Mommy Ginger

When you’re a mompreneur, you’ve got a lot on your plate. Kids to raise, a business to build, your own health and wellbeing to look after – it’s a lot for one person! As such, a lot of the stress you might feel can build up, especially when you’re on the clock in the workplace.

You don’t mean for the pressure to send you over the boiling point, but you’ve already had a busy week and it’s only getting worse! So, to stop these moments from striking, it’s best to put some stress busting practices in place, especially when you work from home.

The more you know about reducing stress in the workplace, the less you have to bottle up and take into other areas of your strictly scheduled life. With that in mind, here are some of the best solutions for keeping frustration to a minimum when you’re your own boss.

Work Somewhere Unusual

If you’re getting sick and tired of seeing the same four walls every day, work somewhere else! Take your laptop and some headphones and set up in your local cafe, or even on a park bench for an hour.

This is excellent for mental health as it gets you up and moving, which is something both brain and body enjoy immensely after sitting all day long. If the kids are at school and you’ve got the house to yourself, get out of your home office and breathe in some truly fresh air.

Take Mental Health Days

Mental health days are very important. What used to be seen as unfairly taking a day off is now given the respect it deserves, and your own workplace should follow suit. Having a mental health day at least once a quarter helps you to stay focused on what you’re doing by allocating time towards stress busting techniques.

Use these days wisely to ensure you rest and recuperate, and make sure your employees are afforded the same. You can even insist on them taking time off to avoid paying into the increasingly widespread issue of ‘crunch culture’, or asking more of someone than they’re being paid to do or are contracted to even consider.

Keep Track of Remote Employees Using Software

If you’re not the only one working within your organization, it’s best to get a clear idea of what your employees are doing. Project management skills really do pay for themselves in the long run!

Start by downloading some software that’ll keep you updated on operation progress. For someone with a construction or mechanics company, using a Field Service CRM to track workers as they’re available will cut back on a lot of communication trouble! The less you have to chase someone up, the more productive everyone involved is going to be.

Mentally Work Through What’s Happening

So you don’t become overwhelmed in a state of confusion, talk yourself through what’s happening right now. To start: what’s triggered the stress? Instead of the worst case scenario, what’s likely to happen if you can’t complete something? And ultimately, what can you do to calm down?

Work through a problem step by step in this manner, use breathing exercises to help you focus on your internal state, and step away from the desk for 5 or so minutes. Stress mounts when we’re not sure what’s going on or how we can process what’s being thrown at us, so it’s important to be rational during these moments. The more you give yourself perspective, the easier it’s going to be to stay calm about the day’s proceedings.

Be Honest About Your Feelings

You can easily talk about your worries and concerns in a professional manner. Hold a meeting with those concerned present and lead from the front. If you want to point out a certain issue regarding time keeping or project progress, be polite and professional about it.

Ask someone directly if they’re having some trouble or need extra support, and remove blame from the conversation. Don’t just sit in your office and watch the clock, waiting for them to bring essential data in on time. Get in contact and be honest.

If you’re getting stressed out about everything you have to do, don’t let your business suffer. When you’re the boss, you can easily reduce the pressure piling on at work. Use some tech and your own communication skills to your advantage. A little bit of stress can enhance performance, but it shouldn’t crush you under its own weight!

Motherhood can be a demanding vocation for many, but it’s also one that instills moms with great passion and purpose. A mom will always find it amazing to see their little ones enjoy life and explore who they’re meant to be. Moms also love being around to see their kids reach important milestones, whether it’s their first crawl, their first time standing up, or their first time to hear their baby say “Mama.”

But being present in a child’s life and being able to meet one’s family obligations both take time and commitment. Achieving these can be doubly challenging if you want to have your own career on top of being a mother and a partner. Knowing that you have dreams and ambitions just like everyone else, how can you balance your professional development with the duties of motherhood?

Whether you’re looking at prospects for job hiring in Manila or in another city, here are seven useful tips for juggling motherhood and a new career and ultimately achieving work-life balance for yourself, your partner, and your kids:

1) Establish Clear Boundaries

Setting boundaries is crucial when it comes to maintaining a healthy balance between your career and your responsibilities as a mother. Clearly define the times when you’re committed to work versus the times dedicated to your family. For example, early mornings and evenings can be set aside for enjoying meals and catching up with your family, while the usual 9-to-5 can be relegated towards work commitments.

