2/13/2018

Getting The Balance Right As A Working Mom

Being a working mom is hard work. You have to go to work to earn money for your family and then get home to a whole different job. Because of this, finding the balance can be tough. You might be giving an important presentation and worrying about the costume you have to make for your child’s school play later on, or playing with your child and worrying about something you have to do at work the next day. Getting the balance right can help you to feel happier and more present in everything you do, as well as keep those you love happy too.

 Image from Pixabay

Read on to figure out how you can get the balance right!

Find The Right Type Of Childcare
The first thing you need to do if you’re going to be a working mom is find the right type of childcare. This will give you peace of mind, as you’ll know that your kids are being well looked after. Do your research and find the childcare professional that you’re happy with. Kids do get ill from time to time so it may help if you speak to a family member in advance who may be able to have them when this happens.

Don’t Attempt To Do Everything Alone
Attempting to do everything by yourself will leave you stressed out and wishing you had more hours in the day. Give your kids chores as they get old enough, but start them off as early as possible. Ask for help, whether that’s from your partner, your parents, or your in-laws. People will usually be happy to help you if only you ask for it. Don’t be too proud!

Take The Time To Care For Yourself
You can’t pour from an empty cup, so make sure you’re taking the time to care for yourself too. If you try to do too much and neglect your own health, you may end up needing help from Crossen Kooi Injury Lawyers, especially if you injure yourself at work. Make yourself a priority, even if it’s creating small moments for yourself to read a chapter of your book or enjoy a hot drink. Live in the moment and don’t take these things for granted.

Do Your Food Shopping Online
Something that can help to free up a lot of your time is doing the food shop online. If you make a list and keep an eye on the things you have to top up on, you should be able to get the shop done in at least half the time you would in store. Plus, you don’t have to drag the kids around with you and spend more than you wanted on treats for them!

Draw A Clear Line Between Work Time And Family Time
It’s so important that you can make a clear line between work time and family time. If you’re constantly thinking about the kids while you’re at work and then work when you’re at home, you’re never going to give anything you do 100%. Make sure you have a way to get back into ‘mom mode’ when you return home, and a way to get into work mode on the way to work. It can be tough depending on the job you do, but try to leave work at work.

Let Go Of Any Guilt
Think about how what you’re doing is benefitting your family, and let go of any guilt you may have about not spending as much time as possible with your kids. You have no reason to be guilty, and it’ll only make you more stressed. Studies show that stress in parents can transfer to kids! If you want the best for your kids, letting go of stress and guilt is a must.  

Make Mornings Easier By Getting Organized The Night Before
Getting up in the morning and having to sort out 101 things as quickly as possible is never a fun task. You can make mornings far easier by getting organized the night before. Lay out clothes, make lunches, and leave bags by the door so you don’t forget anything. Make sure you and the kids go to bed at the same time each night so you’re getting up in the morning feeling good about the day ahead, rather than feeling groggy.

Request A Flexible Schedule At Work
If you’re really struggling, then you can see if you are able to request a flexible schedule at work. Try to arrange a meeting with your boss and talk to them about what would help you. If you’re a good employee and you’ve been with them a while, they are probably going to want to help you. 

You could suggest the following:
  • Telecommuting one day of the week (or every two weeks)
  • Working an earlier or later shift
  • Reducing your hours to part-time
  • Coming into the office for four 10-hour workdays
All of these things are ideas that are acceptable to certain employers, although you may be able to come up with something else depending on what your role is.

Outsource Some Tasks
Outsourcing tasks are something most business professionals are choosing to do, but you can do it at home too. Why not hire a cleaner to come every week, or even once every two weeks? You could hire a gardener, or if you’re particularly busy, a virtual assistant to pick up your messages while you’re with family. There are all kinds of things you can do to make your life easier and more enjoyable.

Simple Daily Cleaning
Many moms complain that they just never stop cleaning. The key is to let go of the idea that you should have a spotless house at all times. Save the deep cleaning for once in a while, and just do a couple of simple daily cleaning tasks each day. If things get messy, don’t stress. Figure out what’s more important; a tidy home, or a happy family? You know the answer!

Hopefully, these ideas help you to achieve more balance in your life.

No comments:

Post a Comment