Tips on How To Be A Working Mom: The Odetta Way
Last Updated: November 2023
Working mothers face unique challenges, and striking the perfect work-home balance is essential for their well-being and the overall happiness of their families. By implementing these practical strategies, working moms can seek harmony between their professional and personal lives. This comprehensive guide will explore 12 essential tips for juggling motherhood and career, which will help empower women.
Image Source: Unsplash/Paico Official
Embrace Teamwork: Work With Your Child, Not Against Them
Creating a supportive environment for your child is an excellent way to maintain a work-home balance. Set up a pretend "office" for your child, making them feel vital and engaged while you work. This arrangement lets you monitor your little ones and seamlessly integrate them into your daily routine.
Encourage Independence
Foster your child's independence by delegating small tasks that they can confidently handle on their own. By doing this, you not only enhance their confidence but also create precious opportunities for yourself to concentrate on your work.
Prioritize Self-Care: Recharge Your Batteries
Weekends are an opportune time for practicing self-care; recharging your batteries enables you to maintain focus and be a better mom and professional.
Simple Self-Care Activities
Incorporate simple self-care activities into your weekends, such as meditation, taking a walk, or reading a book. These activities can aid you in feeling refreshed and ready for the week ahead. Self-care is the most important aspect of empowering women.
Maintain Personal Identity: Pursue Hobbies and Interests
Women empowerment is about embracing your individuality and pursuing your passions. Carving out time for hobbies or interests helps in empowering women through personal growth and mental well-being.
Schedule Hobby Time
Making a schedule that includes time for your hobbies, ensuring you have a chance to unwind and nurture your interests.
Accept Imperfections: Don't Beat Yourself Up
Recognize that not all days will go smoothly, and it's perfectly normal to have days filled with difficulties. Accepting your imperfections and not blaming yourself for occasional setbacks is one important step in empowering women.
Give Yourself Grace
Allow yourself some grace when things don't go as planned. Remember, you're doing your best, and it is not easy juggling motherhood and career, so it's essential to be kind to yourself.
Be Realistic: Assess Your Capabilities
Acknowledge your limitations and communicate them with your partner and colleagues. Be practical regarding what you can achieve in a day is essential for juggling motherhood and career.
Set Realistic Goals
Establish achievable goals for yourself and celebrate your accomplishments. This approach will help you build confidence and foster a sense of empowerment.
Establish Off Hours: Dedicate Time for Family
Creating "off hours" is necessary for juggling motherhood and career. During this time, disconnect from devices and focus solely on quality family time.
Establish Boundaries
Develop clear boundaries between work and personal life. This practice will help you avoid burnout and make it easier to achieve a work-home balance.
Avoid the trap of multitasking and, instead, dedicate yourself wholeheartedly to one task at a time.
While it might seem counterintuitive, multitasking can decrease attention levels and hinder productivity. Instead, concentrate on completing one task at a time to maintain a work-home balance.
Use Time Management Tools
Utilize time management tools like Clockify to track your hours and improve productivity. These tools help you plan your day effectively and prioritize tasks.
Prepare Ahead: Organize Your Day the Night Before
Preparing for the day ahead can save time and reduce stress. Involve your family in the process by organizing clothes, packing bags, and meal prepping.
Batch Cook Meals
Batch cooking and freezing meals can save time and ensure you always have a healthy option available for your family.
Optimize Work Structure: Identify Your Most Productive Time
Determine when you are most productive and schedule challenging tasks during that time. This strategy can help you maximize efficiency and help you juggle motherhood and career.
Prioritize Tasks
Categorize your tasks based on their importance and urgency. This can help you stay focused and prevent being overwhelmed. Resources like productivity coaching can also help you stay on track with a boost of accountability each week.
Set Boundaries: Learn to Say No
Establishing limits is crucial for work-home balance. Develop the ability to decline extra responsibilities that could compromise your well-being.
Teach Your Children Boundaries
Modeling healthy boundaries for your children is a valuable lesson in self-care and empowerment.
Hire Help If Your Resources Allow
Not Everyone can afford a full-time caretaker for children or a full-time house help, but part-time hired help can be an option to catch on some rest to recharge yourself.
Allow Yourself Some Relief Through Outside Help
Consider hiring someone to watch your children for a few hours or help with house cleaning or cooking. It can provide relief and support, allowing you to focus on your work and personal life.
Engage in Exercise and Family Activities
Exercise is a great way of keeping your body and mind active. It can decrease the chances of burnout and make you feel more alert.
Incorporate Exercise Into Your Routine
Incorporate exercise into your routine to maintain physical and mental health. Instead of stressing about gym time, consider family walks or other activities that promote bonding and physical activity.
Juggling motherhood and career is possible by implementing these practical tips. You can create a sense of equality and harmony between your professional responsibilities and personal life by considering the tips mentioned above. It will also allow you to thrive in your career while fulfilling your role as a caring mother, eventually leading to empowering women.
Image from Viktor Talashuk on Unsplash
Odetta also tries to accommodate for the chaotic schedules of our Odettians. Our company focuses on fostering a vibrant community where they feel supported and listened to. And this past year, we held monthly yoga and mindfulness sessions as a way for our company to come together and start our days feeling grounded and refreshed.