6 Dynamic Ideas to Achieve Work Life Balance
for Working Moms
Many working moms deal with feelings of being overwhelmed, overworked, and pulled in so many directions while wearing the hats of mom, partner, employee, daughter, sister, and whatever other hats you may wear. Moms try to do it all and then some, attempting to give 100% of themselves to every area of their lives. However, we all know that lifestyle is not feasible nor sustainable. Work life balance for working moms can feel unattainable but with these tips you’ll regain a feeling of balance again. Here are 6 tips to help you show up for what and who is important to you while prioritizing yourself as well.
Prioritize & Systematize
Get very clear on what takes precedent in your life, and put that at the very top of your list then trim the fat (aka the things that are not important for you to do in this phase of your life). Things like family time, work, selfcare, and exercise should be non-negotiables. Also, fitting in monthly friend meetups, hobbies, and vacations are some things that can be non-negotiables for you as well. Getting clear on what is a priority for you to thrive will help you to say no to things that are filling up your calendar and leaving you little time to breathe.
Next, systematize your life, at work and home, as much as possible. For those little tasks that seem annoying but require time, find a system to do that for you! Put bills on autopay, use your calendar and sync it to a family calendar where all members can see what is going on, on a given day. Maybe get a hamper that allows you to sort the clothes as you put them in and plan and prep meals for the week. Get some of your time back by taking the guess work out of your days!
Outsource
If it is financially feasible for your family, outsource your household tasks that bog you down. Many moms carry what is called the invisible load. The invisible load is the list of unspoken things moms are typically the only people thinking about (new clothes for the children, meals, cleaning, making doctor appointments, camp, etc.). Here are a few things to consider outsourcing to buy back a few hours of your time and brain space:
- Laundry (I’ve personally used Poplin and love it!)
- Cleaning
- Meal service
- Grocery ordering and pickup
- Errand running (via task rabbit, etc.)
- Home organization
- Landscaping
- Dog walking
- Birthday parties (All-inclusive venues)
Tap into your support
Building community and identifying reliable support is key to being able to find your version of work/life balance. You are unable to be everywhere at once, consequently, this requires you to call in the troops! Who is in your troop or village?
- Grandparents
- Aunts
- Uncles
- Friends
- Babysitter/Nanny
- Mom groups
Sometimes we are afraid to ask for help in fear of looking incapable or not wanting to depend on others. The fact is, us moms need others so that we are not run down mentally, physically, and spiritually. Call in that babysitter, delegate house hold tasks if you have a partner (although this should be done together but that is another post), strive for equity in the home, and maybe consider sharing pick-up and drop-off responsibilities with another family you may be close to.
Build community
Feeling like you are the only one experiencing the imbalances and stressors of being a working mom can be extremely isolating. It is imperative that you build community with other other women going through similar life phases. There is beauty in being able to lean on one another for a listening ear, advice, tips, mom hacks, and more. There’s also beauty in a Mom’s night out with amazing women!
There is a moms group that I love called Myleik & Mommas! Check it out here!
Set professional boundaries & be more efficient
Are you guilty of working during non-working hours? That is likely due to a lack of boundaries at work and mismanaging your time during working hours. Of course, there are times when we have to work a little later to finish a big project or have to make up some time because of cold and flu season. However, if you notice a pattern of working off the clock or doing overtime daily then maybe putting some boundaries in place will be beneficial for you. Here are some ways to do that:
- Have firm start and stop times
- Block your calendar
- Schedule a late day for overflow
- Take work apps off of your personal phone
- Turn off notifications after your working hours
- Take your lunch break
- Avoid unnecessary chatter
- Speak up before your workload becomes unmanageable and ask for help.
Rest & self-care
We all know the saying – You can’t pour from an empty cup. As cliché as it may be, it is true! Rest is vital tool in maintaining your mental and physical health. Resting can include going to sleep or just curling up for a bit with a nice cup of tea and relaxing your mind, body, and spirit.
It is just as important to pour into yourself on a regular basis. If you are a mom, like me, that can be difficult to fit into an already hectic schedule. However, you would be surprised at how scheduling in 30 minutes a day for yourself can improve your quality of life and mood. Here are some self-care ideas:
- Take an elevated bubble bath
- Aromatherapy shower and body scrub
- Candle, favorite album, and tea
- Massage
- Read a fiction book
- Try a new recipe for yourself
- Go to a workout class or the gym
- Schedule time with friends
- Start a new hobby
Do whatever it is that fills your cup!
I know that some of you may be thinking that finding some semblance of balance is unachievable. However, I challenge you to give these tips a try and see how they positively impact your life, mental health, and wellbeing.
Leave a comment below if you have any additional helpful tips for working toward a healthy work/life balance.
Previous work:
How to support a friend going through infertility
What to expect at your first visit with your fertility doctor
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