I don’t know about you, but if find that being a working mom sometimes gets me feeling a little bit crazy and out of my mind. I feel that sometimes all aspects of working mom life can feel overwhelming and I am constantly running around trying to do a little bit of everything and feeling like I am doing everything of nothing.
Days merge into weeks that blend into months with ideas of things I wanted to do but didn’t fulfill or finish, such as painting an interior door in the house, organizing the pantry, planning a mini family trip. Time is going so fast that suddenly you realize that 6 months has passed and you have to start planning again for Christmas! So when times get tough, I turn to five core ideas that help me get back on track and stay sane as a working mom.
Of course, as with most things related to the stress of parenting, it does get easier with time. I feel that I keep improving year after year, but once in a while…everything crescendos and it’s a great reminder to regroup, re-prioritize and set goals that support balance in your life.
Part of me writing for Work It Women is therapeutic as it does help me stop and identify when my life is getting out of balance and find ways to put it back on track. So, if you feel yourself struggling with the balancing act of kids, work and life, here are some tips on how to stay sane as a working mom that has helped me get back on track.
5 Powerful Ways to Stay Sane as a Working mom
GET ORGANIZED
Rushing around constantly is my biggest issue with working and having a child at school who does a million after-school activities. I know it’s boring and easier said than done, but if you get organized the night before then there’s so much less rushing around in the morning. Take any bags for after school clubs with you in the morning so you can go straight there after work without having to pop home to get soccer cleats or swimming bags.
There will always be things that go wrong at the last minute or things you’ve forgotten, but on the whole being an organised mom will help relieve a little bit of the stress. Try to be organized at work as well, write things down and set reminders if your brain feels a little bit fried. These are the apps I rely on to help me organize my life a bit better. I love using Google Keep and remind to help me stay on track in the day.
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LOOK AFTER YOURSELF
It’s so important to take care of yourself as well as everyone else. An unhappy or sick mom is no good to anyone so this is really important. Have some time to yourself, eat properly, exercise (if you can find the time!) and get a good night’s sleep. I know sleep can be hard to come by, but if it’s a case of sleep rather than cleaning I know which I’d pick! Plan a great girls weekend or recreate some quiet time at home. You hear the phrase “happy wife, happy life”? …the same applies for moms too!
Read: 10 Mindful Self-Care Habits To Help You Find Life Balance
DO LESS
Work. Childcare. Food shopping. Cooking. Housework. The list for working moms is endless, and there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done. You could try to do it all but you’d probably fail and end up even more stressed out. So why not do less? Does the house really need to be vacuumed every day? Can you delay the food shopping until you have more time and just let the kids have chips and chicken nuggets for dinner? Can you have a bath and relax instead of putting toys away that will just be back out by the next morning?
This counts for work too. Don’t be pressured into agreeing to do overtime or work extra hours if you don’t want to. If you’re already stressed and struggling to fit everything in, think about whether the extra money is actually worth it.
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GET HELP
Whether it’s getting a part time cleaner or asking family members to do the school run once a week, don’t be too proud to ask for help. And if your husband doesn’t share the load with you, let him know what you need help with. You have to be direct…they can’t read minds! You both go to work, so you both have to share the childcare and housework.
Read: 9 Signs That You Might Be A Perfectionist & How To Stop It From Controlling Your Life
TALK TO OTHER MOMS
Whether it’s socialising with your friends or other school moms, or joining some parenting groups online, I urge you to talk to fellow working moms. I guarantee everyone feels the same and has the same struggles, and everyone feels like they are going a little bit crazy most of the time. It might not help you to sort your life out but it will make you realise you’re not the only one who finds it all too much to balance sometimes.
Read: 5 Easy Ways to Incorporate Friendship Into Your Busy Week
AND IF ALL ELSE FAILS…
Drink wine.
It won’t get the housework done or get you all out of the house on time in the mornings, but it will help you forget about it all for a bit!
If you have some other ways to stay sane, share your working mom struggles in the comments below so other moms can see we’re all in the same boat!
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