How to Balance Career and Mom Life
Being a mom is the most rewarding job that I have ever had. My children bring so much love, light, and laughter to my life. The random “I love you’s”, the hugs and smiles bring so much joy to my life. Now don’t get me wrong, motherhood can be overwhelming at times and it is not always perfect. That’s the first thing you’ll have to accept: there is no perfection in motherhood, at least not in my opinion. We all strive for some type of balance or harmony in our homes and lives, but the definition of balance is subjective. Balance is truly whatever you define it to be. There is no one size fits all set of rules to go by, so do whatever works for you.
Everyone in my household gets up early and we all get home late most days. Factor in homework, workouts, housework, and their extracurricular activities, and 😳OH BOY, it’s enough to drive you to drink! It’s easy to get stressed out just thinking about it all. What keeps me sane, aside from liquor, is having a set schedule.
My household runs and lives by Set Schedules . This is what has continuously worked for us. I always know what’s going on and my anxiety stays at reduced levels. My day typically begins at 5 am and ends between 8 and 9 pm. We have long days, but we make the best of it. As a fellow working mom, I will share some of the things I do to help balance it all.
PLANNING – It’s necessary! My recommendation – BUY and utilize a planner. For balance, I always have a personal planner that I keep on me (thanks TB). It allows me to keep up with deadlines at work, deadlines for MM (Marvelously Maria), bills, doctor appointments, etc. I know this may seem old school to some of you but writing things down works better for me in this age of technology. I also have a dry erase calendar on our refrigerator at home. Each month my son updates it with all his and my daughter’s school deadlines, field trips, events, etc.
COMMUTE TIME – In the summertime, our commute one way is 45 minutes. In the wintertime, our commute is an hour to an hour and thirty minutes. I suggest making the most of this time. There have been many days where my kids have had to eat breakfast in the car. They can get some last minute reading or studying in, if necessary. If nothing serious is pressing, then we have a little quality time. We have conversations, we say our morning prayers together, or we play games all while in the car!
EXERCISE – I began to slack off in my workouts due to my kids’ schedules. Last year, I decided to start dedicating more time to myself and began working out again. Mom guilt is real (at least for me), so I started incorporating my kids into my fitness journey. In the past, we would normally go for walks but that was it. Now, in addition to walking, we cycle, skate, and weight train together. It’s brought us closer together. We encourage one another, we push each other to finish strong, and sometimes to reach new goals. It also makes me feel good as a parent knowing that I’m instilling a healthy habit in them.
A NIGHTTIME ROUTINE – Nighttime routines are SUPER IMPORTANT in the proper functioning of our household. It allows the following day to flow better and once again reduces any stress or anxiety. I know this may sound weird but nighttime routines allow me to sleep better at night. I’m not running my to do list down in my head for the next day while lying there. It elevates my peace and peace is EVERYTHING!
MEAL PREP – Almost every Sunday, I carve out time to prepare my family’s snacks, lunches, and dinners for the following week. Meal planning not only saves me time, but it also saves me money. Don’t limit meal prepping to Sundays only. This can be done on any off day or whatever day works best for your household.
GAME NIGHTS – Schedule a game night once a week/month or when time allows. Family game nights allow for a lot of fun and bonding time with each other.
ORDER TAKEOUT – This will save you at least two hours. Instead of rushing home to cook in the evening then having to clean up after preparing the meal; order some takeout. Have a weekly family pizza night. Give yourself a break! You’ll be less overwhelmed and more present. My meal preps usually last to Wednesday/Thursday, so I order takeout or just go to a restaurant on Thursdays or Saturdays.
SCHEDULE A LAUNDRY DAY – An older coworker of mine told me years ago to pick one day of the week to do laundry on. Laundry is always pressing since my family and I are all active, so this works for me. I also incorporate the kids help now.
ASK FOR HELP - We all wear an “S” on our Chest but let’s face it, we can’t be everything to everyone all the time. Plus, there’s that’s saying, “it takes a village to raise kids”, it’s so true. It is absolutely ok to ask for help or to accept help when someone offers.
SIT DOWN FOR DINNER – Surprisingly enough, sitting together at the dinner table and eating dinner together was something that did not happen often when I was growing up. Stop waiting for holidays to sit down and eat together. Put the phones and devices down and enjoy each other’s company. Speak about whatever is on your mind and talk about your day with each other. It’ll make you feel closer to each other.
FAMILY VACATION – This is probably the most expensive suggestion on this list but you have to live a little, right!? Whether it’s a 3-4 day road trip or a weeklong vacation at Disney world; family vacations give everyone something to look forward to. Start a travel account or use a travel agent so that you can pay on a month to month basis. It’s truly worth it, you provide another opportunity to bond with your children/family and they appreciate the time away.
OUTSOURCE - Consider using some of these outsourcing services to save on shopping time and to make your life easier. Companies like Instacart, DoorDash, and Postmates will bring whatever you need right to your door. Companies like Walmart and Target are also now adding online services where you can shop online and pick up within a couple hours. Before the school year started, while on my lunch, I went online and ordered all my kids school supplies. It was delivered within days. I am also an avid Amazon shopper. Whatever I need from there is delivered to me within 1-2 days.
Hopefully, something on this list will help to create a better flow for you and your family,