaxing, at least how they show it on social media, but it doesn’t. At times you need to step up as a repair woman, cook, dressmaker, organizer, and everything else in between. It helps to have some skills to make the work easier. Enroll in some skills training like cooking, baking, gardening, and even dressmaking. Good thing is, these skills can also be a source of income from home if you choose to monetize them.

Recalibrate your way of life.

Living modestly has helped my family, especially during the lean financial seasons this past couple of years. You don’t need to wait until you’ve shifted into your new role as a stay-at-home mom but you can do this slowly while even working. Look at your way of life and see where you can cut some unnecessary spending. Rethink what you spend on shopping, entertainment, and even social affairs.

Do the inner work

The path you want to take is not made of rainbows and roses. There will be ups and downs in your journey and mostly requires you to find internal motivation. Mind your mindset and work on becoming resilient. Remember, you will be the number one moral and emotional supporter and nurturer of your family. You can’t pour from an empty cup so build habits that will help you become resilient. Take care of your whole — mind, body, soul, self. You don’t need to do this alone, which is the next point…

Find your tribe of support

Transitioning to being a stay-at-home mom and homemaker doesn’t end your friendship with your social group. But it can feel like that. There are days when you will feel alone and isolated from the whole world, so having a strong support system won’t lose your mind in the process. There are many online groups and communities that you can turn to where they provide tips and strategies to support you in this journey.

To me, nothing beats the kind of joy and fulfillment from seeing my family healthy and happy.

Engaging in exercise also boosts self-confidence and promotes body positivity.

As you witness your own progress and improvements, you’ll develop a sense of accomplishment and pride in your abilities. Regular physical activity helps many moms like you, appreciate their bodies’ strength and resilience, fostering a positive body image and self-esteem that will echo in how they care for their children.

But even with these benefits, we know that prioritizing exercise is easier said than done. So what are the challenges and barriers that prevent mothers from making it on top of their lists and how do we break through them?

Nothing beats the joy and fulfillment it brings to witness your family thrive on a daily basis.

Don’t be deceived by the filtered and glamorized look of homemaking in social media. But with its ups and downs, it was the best decision I have ever made. While it was challenging in the beginning, with the right mindset and strong support from my husband and tribe of women who bravely walk this path, I am now settled in this role with joy and redefined sense of success.

If you are eyeing to leave your work to be a focus on your family and home but need more support, don’t forget to check out my programs. I have a one-on-one program for women who want to slow down and simplify their way of life so they can return to wholeness.