Most mothers feel the tug of war between trying to maintain a successful career and caring for their families. Both aspects of life are vital. The reason mothers are trying to earn a living is to support the needs of their children. It is, therefore, essential that the family’s welfare is also taken care of even while the mother is working.
It can be difficult for a mother to juggle both responsibilities and stay healthy while doing so. However, a mom must take care of her wellness to be able to take care of her family and her job. With careful planning and organization, it is possible to achieve a balance that works for you. Here are some tips on managing your career and your family while still caring for yourself.
Set Realistic Expectations and Priorities
You must set realistic expectations for yourself. Trying to do everything perfectly is not only impossible but will also lead to burnout. Be honest about what you can realistically accomplish in a day or week. Don’t try to take on more than you can handle at home and work.
You will need to set priorities to balance your work and family life. Do not pit one against the other. You must allocate time for each one and, within that time, prioritize your tasks based on their level of importance. Make a list of your priorities and refer to it when deciding how to spend your time.
Get Help and Delegate
It is necessary to compare your available time for home and work with the tasks needed for both to determine if you need help. There are only 24 hours a day, and you also need to allocate time to rest and sleep. Neglecting this will make you unproductive and ineffective the rest of the time.
If there are too many tasks for the time you have available, you will not be able to do everything satisfactorily even if you prioritize. That is why you will need to get help.
If you are a business owner, delegate tasks to your employees. If your business does not have employees, you can hire freelancers or outside help to take on some work tasks.
If you are an employee, talk to your immediate boss and present your tasks against your work hours. Ask for help to reduce your workload and pass on some tasks to a co-worker.
There are many options for child care if you have young children at home. You can hire a nanny, send your kids to daycare, or ask relatives or friends to help out.
There are also many ways to delegate tasks at home. You can ask your partner to share in the domestic responsibilities. If there are too many tasks to divide between you, you can hire outside help for cleaning and get laundry service.
Arrange Your Home Life for Convenience
Ensure that the critical tasks related to your family and home life are arranged for convenience so that you do not miss anything. For instance, find an infant, child, and adolescent, pediatric center, and pediatric dentist that is near your home and has clinic hours on weekends when you are off from work. This will enable you to meet all of your children’s scheduled checkups.
You can maximize your time on weekdays by doing bulk cooking on the weekends and freezing the food in portions that are just enough for daily meals. This way, you only have to reheat the dishes at dinner. Quickly chop up some veggies to add to them or to make a salad for added fresh nutrients. Make sure you cook different dishes for consecutive days, so you and your family don’t get tired of them.
Meal planning complements bulk cooking. You only need to sit down once to make a two-week-long meal plan and use this on rotation. This can save you even more time because you can cook enough of each dish to cover two days of the month. For instance, if you plan to have pasta every other Monday night, you can cook your base pasta sauce in bulk at one time.
If going to the supermarket takes up too much of your time, buy your groceries online and have them delivered when you or your partner can receive them. Since you have a meal plan, it is easy to draw up a list of everything you need.
Make Time for Yourself
In order to be the best mother and employee you can be, it is important to make time for yourself. This means taking care of your physical and mental health. Get enough sleep, eat healthy meals, and exercise regularly. These three will boost your well-being and help you have the energy you need to balance your responsibilities.
Even when you’re busy, you can find time for yourself by taking small breaks during the day to do things you enjoy. For instance, take a few minutes to read a book or listen to music. If you have more time, schedule a massage.
It is also important to nurture your relationships with your partner, family, and friends. Spend alone time with your partner at the end of every day. Ask a relative to watch the kids and go on a date with your partner even once a month. Give focused time to your children daily. You can do this at dinner. If they are younger, make the most of the time when you are preparing them for bed. Also, set aside time each week to speak with your friends on the phone or go out for coffee.
By following these tips, you can successfully balance your family and career responsibilities. This will help you to be a happier and more well-rounded mother.