Communicate these boundaries to your employer, colleagues, and family members. This lets them all understand and respect your designated time for both aspects of your life. Setting these boundaries will allow you to feel less burned out and be fully present in whichever role you’re fulfilling at the moment.

2) Practice Effective Time Management

Effective time management empowers you to be productive at work while still having space for important moments with your loved ones. It also ensures that you’re devoting adequate time to work, family activities, and self-care.

Mastering time management is crucial to successfully balancing motherhood and a new career, like in content marketing, finance, or virtual assistance. To help you manage your time effectively, you can use tools such as calendars, to-do lists, and mobile apps as well as practice time-blocking techniques to allocate specific time slots for different tasks.

3) Leverage Flexible Work Arrangements

If your company offers flexible work arrangements, take advantage of them from the get-go. Flexible hours and work-from-home (WFH) setups will give you the freedom to adjust your schedule based on your family’s needs. Such arrangements also ensure that you’ll have time to attend your child’s school events and doctor’s appointments, as well as other family commitments, without neglecting your professional responsibilities. Moreover, it’ll be easier for you to begin practicing work-life balance that honors your lifestyle as both a mother and career woman.

4) Delegate Your Tasks and Seek Support for Both Your Work and Your Family Life

Mothers eventually become experts at multitasking and handling a lot of responsibilities, both at home and at work. But although you’ll always have a lot on your plate, remember that you don’t have to carry it all alone. It might go against your nature, especially if you’re always used to personally taking charge, but asking for help will allow you to free up time and mental space to focus on your career goals and be present for your family.

At home, enlist the support of your partner or family members to share household responsibilities. At work, on the other hand, consider collaborating with your colleagues and delegate tasks when appropriate. If you work solo, weigh the pros and cons of outsourcing some of your work and hiring freelancers to help you meet your targets.

5) Get into the Habit of Open Communication

Effective communication is key in both your career and in motherhood. Keep the lines of communication open with your employer and colleagues about your responsibilities as a mother. Discuss your needs, challenges, and potential adjustments that you can make to your workflow to support your efforts in balancing both roles effectively. Being transparent and proactive with the people you work with will foster trust and collaboration among you all, leading to a more supportive work environment.

6) Focus on Quality Time with Your Kids

You don’t necessarily have to sacrifice a large chunk of your time to create lasting memories with your children. What’s more important for your little one is for you to be fully in the moment when you need to be. Prioritize quality interactions with your kids, which they’ll appreciate as they get older. Avoid thinking about work or bringing work into the picture when you read a bedtime story, play games, or have heart-to-heart conversations with your kids so that both of you can concentrate on strengthening your parent-child bond.

7) Dedicate Time Exclusively to Taking Care of Yourself

Lastly, as a busy mama, you should never forget to set aside time for yourself. Though your fast-paced and other-oriented lifestyle may make it difficult to do at first, make it a point to honor your wants and needs.

Whether it’s engaging in regular exercise, practicing mindfulness, pursuing creative hobbies, or simply catching up on your favorite movies and TV shows, this time spent nurturing your own well-being will be very important for living both a productive and well-rounded life as a mom and career woman.

As a working mom, you’ll encounter various obstacles in both your professional and family life that may make it tempting to give up. But once you get into the habit of adapting, finding the right accommodations, and asking for the support you need, it will be like second nature for you to practice being yourself, a mom, and a breadwinner for your family all at once. Good luck, and here’s to your success in multiple important chapters in your career and family life!

Sleep becomes an elusive thing when you become the parent to a newborn. Babies don’t exactly have a good grasp of sociable hours to be awake and asleep, which means you quickly have to adjust to being awake whenever your baby is. Fortunately, this doesn’t last forever. Eventually, your baby will start to recognize night and day and then sleep through the night. You’ll be able to get them to sleep in their own bed without waking up multiple times through the night. And as a bonus, they’ll even nap during the day a couple of times too.

But how do you get to this point? It can be a long journey, but it’s worth it to get your own sleep back again.

Important Developmental Milestones

There are steps you can take to help your baby start sleeping through the night. However, a lot of what will get them to that point is certain developmental milestones that they need to reach. Of course, you can do some things to help them reach certain milestones, but there are also some things that just need to develop at their own pace. One important developmental milestone is obviously whether your baby needs to feed at night. Babies usually need night feeds until around four months old, but some will continue to want them to help soothe them back to sleep.

