I’m now in this motherhood phase where I have two toddlers that are both pretty mobile and fairly self-sufficient. When we’re outside, they are completely content to do their own thing and prefer that I just stay out of their (exploring) way (most of the time).
I am A-Okay with this! This is why we had two under two (haha!), right? They are getting to the point where they are best buddies. They’re learning to communicate and play with each other more and more each day.
I know, I know. I shouldn’t be wishing away time, but as I get further into my motherhood journey (aka, my kids are growing up), I’m realizing just how much I appreciate and crave my independence (can I get an Amen?!).
When my babies were truly babies, I oftentimes felt like I was on the shortest leash ever (ha!). Okay…that may be a bit dramatic. But, I do enjoy having a bit more of my space back now that they’re a little older and more independent themselves!
Now that they are both toddling/running around and able to get to and fro on their own, I’ve had to flex my multitasking muscles in a different way (again).
Okay, what can I do that is productive for me and the household, while also keeping an eye on the kids???
I’ve spent the past few months honing my skills in this department, especially since we spend a lot of time outside at home right now. #summervibes and also, #thankscovid
Without a little bambino on my hip and dependent on me to do anything, I’ve gradually gotten better about taking the initiative to get something done instead of sitting and watching them.
Sidenote: There is absolutely nothing wrong with sitting and watching your kids play! I still enjoy doing that often. I’m just at a point where I’m figuring out how to knock a few tasks off my to-do list while they are enjoying themselves and don’t really need my full, undivided attention.
And If you’re thinking – “Maybe you should try using that time to be present with your kids.” – I hear you, Betty! And while I could take offense to your judgemental thought, I’ll instead refer you to my excellent post (coming soon!) that lists a ton of fun outdoor activities to do with your kids while you’re at home this summer! And get this, I’ve actually done all of them with my kiddos! Trust me, they’re not deprived of my time or attention.
Thinking outside the box can be a bit challenging sometimes when you’re in the throes of motherhood. So, I thought I’d do the grunt work for you. Below is a quick list of productive tasks I’ve tackled (or are still on my list) outside while the kids play on their own nearby. Hopefully, this list will get your gears turning, too!
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you purchase an item using a link in my blog post, I may earn a small commission. This comes at no extra charge to you. Thank you for helping to support my blog.
12 Productive Things You Can Do Outside as a SAHM This Summer:
1. Gardening
This is a big one at our house! We didn’t do a vegetable garden this year (but we should have!), but we do have quite a few flower pots around the house and couple container tomato plants. I enjoy tending to my gardens, and better yet, the kids (currently) like to help me sometimes, too!
This is an activity that can take you from spring to summer, and even through fall! Plant some flowers or vegetables. Water them frequently at the beginning or end of the day (avoid mid-day). Weed your gardens or pots as needed. Harvest what you grow and enjoy. The kids enjoy helping me do all of these activities! There’s also the added benefit of teaching children important life skills and lessons. Score!
2. Pressure washing
This is our first year with a pressure washer. Let me tell you, this tool is very handy to have around the house! We’ve pressure washed our porch and house, our back deck, our patio furniture and cushions, our side-by-side, my son’s mini gator, and outdoor rugs. The options are endless!
If you have a pressure washer, or even a good hose head attachment, stay cool and get some deeper cleaning done!
4. Clean out your car/wash your car
While you’ve got the pressure washer out, you can use it on your vehicle/s, too! This would also be a great activity to enlist the kids’ help with. I’m not sure what kind of a mom you are, but I know there’s always stuff that just accumulates in my car. How does that happen? It’s crazy!
If the kids are occupied, grab a trash can and clear it out real quick. You’ll feel ten pounds lighter, I promise!
3. Clean out your garage
This is one that is still on my list, but it’ll be an excellent task to tackle! The garage has become nothing more than a storage unit for our belongings since starting our house renovation. We’ll be so glad to get it cleaned out again and have our cars parked in it!
Cleaning out your garage can also become a sort of challenge – how many items can we get rid of? I like the extra motivation that a declutter challenge provides!
5. Clean your grill
This isn’t one that I’d automatically think to do, but it’s a great maintenance task that will make your life easier when you go to use your grill! Shine that baby up and scrape off all the grate crud and you’ll be in great shape!
You can also take a moment to make sure you’ve got propane in the tank. It’s never fun to get all prepped to grill only to find yourself with an empty tank and a few pounds of raw meat (ask me how I know…).
6. Create an outdoor Family Oasis
I’ve taken this one pretty seriously this year in two areas – our fire pit area and our deck. If you’re going to be spending lots of time outside, create a happy space for your family to relax and unwind. You don’t have to spend a ton of money (but you can if ya wanna!).
