Women who try to do it all, like be a mother, have a career, and be a wife may struggle in finding a way to balance it all.
Parents magazine is helping working moms to find a way to stay in balance and sane. If you’re in need of balance, here’s just a few of their tips:
1. Schedule Daily Me-Time
It’s familiar advice, to be sure. But setting aside time on a daily basis that’s just for you—even if it’s only half an hour—is one of the best things you can do to feel more balance and fulfilled as well as less resentful of all the sacrifices you have to make. “You really have to make it a set part of your schedule and let everyone in the family know that it’s important,” says Eve Tahmincioglu, a Philadelphia-based career columnist and blogger (Careerdiva.net) and author of From the Sandbox to the Corner Office. If 30 minutes still seems impossible, break up your time into mini-breaks. Even closing your office door and taking 10 minutes to meditate or taking a quick walk around the block will do wonders.
2. Don’t Be List-Less
When it comes to keeping on top of things, lists are essential, many Motherboard Moms told us. “I write down all of the things that need to get done over the next few days,” says Sarah Krieger, a registered dietitian and mother of three in St. Petersburg, Florida. “It’s usually a combination of kids things (strawberries for preschool snack on Tuesday), personal (call dentist for appointment), and business (e-mail Susie to schedule a meeting).”
3. Share the Chores
Chores are not just women’s work—they’re everyone’s work! Putting your kids on a schedule of daily chores won’t just lighten your load, it will also teach them a valuable lesson about the importance of everyone doing their part. “My kids are 11 and 8 and they know they’re responsible for tasks such as making their beds in the morning, and watering the plants,” says Tahmincioglu.
To read the rest of the list, visit The Working Mom Balancing Act.