Being able to self-soothe when they wake up is essential for babies to sleep through the night. We all wake up between sleep cycles, but what matters is whether we’re able to fall back to sleep on our own. Babies might use a number of methods to soothe themselves so they can fall back asleep on their own. This could include sucking their thumb or rubbing their feet together. It’s also helpful if your baby is capable of rolling over both ways. Babies often prefer to sleep on their tummies, but this isn’t safe until they’re able to roll over onto their backs.

Understand the Different Stages

Taking some time to understand how your baby’s sleep can develop over time will give you an idea of what sort of timeline to expect. As your baby gets older they will start to need a little less sleep, and the times they sleep will change too.

Newborns require at least 16 to 17 hours of sleep every day, but they need to feed at night so won’t sleep through. They also don’t have a circadian rhythm or produce melatonin, so they don’t have a consistent sleep pattern, either. But it’s not long before your baby can start to get into a sleep routine. At around 3 or 4 months, it’s easier to get into a pattern. They probably won’t sleep through the night yet, but you can create a better routine for naps and bedtime.

When babies can go without a night feed at around 4 to 5 months, they can begin sleeping for a stretch of 5-7 hours. At 6 to 8 months, they can often sleep for even longer, up to 9 hours if you’re lucky. They will still need naps during the day, but 80% of babies sleep through the night by 9 months old. So when it comes to caring for your 10 month old baby, you can usually find that full nights of sleep are achievable. However, remember that every baby is different. If your baby isn’t sleeping through the night by then, it could only be a matter of time until they are.

Helping Your Baby Recognize Night and Day

One of the earliest things you can start doing is helping your baby to recognize the difference between night and day. This can help them develop their circadian rhythm and eventually get into a good sleep routine. When it’s time to sleep, you can make the room dark and quiet. When it’s time to be awake, let in more light and make a bit more noise to show that it’s daytime.

Create the Right Sleep Environment

Your baby should sleep in the same room as you until they are six months old. Experts typically recommend against co-sleeping, but if you choose to do it, it’s essential to make it as safe as possible. A side sleeper can be a good compromise, giving your baby a safe space to sleep while also having them right next to you. They need a firm mattress, with no toys or loose blankets in bed with them. If you use a blanket, it should be safely tucked in under their arms, with their feet at the bottom of the crib. Getting the temperature right is important too. It shouldn’t be too hot or too cold. It should also be quiet (although you might choose to use white noise) and dark.

Know When It’s Time for Bed

Recognizing when your baby is getting sleepy is really helpful when you want them to start sleeping through the night. It helps you to get into a good bedtime routine and make sure you put them to bed at the best time. Look for the cues that indicate your baby is feeling tired, like rubbing their eyes, pulling on their ears, or avoiding eye contact. Be careful of overtiredness too, though. Babies who are too tired can start to become more animated, and can actually find it harder to get to sleep.

Start Creating a Bedtime Routine Early

At first, creating a bedtime routine for your newborn can be tricky. There’s no real consistency in when they sleep, so a good bedtime routine is hard to establish right away. But, over time, you can set up a bedtime routine that works for you. Doing the same thing every night shows your baby that it’s time for bed. It gives them time to wind down and it’s a great opportunity to have some bonding time too. Your bedtime routine might include feeding, a bath, reading, singing, or a cuddle. All of these things can help to create a connection to bedtime.

Allow Your Baby to Self-soothe

Learning to self-soothe can be an important part of your baby being able to sleep through the night. This can include allowing your baby to fall asleep on their own instead of holding them until they’re asleep, as well as letting them get back to sleep without intervention if they wake up in the night. This doesn’t mean leaving your baby to cry, but instead not jumping up at the first sound on the baby monitor. Your baby might have woken up, but they could be asleep again in a few minutes without your help.

Be Active During the Day

Making sure your baby is tired enough at night is an important part of helping them sleep through. Doing lots of activities during the day will help your baby to sleep better. In fact, research shows that more physically active babies are better sleepers. Even younger babies can have plenty of tummy time, which is great for building up some important muscles and motor skills. You also don’t need to be afraid of waking your baby up from a nap. If you think sleeping too long during the day will mean they’re not tired at night, waking your baby up is fine. This is true from about 8 months or so, especially before bedtime. Your baby should be awake for at least a few hours before it’s time for bed.

The journey to your baby sleeping through the night can be a long one, but it’s worth it in the end when you finally get there.

Imagine the heartwarming scene of your beloved grandparents attempting to navigate the world of smartphones or booking medical appointments online. Now, thanks to Globe, you have the opportunity to capture these priceless moments and share them with the world through the exciting “#SeniorDigizen: Teach Me How To ‘Digi’” TikTok contest!

