SBeing a working mother isn’t always easy, but it’s a reality for many women out there. It is possible to have both a career as a busy Mum and a family at the same time.
All it takes is you knowing how to set boundaries and committing to making it all work in the end. Some days will be harder than others and at times you may feel a bit overwhelmed and stressed out. However, try to remember all the positives and encourage yourself to continue in the midst of chaos and uncertainty.
Get Your Education Online
One way you can have a career as a busy mum is to opt to get your education online. There are programs you can take from the comfort of your own home when you have a little downtime. Taking courses online will allow you to further your education when it’s convenient for you. In addition, you'll save time and money not commuting to an actual facility each day. Choosing to earn your degree online is a great option to balance your career and family.
Ask for Help
What’s most important is that you reach out and ask for help from others when you need it. For example, maybe your husband can pick up the kids from school, or you can join a carpool. No one will know you’re struggling and could use extra assistance unless you speak up and notify them. You can have a succesful career when you admit that you have limits and can’t do it all.
Take advantage of help from others and don’t be afraid to admit you are overwhelmed. There are going to be days when you’ll need to depend on those around you to step in. Be thankful for your support system, afterall it takes a village.
Prioritise
You’re going to have a long list of to-dos and tasks on your plate when you’re a mother. Therefore, it’s important to go a step further and put your items in priority order and to prioritise your time so that you’re getting done what’s most important first and foremost.
Unfortunately, you’re not realistically going to be able to tackle your entire to-do list in one day, so it’s a wise idea to spread out your tasks and determine right away what is most critical that you address. For example, if you have a big work project due in a week then put that ahead of all else and get to your other responsibilities such as cleaning the house when you actually have time to do so. You need to be able to push the less important errands and to-dos aside in the moment and focus on what items are highest on your priority list.
Practice Work-Life Balance
You can have a career as a busy mum when you’re good about practicing work-life balance. It’s a tricky goal to achieve, and some days you may find it more difficult to do. You risk becoming exhausted by stretching yourself too thin in one area.
This is a good time to evaluate your situation and be honest with yourself about what you can and can’t handle in the moment. For instance, don’t volunteer to stay late at the office if you know you have to be running your kids all over town to their activities all week. Raise your hand to help out at work and take on additional responsibilities when you have a slower schedule at home. What’s most important is that you don’t let people walk all over you or take advantage of your time and energy when you don’t have a lot of it to give in the first place.
Take Good Care of Yourself
You’ll have a much easier time getting through your busy days when you take good care of yourself. You’ll find that you’re able to function to the best of your ability when you have a lot of natural energy and are getting a decent nights sleep. In addition, try to:
- Eat well
- Exercise regularly
- Manage your stress
- Find a hobby you enjoy
- Drink water
- Slow down and be positive
These are just a few suggestions for better self-care that you should consider implementing in your own life. You’ll likely find that your mood lifts and you don’t have to drag yourself through your day when you put your health and wellbeing at the top of your to-do list. It will be a lot easier to have a career as a busy mum when you aren’t always feeling exhausted and worn down.
Be Open with Your Boss
Not all workers have the challenge of balancing both a family life and a career. Therefore, your boss may not know your situation or be sensitive to it unless you speak up. You can have a career as a busy mum by being more open with your boss about your circumstances.You may be able to come to a happy medium or solution where you can work from home some days or take Friday afternoons off once in a while to be with your children.
The key is to develop a good relationship with your boss. This allows you to be open and honest about the challenges of balancing both a family life and a career. They experience some of the same struggles and have suggestions. Together you both can succeed with a career as a busy Mum.