Being a working mom is hard. Not only do you have to prepare for and deal with conflict in the workplace, but you probably experience your fair share of guilt and stress. Know that you’re not alone. About a third of working women in the United States are mothers. That said, the struggle is real. And if you want to get the most out of both your work and home life, it’s essential to find balance. The Mom Who Raves blog exists to help mothers navigate challenges. That’s why I’ve listed a few tips for how you can be a superb, fulfilled working momma.
Carve out time for yourself.
You may think it’s strange to start with this tip. After all, we’re talking about how you can be a great mother and worker. Chances are you struggle to find time for yourself. No matter how busy you are, make the time. Do relaxing activities that you enjoy, whether it’s reading, going to the spa, or horseback riding.
Also, take care of your health and well-being. Ensure your body is getting the nutrition it needs, find an exercise routine you can stick with, and try to get seven to nine hours of sleep a night. As you foster your physical, mental, and emotional health, it will help keep the stress at bay.
If you have the budget for it, consider hiring a wellness specialist. Using online job boards, you can find plenty of qualified candidates who specialize in health, fitness, and nutrition. You can also compare costs, delivery times, and client reviews before hiring anyone.
Address the guilt.
Trying to ignore the guilt you feel from being away from your child is not going to help you. You have to confront your guilt. Be honest with yourself: you miss your babies. Then, let go of the shame and think about how your role as a working mother helps improve your family’s situation and your children’s future.
Make the most of your time together.
It’s also crucial to squeeze everything you can out of the moments you have with your kids. Sit down with your family, and plan fun activities and trips to do together. Limit the time you spend checking emails and returning phone calls when you’re at home. And avoid doing housework, watching TV, and doing other things that you can do after your kids go to bed.
Connect from afar.
You can still stay connected to your kids when you’re not with them physically. Any chance you get to take a break at work, call or video chat with your kids. If you know you are about to miss an important event for your child, give them a special gift that morning and try to have the event recorded so that you can watch it with your kids later.
Talk to your boss.
Finally, have a conversation with your employer. Explain your situation, and ask about any arrangements they can make with your schedule to provide you with more flexibility. Many employers are willing to work with working mothers. If you want to boost your chances of getting more flexibility, write a detailed plan of all your needs, and be prepared to tell your boss how you can meet all of your duties on your new schedule.
You can live fulfilled as a working mom. Remember to foster your health and well-being. Confront your guilt and let it go. Minimize distractions and focus on your kids when you are with them, and find ways to stay connected when you’re not. Lastly, see if your employer will offer you a more flexible schedule to help you achieve a better work-life balance.
About the author
Janice Russell
Janice Russell Believes the only way to survive parenthood is to find the humor in it. She created Parenting Disasters so that parents would have a go-to resource whenever they needed a laugh, but also to show parents they aren't alone. She wants every frazzled parent out there to remember that for every kid stuck in a toilet, there's another one out there somewhere who's just graced their parents' with some Sharpie artwork!
