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!
