It can seem pretty overwhelming juggling with your household chores, childcare, office-work and everything in between. Sometimes every day might seem like a battle, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are a few super easy ideas for all the working moms out there. I hope it helps.
Define your idea of work-life balance: The idea of work-life balance is so different for everyone. Figure out what kind of office work you want to do, how involved do you want to be in your kid’s lives, what all tasks do you want to delegate, so on and so forth. It is okay to bake your own cookies at home and so it is if you decide to get the ones from the bakery. And do not let anyone tell you how it should be, it is your call. Once you are clear on this, make everything revolve around this ideology.
Get organized: Most of the big companies and organizations have a proper planner in place. And I don’t see why you shouldn’t have one. Being a working mom is more than a full-time job and house management is as crucial as company management. And you only have 24 hours to make it all happen. Plan well to make the most of these 24 hours. Segregate the tasks on the basis of their priority, separate which ones need immediate attention and the ones which can wait, and then make it a point to complete the urgent ones. Very important, carve out some pockets of breathing in your plan. It is completely worthless if you set a goal that is way too ambitious for you to complete.
Stay connected with the kids: A lot of moms feel guilty for leaving the kid with a babysitter or a relative. They feel like they’re not being a part of their children’s lives. It really doesn’t have to be like that. You can video call them a few times a day, check on them, make sure they’re eating well, take a look at their homework, and know their sleep schedules too. Coming to weekends, you might want to order groceries online and outsource some work and spend that extra time bonding with your children.
Work on getting a good nanny: The only way for you to focus on your work while at the office is to be assured that your kids are safe and with someone trustworthy. Take your time before hiring a nanny, in fact, have a paid playdate with the shortlisted ones to know the rapport between the kids and the nanny.
Let go of the little things: Maybe you were used to a sparkling clean house before the kids and now your house looks like a mess, so what?? Maybe you don’t get time to make your bed every morning or cook from scratch every single day, that’s okay. You only have limited time in the day and if some things get skipped while focusing on more important ones, don’t be too hard on yourself.
Delegate tasks: This is where a lot of women shy away. It is important to understand that you alone cannot do everything. Take help from anyone who is willing to offer. Your husband can cook at times, or take care of the kids while you do your yoga or take help from some teenagers to complete household chores. You should also outsource a few tasks whenever possible.
Make arrangements at work for the new scenario: Have a word with your manager and let him/her know of any special needs you might have. Try and work from home sometimes, ask for a few emergency leaves for instances when your kid is sick and needs you, also see if they can provide you with on-site daycare options. If nothing works out, you might want to quit and find a kid-friendly workplace over a period of time.
Nurture your relationship: Your marriage is special and it needs to be treated like one. You two managed to do just fine before the kid and will need to do so after your children grow up and leave the nest. You are going to grow old together and deal with everything as a team. Take out some time and go out on dates. Take a vacation once in a while, just the two of you. Grow your relationship too whilst you’re growing your family.
Take care of yourself: You can only be a good mother, a good wife, and a good employee if you are a happy and a healthy person first. By healthy I mean, physically, mentally and spiritually. Eat well, sleep enough and make time for your hobbies. Go out with your friends once in a while and have some fun. A happy you can do so much better, than a stressful one.
