If you’re a fellow working mom trying to juggle it all, this is for you. These 10 tips will help you create more of a healthy work-life balance.
Working moms balancing it all are superheroes. Plain and simple. We’re masters of multitasking. Chasing down a kid with an uncapped marker and holding a crying baby all while you’re on a business call? Just a normal Tuesday morning. Everyone sick AGAIN and now you don’t have childcare for the entire week? Happens all the time. Showed up to school drop-off in your slippers with a slept-in messy bun and spit up on your shirt only to realize it’s your turn to bring snacks for the whole class? Par for the course.
There’s NOTHING we haven’t seen before. Honestly it’s a wonder we ever get any work done 😂
If you’re a fellow working mom trying to do it all…I see you. It’s not easy managing the chaos of work and home all in one. You’re just trying to make sure you get your work done all while also feeling guilty that you aren’t as present as you want to be with your kids. As a mom of 3 young kids, I have been there and I still have many of those days too. (especially lately when it took us two MONTHS to find a solid childcare situation)
Over the past few years as I’ve built a successful newborn + family photography business, (and being a mompreneur is a whole other level of crazy to juggle in itself) I’ve had to come up with strategies to help me balance my work and home life so that I can show up fully for both my business AND my kids.
I’ve put together a list of 10 simple tips that I have found helpful to create a healthy work-life balance as a mom. Let me walk you through how you can implement each of them ⬇️
10 tips to help you create a healthy work-life balance as a mom
1. Set Clear Work Hours
Create boundaries by having dedicated work time and stick to it! (even if it’s just during nap time or that one hour first thing in the morning before your husband goes to work) Don’t be afraid to “clock out” when your set hours are over. Your business can wait. Your kids can’t. You might be tempted to tell yourself “once I get through this week/month things will calm down”, but the reality is the to do list never ends. There will always be something. And you can’t get back the time that you missed being with your kids.
2. Batch Your Tasks
Mom brain is real. We only have a limited amount of focused work time available before we get interrupted by something. (If I had a nickel for every time a child asked me to open a snack for them…)
Batching your work tasks can help you be more productive even with distractions! Focus on grouping similar tasks together throughout the week (responding to emails, social media, scheduling etc.) so you can easily get into a focused rhythm. It’s more efficient and keeps your brain from constantly switching gears.
3. Use a Shared Calendar
Simple is better. Keep one calendar that has everything: both work and family events. This will help you avoid overlap or double booking yourself. Plus it gives you more clear picture of your time and you can plan in rest days or intentional time to be with your kids. You can also take the extra measure and share this calendar with your partner so that they are on the same page too. That way they can help you protect your dedicated work time!
4. Learn to Say No (and mean it!)
You don’t need to say yes to everything (read that again). This is especially important if you are a small business owner: it’s ok to say no to an inquiry or potential client. Protect your schedule by only taking on what aligns with your goals and capacity both professionally and personally. That way you are also able to give your absolute best to the things you do say yes to. You owe it to yourself and your kids to not be burned out!
5. Outsource Where You Can
Whether it’s creating social media content, house cleaning, meal prep, or childcare. Offload what you don’t have to do. It’s not cheating, it’s saving yourself by working smarter instead of harder.
Think through the tasks that are taking up your time that could be done by someone else. Then look into outsourcing! Hire a housekeeper to come in and do a deep clean once a month. Order grocery pickup so you don’t have to drag the kids into the store with you. Hire a virtual assistant to help you with some business tasks. Subscribe to a meal service.
Outsourcing doesn’t have to be expensive or all-or-nothing. Figure out what one thing feels like it would take the biggest weight off your shoulders right now and start with that! Then slowly add other ways of outsourcing in as you are able to. You can get creative too with this!
6. Be Present, Not Perfect
Let go of the guilt (this one’s hard, I know). Some days you’ll crush it at work and as a mom. Other days it will feel like your hair is on fire and everything is falling apart. Remember to show up where you are and give yourself grace for the rest.
7. Build In Buffer Time
I’m the worst at this…I always feel like I can be superhuman and get it all done so I schedule things back to back. And then life happens (typical). It might feel like you’re wasting valuable time by building buffer time into your day…but the reality is buffer time will help you get more done in the long run.
Giving yourself plenty of breathing room between work tasks and family commitments will reduce your stress and help you prepare for when the unexpected comes up (and lets face it…with kids around it usually does). Your day will run smoother and you’ll have more time to do the things that are on your schedule because, you know…you’ll be spending less time standing in the kitchen zoning/scrolling on your phone and stress eating chips from the bag because a kid had a 30 minute meltdown and now you’re behind schedule.
8. Unplug After Hours
Set strict boundaries with your phone and computer in the evenings. Try setting your social media or email notifications to be turned off after your work hours are over so you aren’t tempted to check anything. Then force yourself to stick to it! No checking that one email “really quick” in bed because before you know it, you’ll be 15 minutes into crafting a response to a client inquiry. Setting clear “rules” like this for yourself will help you create actual mental separation from work so that you can avoid burnout!
9. Make Time for Yourself
Let’s face it. If you don’t prioritize it, it’s never gonna happen. A mom’s work is never done. But you aren’t just a business owner and a mom. You’re human. And you need some regular time to care for yourself so that you can show up for the people in your life. (actually, you don’t even need an excuse…do it for you, girl!) Carve out a set time weekly (even 15-30 minutes) for something that’s just for you. No guilt and NO multitasking while you’re doing it.
10. Involve Your Kids When Appropriate
Especially if you work from home, let your kids see what you do! Involve them whenever possible. This could look like having them help with packaging orders or even just talking through your schedule with them. It helps them understand your work and feel like they’re part of it!
Here’s to you, mama!
I hope you found this list of 10 tips to create a healthy work-life balance as a mom helpful and encouraging! And if you have any tips that have helped you, please share them with me!! I’m always looking for new ideas to help manage the chaos as a business owner and mom of some crazy kids. Remember, juggling working and being a mom is NOT easy. So be kind to yourself! You are kicking ass at balancing it all! You got this!
Also, if you’re into funny and relatable mom content, make sure you’re following me over on Instagram! It’s a hoot of a time. You’re gonna love it.
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