Working from 9 to 5, or anywhere in between, can be a challenge when you’re also trying to balance being a mom. The demands of your job may be different on any given day; some days you may feel as though you have too much work and not enough time, while other days it may feel like there isn’t enough work and too much time. On top of that there are also the everyday pressures of juggling responsibilities as a parent and maintaining other personal relationships outside your home.Working moms everywhere are feeling the stress that comes with balancing responsibilities at home, at work and in our personal lives. The good news is that there are ways to reduce this stress so that we can find more joy in all areas of our lives. Here is what working moms most commonly feel overwhelmed by right now:
Work-Life Balance
The first challenge that many working moms face is working towards a healthy work-life balance. When you first become a mom, it is natural to put your child’s needs first and put your career on hold. But, as your child grows, it is important to figure out how to re-engage with your career and create a schedule that works for you and your family.It is common for working moms to feel guilty about spending too much time at work and not enough time with their children. The solution to this problem is not to put more hours into your work, but rather to create a schedule and routine that allows you to be there for your kids when they need you.If you find yourself constantly feeling guilty about not spending enough time with your child, try to focus on creating a schedule that allows you to be at home when your child needs you. This may mean coming in to work earlier every day, leaving work earlier every day, or taking a few hours off during the weekends. Find a schedule that allows you to focus on your child when they need you to be there for them.
Morning Rush and Morning Routines
Another challenge that many working moms face is the morning rush. As a working mom, you may find yourself in a rush every morning. During the morning rush, you may be tempted to eat the easiest food for breakfast or skip breakfast altogether. This may be an easy solution for the morning rush, but it is not a healthy solution. Eating a balanced and healthy breakfast every morning is an essential part of managing your stress levels and keeping your energy levels high throughout the day.Eating a healthy breakfast every morning is a great way to start your day off on the right foot. Eating a healthy breakfast can also help reduce your risk of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancers. Eating a healthy breakfast can also help improve your mood and reduce your stress levels. Eating breakfast has also been shown to improve your cognition and help prevent you from feeling hungry until lunch.
Digital Distractions (especially during your Morning Ritual)
Many working moms find themselves distracted by the various digital devices that we use every day. This can include phones, tablets, computers and even your TV. It is easy to start your morning ritual and then find yourself distracted by something else because you are in the habit of constantly being available to respond to texts, emails and social media notifications.To help avoid being distracted by all the digital devices in your life, create a morning ritual that does not include your phone, tablet or computer. Ideally, you would want to turn off all notifications on all your devices so that you aren’t tempted to check them.Another way to help avoid the distractions that come with being constantly available is to set a timer when you start your morning ritual. Set a timer for 30 minutes and commit to focusing on your morning ritual without interruption. After 30 minutes, you can check your phone and other digital devices if you need to, but commit to not being distracted while you are in the middle of your morning ritual.
Co-workers and Colleagues
Another challenge that many working moms face is dealing with co-workers and colleagues who aren’t parents. While most of your co-workers and colleagues understand that you are a parent, you may find yourself in difficult conversations where they ask you to do things that you aren’t able to do because you are a parent.If you find yourself in a situation where you need to defend yourself as a parent, you can use the following statements to help let your co-workers and colleagues know that you are a parent and that there are times that you simply can’t do what they ask you to do: “I would love to help you with this, but I have a meeting that I need to get to.” “I would love to help you with this, but I have a conference call that I need to attend.” “I would love to help you with this, but I need to finish this project before tomorrow.” “I would love to help you with this, but I have a doctor’s appointment that I need to get to.” “I would love to help you with this, but I need to get home to my children.”
Afternoon Rush (and the feeling that you’re always behind)
Another challenge that many working moms face is the feeling that you are always behind. Many working moms find themselves constantly behind on their to-do list. The afternoon rush is a challenge that many working moms face. This can be caused by a variety of factors, including coming home after work and needing to take care of household responsibilities, spending too much time on social media and not enough time doing work-related tasks, and having to find time to spend with your child.If you find yourself constantly feeling behind, try to find ways to manage your time better. One way to do this is by scheduling your day. Create a schedule for both your workday and your personal day. You may also want to create a to-do list and schedule time to complete the tasks on your to-do list.Another way to help manage your time better is to break tasks down into smaller chunks. For example, when you get home from work, don’t try to clean your entire house in one sitting. Instead, find one task that you can complete in 10 or 15 minutes, such as vacuuming one room or folding a load of laundry.
Coming Home to Responsibilities as a Mom
Another challenge that many working moms face is that you have responsibilities as a parent that you have to complete when you come home from work. The responsibilities that you have as a parent may change as your child grows, but they are always present.As your child grows, you may find yourself needing to put more structure into your child’s day. You may also want to put rules and limits on what your child is able to do during the day. As your child grows, you may also want to start thinking about how they will spend their time when they get older.For example, you may want to start thinking about what type of education your child will receive when they are older and how long they will be in school each day. You may also want to think about what extracurricular activities your child is interested in pursuing and how much time they will take each week.
Final Thoughts
Working moms are often faced with a host of challenges that can leave them feeling overwhelmed. From the morning rush to constantly feeling behind, there are many things that can make working from 9 to 5, or anywhere in between, a challenging experience. The good news is that there are ways to reduce this stress so that you can find more joy in all areas of your life. Start by working towards a healthy work-life balance, eating a healthy breakfast every morning, and creating more time for yourself. With a few small changes, you can find more time for what matters most to you.