In honor of Grandparents Day and Elderly Week, this contest aims to make technology enjoyable for senior citizens. It’s all about strengthening family bonds while guiding seniors into the digital age, with the support of their tech-savvy children and grandchildren.

Yoly Crisanto, Globe Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer, expresses the company’s commitment to digital inclusion: “We believe that technology should be accessible to everyone, whether young or old. Through this contest, we celebrate family, learning, and the joy of discovery as we encourage our beloved senior citizens to become ‘senior digizens.'”

Do you want to join?
Participating is easy! Create a TikTok video in which someone from the younger generation, aged between 15 and 50, teaches their senior parent or grandparent a tech skill or two. This could include setting up a new app, using a mobile wallet, or even mastering the art of emojis. The key is to make it creative, engaging, authentic, and heartwarming.

Your submission should be between 30 seconds and 5 minutes long, include a one-liner caption, and be set to “public” access on TikTok. Don’t forget to tag @globeofgood and use the official hashtag #SeniorDigizen. Multiple entries are allowed, but you can only win once.

Ensure that your video is original, fun, and creative, following the popular TikTok format where situations unfold in real time from the viewer’s perspective. Both the senior citizen and the younger participant must be visible in the frame. Use only commercially available sounds, keep the spoken parts free of profanity and avoid mentioning other brand names under patent. Avoid depicting harmful actions or violence, and try to incorporate Globe’s signature color blue while avoiding other unrelated colors.

Your video must also adhere to TikTok’s community guidelines and promote positivity and respect. Aim to capture your video in high resolution, as low-quality or shaky videos won’t be considered.

Liza Reyes, Public Relations and Communications Strategy Head at Globe Group Corporate Communications, emphasizes the initiative’s message to senior citizens: “Embracing digital is easy, and you can do it! We are here, along with your children and grandchildren, to guide you through this journey. We invite our Lolos and Lolas, their children, and grandchildren to participate in this contest that not only bridges generational gaps but also the digital divide.”

What’s in store for the winners?
Entries will be evaluated based on creativity, engagement, and overall content. The top 25 entries will receive PHP 25,000 worth of Globe products and exciting prizes. Those who complete the #SeniorDigizen Ambassador program can win up to PHP 75,000 worth of Globe products.

Winning seniors should be physically able to attend an exclusive learning session hosted by Globe and complete the two-month #SeniorDigizen Ambassador program, with details to be announced later.

Important Dates:
You can submit your entries from September 10, 2023, at 12:00 a.m. until September 30, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. In October 2023, stay tuned to Globe’s Globe Of Good TikTok and Globe of Good Facebook page for the exciting announcement of winners.

Join now!
Don’t miss this opportunity! Encourage your grandparents to dive into the world of TikTok and prove that age is merely a number in the #SeniorDigizen contest.

For a comprehensive understanding of the contest mechanics and more, check out Globe’s official social media channels on Globe Of Good TikTok and the Globe of Good Facebook page, starting September 10, 2023.

To learn more about Globe, visit their website at https://www.globe .com.ph/.

Situated on the south shore of the Hawaiian island of Oahu is the neighborhood of Waikiki. Known locally as “spouting waters”, this world-renowned district in the city of Honolulu once served as the go-to destination for Hawaiian royalty. Waikiki was introduced to the rest of the world in 1901 when the iconic Moana Surfrider hotel was constructed on its shores.

Today, this vibrant neighborhood serves as a gathering place for tourists from all over the world and is home to some of Hawaii’s most popular destinations, including the prominent Waikiki Beach.

As the main hotel and resort area of the island, you are spoiled for choice when it comes to accommodations in Waikiki. The tourist hotspot is home to numerous extravagant hotels that cater to travelers who want to get pampered during their stay. If you’re looking for a memorable stay, check out our list of the best luxury hotels in Waikiki. (Pro tip: Find a luggage storage locker where you can temporarily store your belongings before you head out to explore.)

Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa

If you’re looking for the ultimate Waikiki experience, why not stay at the place where it all started – the Moana Surfrider. Built in 1901, the hotel is affectionately nicknamed the “First Lady of Waikiki” and offers guests a lavish stay that will take you back to the time of Old Hawaii. The hotel boasts an iconic colonial porte-cochere and features a full range of services and amenities that truly screams luxury; the rooms here are equipped with ultra-comfortable beds and spacious bathrooms among other modern installations.

