As a full-time working mom to a nine-month-old, I understand just how hard it is to juggle both the role of career woman, wife, mom and still find that much-needed 'me time'. I recently entered a Half Iron Man triathlon, which means that any spare time I thought I didn’t have has completely vanished.
Last night, my baby came down with a tummy bug and in-between cleaning sheets and rocking his tiny sweaty body to sleep I was furiously emailing a colleague trying to sort out a work crisis.
The result of an all-nighter with a sick baby and work stress has left me both physically an emotionally drained today, and instead of feeling like Superwoman, I feel run down and exhausted.
So what do I do? How can we do it all, and be it all, without feeling like we have nothing left for ourselves? I’ve outlined a few tips which may come in handy next time you’re battling the same guilt that all working moms go through.
So what do I do? How can we do it all, and be it all, without feeling like we have nothing left for ourselves? I’ve outlined a few tips which may come in handy next time you’re battling the same guilt that all working moms go through.
- Be kind to yourself. It’s perfectly okay to be human. Everyone around you is, and it’s amazing how empathetic most companies can be. Family responsibility leave is there for a reason, so don’t be afraid to use it.
- Map out your life. Just as you would a working day, divide your life into sections dedicated to motherhood, your spouse, family and health. Make sure you leave a big ‘you’ sized piece in there as well. Sometimes getting your nails done or popping out to gym for an hour is all the therapy you need.
- Ask for help. He’s a husband, not a babysitter, so ensure the responsibility is split 50/50. When friends or family members offer to babysit, say yes. Reach out to people around you and never feel guilty for needing some time off.
- Embrace technology. Online grocery and gift shopping can save hours and can mean the difference between a frantic 19:00 grocery shop and a meal time spent with family.
- Push for flexi time. Chat to your company and see if you can shift working hours around to avoid peak-hour traffic scenarios. Work from home when possible and avoid over-committing yourself on too many occasions. Just because you feel like you’re doing it all, doesn’t mean you have to!
