Priscilla Asamoah Baffour 
Achieving a work-life balance is a goal many want but can be particularly challenging for working moms. Having a career while being present for your family often feels difficult. That’s why you need some tips to help you have a balanced life.
As a working mom, you might find yourself facing many challenges such as managing childcare, dealing with work-related stress, and trying to maintain a household. Therefore, finding a balance between your career and personal life is important for your overall well-being.
In this article, I will share with you 5 essential working mom tips that can help you achieve a healthier work-life balance.
Challenges Of Working Moms
It is so easy for working moms like you to put your needs last, the constant need to switch between your professional responsibilities and personal needs can be so tiring, leaving you little room for self-care and relaxation.
These challenges come in many forms such as:
Poor Work-Life Balance: When you are unable to balance work tasks with taking care of your kids and managing the home, like cooking and cleaning, you begin to have a poor work-life balance.
Poor Time Management: To be honest, you really try as working moms to make sure there is enough time for both work and family activities but you still find it difficult to manage your time. No time is enough for you working moms due to the many tasks at hand.
Societal Expectations: Not forgetting the expectations the society already has for you as a mom who is managing a home and various career responsibilities. These societal expectations worsen your burdens and put more stress to your lives. In order to achieve a work-life balance and live a healthier life, you need to try and follow these tips I am about to share with you.
There are important tips to help you balance and manage your time properly. Now, let’s dig into the 5 essential working mom tips for you.
5 Essential Tips For Working Moms
I must say taking time for yourself is not a want, it is rather a need to help you as a mom who works hard for you to maintain your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Here are the working mom tips you need:
1. Self-Care
In case you don’t know, self-care helps you recharge, reduces stress, and improves your overall quality of life. When you take care of yourself, as a working mom, you are better fit to handle the demands of both work and family life.
You can start your day with a few minutes of morning meditation. This practice can help calm your mind, reduce stress, and set a positive tone for your day. Moreover, regular exercise is needed to help you become active. Adding physical activity into your schedules, whether it is a morning jog, yoga session, or a quick workout at home is important.
Due to your daily stress, exercising will boost your energy levels and make your mood better. To continue, ensure you get enough sleep each night. A well-rested body and mind are more capable of helping you handle daily challenges. Never compromise with your bedtime.
I can’t talk about self-care without telling you to always eat a healthy and balanced diet. As working moms, eating well helps your body and mind, giving you the energy to handle all your tasks. One important thing you always try to forget to do is having personal time.
You need to plan and find time for activities you enjoy, such as reading, watching movies, or simply relaxing with a cup of tea. This personal time helps you to feel relaxed and recharged.
2. Set Realistic Goals
I know it is hard to set goals that seem easy to follow, however you can change how you set those goals. Plan something you know is simple to achieve, that is a realistic goal.
Setting realistic goals is an important tip for working moms to achieve work-life balance. You need to have clear and achievable goals that can help you stay focused, organized, and motivated.
It also prevents the feeling of being stressed by too many tasks. When you set realistic goals, you are able to manage your work schedules properly which helps you to reduce stress and prevents you from falling apart.
Now, you may ask, how do you set those realistic goals? Here are some examples:
Daily Task List: You can create a daily to-do list with specific, simple tasks such as “respond to emails,” “prepare a presentation,” or “clean the kitchen.” This will help you organize your activities and plan your time well.
Weekly Meal Planning: One thing that really takes your time as working moms is cooking. Therefore you have to plan and ‘prep’ your meals for the week every Sunday. This saves you time during busy weekdays and helps your family eat healthy meals.
3. Delegate Tasks
One of the most essential tips for working moms to achieve work-life balance is learning to delegate tasks. Trying to do everything on your own can lead to stress. So, asking for help and delegating tasks not only makes your work easier, but also allows others to contribute and take responsibility.
It is important to remember that delegating tasks does not mean you are failing as a mom or being lazy; it is just a good way to manage your time well to achieve a good work-life balance.