Additionally, those staying at the Moana Surfrider can enjoy facilities such as a fully-equipped fitness center, an outdoor pool, six on-site bars and the only beachfront spa in the whole of Waikiki. The hotel is also within striking distance of Waikiki Beach as well as other entertainment and shopping establishments.

The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort

Photo by Jess Loiterton: https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-and-blue-concrete-building-near-body-of-water-4610332/

Staying true to its name, The Royal Hawaiian five-star hotel and resort has all you need for a trip filled with relaxation and luxury. Often referred to as the “Pink Palace” because of its easily-recognizable pink façade, the hotel is strategically located in Waikiki Beach and has long been a symbol of Honolulu opulence ever since it opened its doors in 1927.

Apart from its sizeable guest rooms and suites, the Royal Hawaiian also boasts an extensive range of amenities, including outdoor pools, an award-winning cocktail bar, an exclusive beach area, on-site restaurants and a deluxe spa and wellness center.

Halekulani Hotel

Named after the Hawaiian phrase meaning “house befitting heaven”, Halekulani Hotel is one of the best places in Waikiki to have a luxurious stay. The five-star beachfront hotel spreads more than five acres of shores and offers an unparalleled view of the iconic Diamond Head. The guest rooms and suites at Halekulani are outfitted with the latest amenities and all come with ocean views.

Additionally, the hotel houses some incredible facilities and establishments available to guests, including a wellness center, cocktail bars and on-site restaurants, such as the award-winning French restaurant La Mer. As a bonus for guests, Halekulani also has an incredible For You, Everything program, wherein all guests are given free transportation and tickets to some of Honolulu’s most famous attractions.

The Kahala Hotel and Resort

If you’re looking for posh accommodation that offers a little bit more privacy, The Kahala Hotel and Resort is the perfect choice for you. Situated in the upscale neighborhood of Kahala, where it got its name from, this five-star hotel resort is known for its massive oceanfront rooms and suites, all equipped with iHome docking centers, flat-screen televisions, and more.

Guests are also given free access to the different hotel facilities, including four on-site restaurants, on-site activities (like surfing lessons), a modern fitness center and a full-service spa that offers treatments and beauty services. The Kahala is also a top-notch choice for those looking to escape from the crowds of Waikiki Beach and have a more relaxing getaway without being too far from all the action.

Hilton Hawaiian Village

Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@nicosmit99?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Nico Smit</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/CNb9LjyczEQ?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a>

Photo by Nico Smit on Unsplash

For those who need a “home away from home”, the Hilton Hawaiian Village is a prime choice in Waikiki. This self-contained resort is the biggest one in the whole state of Hawaii; the gigantic property encompasses 22 acres with nearly 3,000 rooms, five guest towers, 20 bars and restaurants, around 100 shops, five pools, and its own lagoon, waterfall and beach area. Moreover, the Hilton Hawaiian Village is also home to a full-service salon and spa, a fitness gym, business center, a health clinic and even a wedding chapel.

The hotel resort has everything you could possibly need and you don’t have to leave the property. If you do want to leave and check out what’s going on outside the property, the Hilton Hawaiian Village’s strategic location makes it easy for guests to check out popular attractions such as Waikiki Beach.

The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach

The Ritz-Carlton brand has long been synonymous with luxury and its Waikiki Beach outpost is no exception. Especially great for longer stays, the Ritz-Carlton Residences has all the conveniences of a home but with the top-notch services of a five-star hotel. The property has a variety of guest rooms – from well-appointed studios to residential rooms and penthouses – all of which have stunning views of the ocean.

The rooms are fully equipped with amenities such as deep soaking bathtubs and smart televisions while the residential accommodations have their own kitchen, washing machine, and even dishwashers! Guests of The Ritz are also treated to some lovely hotel facilities, including an infinity pool on the eighth floor with private cabanas, a 24-hour fitness center, multiple on-site restaurants and a world-class spa and wellness center. The property is also a stone’s throw away from noteworthy spots around the city; The Ritz is just about 200 meters away from the popular Luxury Row, which is Honolulu’s premier shopping destination, and some 300 meters away from the Waikiki Beach.

Sources:

https://www.journeyera.com/5-star-hotels-waikiki-honolulu-oahu/

https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/hawaii/articles/the-best-hotels-in-waikiki-beach-for-every-traveler/

https://www.tripsavvy.com/best-waikiki-beach-hotels-4173151

https://www.forbestravelguide.com/destinations/oahu-hawaii

https://www.frommers.com/destinations/oahu/introduction/the-best-luxury-hotels