Being a work-from-home mom may sound like the ideal situation for blending a career with parenthood. However, this daily routine can exhaust even the most superhero working mom managing everything on her own. It takes a lot to juggle both a client call and a temper tantrum. Luckily, today’s stay-at-home moms who work benefit from flexibility provided by new technologies. Innovation has led professionals to effectively and efficiently work remotely. Yet with flexibility come blurred boundaries as a career mixes with family life and work hours become unrestricted. Motherhood is a 24/7 job and you may suddenly realize that your day job has become 24/7 too.

If you no longer can separate your work life from your personal life, take a moment to breathe. Work-life balance is essential for the health and wellness of you and your family. Only with equilibrium can you maximize your work performance while being the best mom possible. Check out these four ways to not only strike a work-life balance, but accept it as a non-negotiable necessity. 

Practice Self-Care

As a work-from-home mom, you have an impressive, empowering role driven by opposing demands. Your work and family responsibilities become at risk though as you go above and beyond to fulfill those demands, without reserving time for yourself as well. Your needs are important. Meeting those needs, whether it’s enjoying a glass of wine or an hour of yoga, rejuvenates your soul and helps you stay composed. If you want to invest in your job and children, you must first invest yourself, guilt-free. Does additional time for yourself seem impossible? Track your hours during the day to pinpoint pockets of expendable time that could be utilized for yourself. Productivity and family well-being depend on your health and happiness. 

Focus Your Attention, For Real

When work starts to overlap with your personal life, both begin to suffer because neither receives your full attention. Your job and family both deserve to be the center of your focus—during the right times of day and night. On a daily basis, prioritize your responsibilities, create a schedule, expect the unexpected and even embrace the chaos. Your smartphone is the most convenient and efficient tool for planning. The Samsung Galaxy S7 edge’s calendar feature manages your meetings, appointments and to-do lists. Organize your time, set alert reminders (even if it’s for a 10-minute break) and adhere to what you initially scheduled. If you allotted 60 minutes for playing with your children, drop work and make playtime your focus.

Snap Out of Stress Glorification

Stress and diligence can be addicting. Complaints of stress and “so much to do” may just be disguised ways to “brag” about a busy, fast-paced life in which you’re the sole resource. Without a crazy work schedule and household, you may lose your sense of purpose or identity as an overworked single mom. In the recent article, “Stop Touting the Crazy Hours Your Work. It Helps No One,” the Washington Post addresses the pressure and demanding culture of working long hours seven days a week. It’s illogical and unsustainable. Excessive hours of work shouldn’t measure your success as a mother and professional. Embrace less stress. Review your workload and household responsibilities. Ask yourself, “how can I work smarter and not necessarily harder?”

Reach Out for Help and Support (It’s Okay)

To achieve optimal and consistent work-life balance, you can’t rely only on yourself. No, it’s not defeat, nor is it failure or weakness, if you ask for help. A family member can help take care of children for a few hours of the day while you work. A neighbor can babysit so you can tidy up the house and enjoy some alone time. Approach your work in the same way. “Successful people ask for help,” says Fortune Magazine. And the first step in asking for help is to actually just “get over yourself.” Fortune describes this as a sign of strength and a smart strategy to clear space for you, catch up and re-energize. You’re still superwoman, even if outside support helps fuel your superhero powers.


Vicky Charles

Vicky is a single mother, writer and card reader.

0 Comments

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.