Keeping your mom-work-life balance can be difficult. In fact, scratch “can”. It IS difficult. Thankfully, striking the right balance is not impossible. Here are 9 things to keep in mind as you work at keeping your balance (and sanity) intact.
Whoever said that motherhood is easy-peasy has never tried being a mom. Add in work to that mix, and you’ve got yourself a combination enough to drive you overboard.
We’re talking about you trying to be the best version of yourself at work while trying to hide the fact that you’ve had quite a sleepless night. Or you trying to hold it all together when you’re at home after having a really bad day at work. Or you trying to squeeze in a few minutes of self-care before snoozing off to a dreamless sleep.
If you feel like you’re being stretched and pushed towards a thousand and one directions, welcome to the life of a working mom. Don’t worry. You’re definitely not the only one trying to juggle everything at once. Try your best to over-communicate and be proactive to continue to make being a working parent manageable and rewarding.
And yes, there are ways to find your mom-work-life balance despite having all that stress come at you from different directions. Let’s talk about 9 things you can do to keep your balance through it all.
#1: Don't feel guilty about with your decision
Some working moms think that trying to achieve a mom-work-life balance is something to be ashamed of. But that is far from the truth.
If anything, your decision to help support your family life financially while taking care of your responsibilities as a working mom is something to be honored.
So rather than trying to downplay your sacrifice for your family members, focus on the beauty of your selfless act as a working mom and how it has contributed to your family’s well-being as a whole.
This will help you find satisfaction and meaning in what you’re doing as working moms and give you the extra push you busy moms need when you’re going through really tough days—at home or work.
#2: Work at being more present for those who need you most
We understand that it can be quite a struggle to have a perfect mom-work-life balance when you’re trying to juggle so many things at once. And we’re not just talking about being physically present.
We’re also talking about you being mentally and emotionally present for your family members when they need you.
Again, this can be taxing, but making sure that you still get to spend quality time with your whole family is one way to keep your balance.
Moms have a bad habit of putting their own needs last in order to take care of everyone else first.
But if you aren’t taking care of yourself, how can you expect to take care of anyone else well?
One way moms separate work from home is by not working on weekends, or if you have weekend shifts or must work on weekends, not feeling guilty about having your partner, relative, or friend take over when you are not around.
For example, why not try putting away your phone during whole family meals?
Or try helping your kids out with their schoolwork?
These may seem like little things, but these little things can mean so much to your family member since they know how much of a sacrifice it took you to be fully present for them.
#3: Take care of yourself first
Repeat after us: Self-care isn’t selfish. (3x)
Remember that in-flight instruction we always hear as our plane prepares for takeoff?
We’re reminded to put on our oxygen masks first before attempting to help others put on their oxygen masks.
Why?
Because we can only help others when we’re in the position to give the needed help.
Really, we cannot give others what we don’t have. We’re saying that we cannot give other people our attention, love, and care when we don’t even have anything left for ourselves. Also, never compare yourself with any stay at home mom.
While it’s impossible to have the entire weekend all for yourself, you can still free most of the weekend time by using the tips above.
That way you will: have a motive to work hard during the week and feel rewarded once the weekend comes, not feel guilty for hiring help or being a working mom (which is something no working mom should feel guilty about!)
The beauty of it all will be the time you spend cuddling up with your family, resting your mind and your body, and enjoying every moment of it.
So find time for yourself too, no matter how busy your professional life may be. True, there are 1,000 things you need to take care of, but taking care of yourself should always be your priority.
Only by taking care of yourself will you have the energy and capacity to take care of the people you love even better.
#4: As working moms spend your time on things that actually matter
If there’s one thing that motherhood helps you fully appreciate, it’s the fact that family time is a luxury we can’t afford to waste. And especially if we’re balancing a successful career on top of our already busy schedule as a mom.
In fact, you probably have those days when you feel like 24 hours isn’t enough to get every single thing done. Your work hours shouldn’t interfere with your family time.
Working moms barely have enough time to brush their teeth. That’s why we need to learn how not to waste a single minute of it while we can.
And this starts with learning how to manage your time appropriately and efficiently so you don’t get overwhelmed by things that really matter: spending quality time with your family and friends, nurturing yourself, and doing the things you love, this way you can keep a positive attitude.
So how do you keep your mom-work-life balance when you're faced with an overflowing list of To-Dos?
Choose which task you want to spend time on. When you look at your list more closely, you’ll realize that many of the tasks you do daily are not really essential, which means you’ll get to cut back on all the time you would have spent on those non-essential tasks.
Limit long lunch breaks and surfing the internet so that you can get the most out of your work time.
Also, focus on doing things that make you happy, not on the things that only stress you out. That way, you won’t feel so drained at the end of each day, and you’ll still have energy left to spend with your family.
#5: Don't take your work life work stress with you at home
Stress is contagious, and that is why there should be a line between your work life balance and your personal life.
When you’re having a terrible day at work— let’s say your boss has been extra stressful today, try not to bring that negative vibe home with you. Life is already stressful as it is, so there’s no need for you to add to your family’s daily stresses by bringing all that negativity home.
Now that can be tough because there will be days when you’ll go home feeling anything but optimistic about how your day went. In such cases, make it a habit to unload whatever tension you’re holding inside before you go home.
You can either do this in the car as you head home from work life. Or you can try to find a few minutes of quiet after heading out of the office.
Deep breaths work all the time, so do that. Then remind yourself of all the things you’re looking forward to at home, and remind yourself too of all the things you are grateful for.
Something as simple as “I am doing the best I can. I am blessed with a loving, happy family. I am grateful for everything” is enough to set your mood for the rest of your day.
#6: Stop trying to be a perfect mom
Of course, we want to be the best version of ourselves 24/7. Still, no matter how hard we try, we’re always gonna fall short of being perfect. And you know what? That’s okay. You don’t even have to try to be perfect because here’s a heads up: No one out there is perfect.
So rather than feel sorry for yourself for not being the kind of mom you’ve always wanted to be for your young kids’ sake. And rather than comparing yourself with other working moms who consider themselves perfect as you see on social media, learn to acknowledge that you are trying your best to be the kind of mom your kids need.
Life as a working mother will have its ups and downs, and that’s all part of the journey called life. Embrace it. Live it. Be grateful for it. The moment you accept the imperfection of everything, you’re gonna be one happier momma.
#7: Stop and smell the roses
Okay, be honest. When was the last time you even allowed yourself to have fun? Oh no. Please don’t say you don’t remember when. Because if there’s one thing that should be written in all-caps on your To-Do list, it should be this: HAVE FUN.
There’s no need to take things too seriously. Look for every chance to pause and enjoy life’s precious moments. Live for every opportunity you get to enjoy life with the people you love. When you make the time for happiness, happiness will find you, no matter how many responsibilities you’re juggling as a working mother.
Final Thoughts
Striking a better mom-work-life balance is certainly not easy. But with patience and the right people around you, you can find happiness in accomplishing such a difficult feat.
We hope this article has been helpful! Feel free to share this post with a friend, and check out our other blog posts on this site.
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