Firepit Area
I’ve spent a couple of afternoons weeding our fire pit area and spreading Preen (Myles is a master weeder now!), placing tiki torches, and rearranging our fire pit furniture. Now that it is cleaned up and tended to a bit, we use it way more!
Deck Refresh
We’ve had a great set of patio furniture for a few years now on our back deck. I enjoy spending time out there, but it is west-facing so the afternoons and evenings can be unbearable if it’s hot. This year, I wanted to make it more useful and cozy – a true extension of our home.
First, we pressure washed the deck itself. Then, I pressure washed all of the furniture, including the cushions (worked great, just don’t get too close to the fabric!). I purchased a neutral outdoor area rug to lay underneath the sectional. And I also got a coordinating outdoor umbrella that makes a huge difference in comfort level! We spend so much more time out there now that we have a bit of shade and a comfortable spot to unwind.
I’ve got a hammock stand that I’ve tried desperately to find a new hammock for (our old one got worn out and mildewy)… with no luck. Hammocks are an easy and relatively affordable way to add an oasis vibe to your outdoor space if you don’t have a lot of space! Here’s the Hammock we got originally!
7. Wash/Vacuum your outdoor rugs
We already touched on pressure washing your outdoor rugs, but I recently just hauled my vacuum out to the deck and vacuumed our large outdoor area rug. It worked really well. I’m not sure why I hadn’t thought to do it sooner!
I also like to hose down my entire front porch – ceiling, walls, floor. I’ll add soap if it’s really dirty, but hosing it down usually suffices. I gave our front porch a little love earlier this summer!
8. Hose down Baby Gear
I recently took our highchair outside and hosed it down with some soap. This was way more efficient than trying to wipe it down or fit it in the tub. I let it air dry for about an hour and brought it back in.
Think about all the baby gear you’re using or have collected over the years. Take it outside and clean it up with the hose! It’ll save you a bunch of time. I plan to get our car seats out and hose them down soon, too!
9. Spray for Bugs
This can be a trickier one with littles around, but about twice a year, I like to spray the perimeter of our house and garage with this Ortho Home Defense spray. It does a tremendous job of keeping bugs and spiders away.
I spray both outside and inside. It dries very quickly and is safe for both kids and pets after the application is complete (dried). I just make sure our pets and kiddos are a safe distance away while spraying.
10. Groom Pets
I’ve made a point this year to really brush our dog, Cash, out. He’s a Border Collie, so he has a ton of fur that gets easily matted from his winter coat. Taking the time to brush him out has actually allowed me to spend some good, quality time with him again since having kids!
Anything you can do to care for your pets (or just give them some love) is a great way to get something accomplished while you’re outside. Apply their flea/tick treatment. Put them on a leash and do some training.
If you have a high-energy pup like we do, you might find this Chuckit! (with these balls) to be a life-saver! It’s actually enjoyable to throw the ball for Cash to retrieve, and it burns off his energy very quickly (although he acts as if he’ll never stop playing!). The kids also love to throw the ball for Cash, which has been a fun thing to see!
11. Go for a Walk
Ahhh, yes. Walking… it’s just good for the soul, folks! I’d just like to make it clear, as I type this, I’m envisioning a walk on our property. Obviously not everyone has a few acres to wander on, so make it work where you are! There a definitely some days where I wish we had a sidewalk right outside our door. Instead, we make do with walking paths on our acreage!
The kids and I really enjoy walking on our mowed paths. The dog and cats always tend to join us, as well. Oftentimes, Myles and Gracelyn will ride on their mini John Deere Gator and I’ll walk along with them.
12. Read a Book or Listen to a Podcast
This is more of a self-care tactic, but it still serves an important role in being a happy and healthy SAHM! If you’re a reader, take your book outside with you. If you enjoy listening to music or podcasts, stuff your pods in your ears and go for it!
I really like listening to a podcast (and need to do it more often) because I feel like I’m on this secret adventure and the kids have no idea I’m not paying attention to them, even though I’m right there with them! It’s genius! This could also work well for listening to audio books!
Whew! We made it! Thanks for spending some time here on the blog with me today! I hope some of these ideas on this list of things to do outside at home as a SAHM sparked a little motivation in you!
I’m having fun seeing how many things I can tackle outside, because really, it’s almost limitless! Fold some laundry on your deck. Lay out and get a tan. Prepare and eat your meals outside.
There are so many things that can be done outside just as easily (if not more so) as when they’re done inside. It’s just a matter of thinking to do it!
Let me know if you do any of these outdoor activities in the comments below. And if you’ve got other tasks that you like to accomplish while outside, please share them so we can all benefit from your great idea!
To the Chaos,
-MG
Pin this for later…
Leave a Reply