Being a mom is both my biggest joy and my biggest time commitment. Sure, there are times when the going gets rough, but those moments quickly fade away laughing moments and lots of love. As a working woman, finding a balance between both the sweet joys of motherhood and the challenging success of the working world can be difficult but it’s important to always make an effort to prioritize a health work-life balance. Below are some tips that have helped me along the way!
1. Set Priorities
When you wake up in the morning, get some coffee and look at your to-do list for the day. While the kids are looking for their shoes (which, why aren’t they on the shoe rack like they are supposed to be?), prioritize that to-do list. If you’re like me, there’s probably too much to fit in the day. Highlight the most important items on the list and attack those first. Leave the least important things for last. If you do have to leave anything on the list uncrossed out, hopefully it’s just laundry or working out. Make sure that spending time with the kids and going to their events are a priority as well as alone time with the spouse.
2. Manage Time at Work Wisely
Keeping my work-life balance healthy for my children as well can also be difficult. By accomplishing as much as possible at work in the least amount of time I am able to spend better quality time with the kids and without guilt. I stopped lollygagging around the water cooler as much and focused on getting emails out and reports turned in so that I could feel accomplished when I left for the day. Set your hours and absolutely destroy the day during these hours. Make a point to get work done well in advance. You might have to work a little harder and maybe skip lunch to get a report done early if you know it’s due the same day as your daughter’s gymnastics meet but just think about the joy she’ll have when she sees you in the stands.
3. Set High Work Goals
Just because you are a mom does not mean you cannot be a shark at your job. If you want to crush it in life, you have to continue to advance. Set small goals for yourself every week or every month. These small goals will eventually add up until you are in a much better place professionally than you were the year before. You’re a mom but also a professional. Keep working. Keep advancing.
4. Exercise with the kids
How the heck can I even think of going to the gym when I work fifty hours a week and have kids to take care of? I don’t. However, I do go to the park and play tag and have foot races. I also ride my bike to the store to get slushies. I even jump on the trampoline from time to time. My kids love it because I’m not sitting on the bench staring at my phone, and I feel better about eating my daughter’s leftover fries. Kill two birds with one stone and make the kids’ play time mom’s exercise time.
5. Get Help
No matter how much of a Super Woman you are, there are inevitably going to be moments when something simply has to give. While you may not like to admit it, you need help sometimes. That’s ok. Talk to your spouse, parents, or whoever your support system is to get that help when you need it. Not asking for help is only hurting yourself and your kids.
Even though there are still days where I’m overwhelmed, I think I (finally!) got a handle on the work/life balance thing. Hope these tips help!