Here are some ways you can delegate tasks at home and work:
Assign Duties: You don’t have to feel everything must be done by you. I understand the mom guilt society has placed on you that it is your duty to handle everything . However, you can assign age-appropriate duties to your children, such as setting the table, taking out the trash, or tidying up their rooms.
This teaches them responsibility and helps you manage household tasks.
Partner Support: I know some working moms are single mothers however if you do have a partner, you can talk with your partner about helping you with household tasks. This will reduce the pressure and stress you face on a daily basis.
Use Technology: In today’s digital age, you can use grocery delivery or pickup services to save time on shopping and make things fast for you. You don’t always have to go to the market. Sometimes, use technology services like grocery delivery or pick up services like Jumia and Tonaton. Stop stressing yourselves working moms, your lives are important.
4. Establish Boundaries
For working moms, the lines between work and home life can often become confusing , especially in today’s era of where you can work from home as well. Setting clear boundaries is essential for you to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Without boundaries, you may find yourself constantly switching between work and family duties, leading to more stress and low work done.
Let me share with you some basic tips on how to establish boundaries with your family and work:
With Colleagues: Let your colleagues know your work hours and preferred communication times. For example, you might say, “I am available for meetings from 9 AM to 5 PM but will not be checking emails after 6 PM. ”This boundary with work colleagues will help you to balance your time and schedules.
With Family: Most of your family members are not aware of your schedules therefore they call anytime and demand for your attention or to do something for them urgently. In view of this, you have to explain your work schedule to your family, so they understand when you need uninterrupted(big word, right) time to focus on work.
You might say, “I need to work from 9 AM to 3 PM, so please try not to call me during these hours.”
Designate a Workspace: I believe working moms who work from home should create a dedicated workspace at home where you can work without distractions. This will help your family members to know that once you are in that space, you are working so they shouldn’t come into that space.
Leave Work at Work: As working moms, if you work from an office, try to leave work-related tasks and thoughts at the office.When you are home, focus on being present with your family. This will help you to spend quality time with your family without undivided attention.
5. Make Time for Family
It is important to schedule specific times during the week for family activities, such as a game night on Fridays or a park visit on Sundays. Quality family time is essential for maintaining strong relationships and building a supportive home environment.
It allows you and your family members to bond, communicate, and create lasting memories.
For working moms, making time for family can also provide a much-needed break from work-related stress and help maintain a healthy work-life balance. Now, this is how you can make time with family:
Family Meals: Start the day with a family breakfast. Even a quick meal together can set a good mood for you and your family for the day. Also, make it a habit to have dinner together as often as possible. Use this time to discuss your day and connect with each other.
Game Nights: Without a doubt, choosing a night each week for a family game night is a great family time moment. Board games or card games can be a fun way to bond and relax. However, If your children enjoy video games, find family-friendly games that you can play together with them.
Family Walks: It is so beautiful and nice to take evening or weekend walks together with your family. It’s a great way to get some exercise and enjoy nature while chatting with each other. Furthermore, planning a simple picnic in the park or even in your backyard will be lovely. Bring some snacks and enjoy the time outdoors enjoying each other’s company.
What a journey you have been on with me learning some basic and essential tips as working moms to achieve work-life balance. I believe you feel inspired and empowered to practice these important tips.
Always come back to my blog when you feel like you are falling apart to get all the inspiration and empowerment you need to continue your working mom life.
In Summary
Achieving a healthy work-life balance as a working mom is both challenging and rewarding. It feels good to have a family you love and always connected to therefore you need to learn how to establish boundaries and set realistic goals.
To add up, practicing these tips can seem difficult at first, but remember, you don’t have to do it all at once. Start with one or two tips and gradually add the others as you find what works best for you and your family. Believe in yourself and remember that finding balance takes time.
Each small step you take will bring you closer to a happier and more balanced life. Keep going, working moms, and enjoy the journey to a balanced and happy life.
