How to Balance Motherhood and Careers: A Guide for Working Mothers

Being a mother is a rewarding and challenging role, but so is having a career. Many women struggle to find the right balance between their personal and professional lives, and often feel guilty or overwhelmed by the demands of both.

However, balancing motherhood and careers is not impossible. With some planning, prioritizing, and self-care, you can manage both roles successfully and thrive in both. In this article, I will share some tips and strategies to help you find your balance and achieve your goals as a working mom.

Set a routine

A routine can help you bring order and stability to your busy day, and make sure you have time for the things that matter most. Try to stick to a consistent schedule for your work, family, and personal activities, and avoid unnecessary interruptions or distractions.

For example, you can set a specific time to wake up, get ready, drop off your children, start and end your work, pick up your children, have dinner, and go to bed.

A routine will also help your children feel more secure and comfortable, as they know what to expect and when.

Prioritise your to-do list

You can't do everything at once so you need to focus on the most important and urgent tasks first. This is where the first rule of time management is to tackle the issue that you dread sorting out first, trust me it will make everything else a breeze!

Make a list of the things you need to do for your work and your family and rank them according to their priority and deadline. Then, tackle them one by one, starting from the top.

You can also delegate or outsource some of the tasks that are not essential or that someone else can do better or faster, such as cleaning, grocery shopping, or accounting if money allows this.

Personally I ensure that my eldest helps out more around the house and give her a list of chores to do. This gives her self-worth, makes her respect and value the pocket money she gets but most importantly allows us to get the chores done and spend quality time together.

Practice self-care

Balancing motherhood and careers can take a toll on your physical and mental health, so you need to take care of yourself as well.

Make sure you get enough sleep (hugely important!), eat well, exercise regularly, and relax.

You can also do some activities that make you happy and fulfilled. These I call your switch off me moments which we ALL need.

Self-care is not selfish; it's necessary for your well-being and productivity. Remember, you can't pour from an empty cup.

Communicate with your employer

If you want to balance motherhood and careers, you need to have a supportive and flexible work environment. Talk to your employer about your needs and expectations and negotiate a work arrangement that suits you and your family.

For example, you can ask for flexible hours, remote work, part-time work, or job sharing. You can also discuss your career goals and aspirations.

It is hugely important to keep this on the horizon and seek feedback and guidance on how to achieve them.

Stay connected to your children

Even if you have a busy and demanding career, you can still be a present and involved Mum. Make time to bond with your children every day and show them your love and attention.

You can do this by having breakfast together, reading them a bedtime story, playing games, or having a family movie night.

You can also keep in touch with them during the day, by calling, texting, or video chatting. Let them know that you care about them and that you're proud of them. If you have a parent's evening or your child is performing, plan ahead and make sure you are there. This will enrich yours and your child’s life.

Build a support network

Balancing motherhood and careers is not easy, and you don't have to do it alone. You can seek help and support from your partner, family, friends, co-workers, or other working mothers.

You can share your experiences, challenges, and tips, and offer each other encouragement and advice. You can also join online or offline communities of working mothers, where you can find resources, information, and inspiration.

There are also numerous firms that offer mentoring for Mums free of charge. Take this opportunity.

Let go of the guilt

One of the biggest challenges of balancing motherhood and careers is dealing with the guilt of not being able to do everything perfectly or to please everyone.

However, you need to realise that you're doing your best, and that you're not alone. Many working mothers face the same struggles and dilemmas, and there is no one right way to balance the two roles.

Instead of feeling guilty, focus on the positive aspects of being a working mother, such as setting a good example for your children, being able to provide experiences for them, pursuing your passions, and contributing to society.

Balancing motherhood and careers is not a one-time thing, but a continuous process that requires constant adjustment and adaptation. You may not always find the perfect balance, but you can always strive to find the best balance for you and your family.

By following these tips and strategies, you can manage both roles successfully and enjoy the benefits of being a working mother.

The above I felt the need to write, as the person that I am is because of my wonderful mother Carol Ann Lewis 23-08-45 to 05-10-2017.

I was a single father for a long time and it was her nurturing and example that she set myself, that was my enabler. God bless her and all of you fantastic mothers across the globe.

Need any support, reach out, I would love to assist with you to ensure you live a balanced and enriching life.