4 Ways Busy Moms Can Balance Work and Family Life
Gone are the days when a mom’s only job was to take care of her children. These days, women have to look after the kids, work and try and find time for their husband/partner too. It is multitasking at its finest and with almost 40% of American moms now working, if you are one of them, you are not alone. However, while you might have more responsibility than the previous generation, you don’t have more time so here are a few hacks to help you make sure you have a good balance of both work and family time.
1. Make being organized a habit
When you are always pushed for time as many working moms are then it is important to be efficient. This helps you to make the most of every moment and gives you more time for fun with your family. One of the best ways you can do this is by making sure you are organized. You can make life easier by doing all your food shopping once a week. Plan your meals and pack lunches ahead so you have all the ingredients ready and you don’t have to keep running out to the store. This also makes it easier to eat healthy meals and limits stress. Have a calendar on the wall and keep a note of important appointments, things you must do and any bills that need paying. Where possible, set your bills up as automated payments. This will help you avoid late payment charges, save time and prevent problems with medical insurance claims.
Keep all the children’s school things in one set place all the time. This will save you searching for school bags and lunch boxes in the morning. Prepare your clothes and lunches the night before and pre pack bags so you can just have breakfast and leave. The school run can be very stressful but being organized will make it much more manageable and help prevent accidents or anxiety while driving.
2. Enjoy family time at least once a week
With so much going on, it can be difficult to find time for fun with your family. One way to ensure you always have time is to make it a priority. Designate one or night a week when you have fun together. Choose something you all enjoy doing like board games, movies or baking cakes. Turn off your phones and enjoy each other’s company. Family time is a good way to bond and can be great fun.
3. Be disciplined with your work
It is often difficult to prevent work spilling over into family life and vice versa but try and keep the two separately as much as possible. Just before leaving work take a few minutes to switch off so when you get home you can focus on your family and do the same just before you go to work. This will help you get the most out of your day and be mindful of each individual task. Keep a list of the things you have to do in your diary of the phone and set up reminders. Refer to it once or twice a day and you won’t need to worry about forgetting anything. Staying focused at work will prevent you from falling behind and make it easier to wind down when you clock off.
4. Make time for your partner
Your partner still needs to know that you love them so make sure you take the time to enjoy their company too. Have a date night once a month, send them a cute message throughout the day to let them know you are thinking about them or simply get them their favorite treat on your way home.