9 Tips To Balance Motherhood & Your Career
12th Oct 2022
5 mins read
Most of us are trying to balance a career and motherhood. We all have days where we feel as though we’re being stretched in 100 different directions. Not only are we trying to keep up at work after sleep-deprived nights, we’re trying to hold it together at home. Phoo – mama, we get it!
Let’s not forget the likelihood that we’re spending most of our time running on a near-to-empty tank. We’ve been there. We remember that dreaded mama guilt and overwhelming feelings and stress from trying to split time between family and work. But we also know, from personal experiences that it is absolutely possible to have a flourishing career and a family simultaneously – while also feeling like the best version of yourself!
Here are 9 tips to help YOU balance motherhood and a career:
1. Honour the decision you’ve made
Is your career important to you? Yes! Okay, this is one of your values which is a truly beautiful thing to honour and feel empowered by. If you are someone who must work for financial reasons, honour the reasoning and fact that you are doing what you need to do – something you feel that is best for your family. Don’t let those negative and guilt-tripping thoughts creep in. Focus on all those beautiful things your kids will learn by YOU feeling empowered and great in your career. According to recent research, women whose mothers worked outside the home are more likely to have jobs themselves, hold managerial or supervisory responsibilities at those jobs, earn higher wages than women whose mothers stayed home full-time. The research also stated that men raised by working mamas are more likely to contribute to chores around the house and spend time caring for family members.
2. Fill your own cup up first!
Remember when you’re on an airplane getting ready to take off and the flight attendants show a safety instructional demo and tell you to put your own oxygen mask on in case of an emergency before assisting others? Well mama, if you can’t breathe properly then there’s absolutely no way you will be capable or strong enough to help those around you. Make “me-time” a non-negotiable fact at home. You will find yourself exhausted, resentful and have nothing left in your cup if you don’t make the effort to fill it up and recharge from time to time. Just like a car won’t run on an empty tank, neither will our bodies. Make a conscious effort to do something for yourself every single day – even if it’s a short walk outside, or a peaceful 20-30 minute read of your favourite book before bed. Your days will be so much happier.
3. Be present…
This is a difficult one during this day and age with technology, however – when you’re at home, be at home. Put down those devices and spend some time playing with your kids on the floor. Help them with activities, or if they’re older, their homework, ask them about their day. Bring them to activities (if you are able to) and sit down properly as a family for a meal. Not only will your kids be happier, but so will you!
4. Leave work in the workplace
It’s difficult to shift from work-mode to mama-mode, we get it. There is a little trick that you can do to make this easier. After work on the way to see your kids, release your day at work and set intentions for the evening. If it’s the start of the weekend, release your workweek and set intentions for the weekend. This can be done anywhere that you can find a few moments of quiet. Close your eyes, take 10 deep, long breaths. Imagine the day you had a work and the things you have accomplished, clear and release from your body. Practice gratitude for it, acknowledge it and let it fade away. Then, set your intentions. Here are some examples: “I am a fun mother, I am a loving mother, I give my children new experiences and take them on adventures. I use my weekends to enjoy and take care of myself, relax and spend time with my family of whom I love so much, I love my life. I am grateful and I feel so blessed.” Repeat these intentions over and over as you leave work and once you are with your family, you’ll be in full mama-mode and not stress-mode. Just a few minutes and voila! So simple.
5. Spend time wisely
Sometimes, there really aren’t enough hours in the day. Make it a point to say no to commitments or activities that are simply not important and fully focus on the ones that are. Focus on those who fill you up with energy and not the ones which will drain you.
6. Use a family planner or organizer
This can be a calendar on the wall if you prefer the traditional way of doing things. However, if you’re not physically at home, you aren’t able to see who was meant to be where and when. There are apps you can download who do the same thing! You can pull it up on your phone and immediately see everyone’s activities no matter where you are. You can produce sections for to-do lists in case you want to stop at the supermarket to pick up what you need before going home first.
7. Find help that you love
This is a very personal choice, but knowing that you love and trust where your child will be spending their time away from you – be it full time or part time help at home or day care, makes life, work and motherhood less-stressful and so much more enjoyable. It is a blissful feeling knowing your child is in a happy and loving environment with awesome people that you fully trust.
8. Humans aren’t perfect, so stop trying to be!
In today’s digital era, it’s easy to fall into the thoughts of “not being good enough” as we’re constantly comparing ourselves to everyone around us and what we see on social media. Nothing good comes from this so stop comparing. This is YOUR life. You choose to live it the way you want to. Drop the need for perfection. Your family life, working career doesn’t have to be perfect. Once you stop comparing yourself and your lives, it will silence the perfectionist in you. Things will shift and you will feel a sense of happiness overcome you.
9. Saved the best for last…HAVE FUN!
Fun leads to joy, this then leads to fulfilment and happiness. Promise yourself (and keep those promises) to do at least ONE fun thing each weekend (with your family or on your own). Monday’s will suddenly feel refreshing and you’ll feel as if you made the most of your weekend and time at home.
Balancing motherhood with careers isn’t always going to be an easy ride but it can be beyond fulfilling to enjoy the best of both worlds.
Be sure to embrace your imperfect, beautiful, raw, exciting and adventurous journey. Isn’t this what life is all about?
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