One question I get asked all of the time is “How do you balance it all?” Fair question! After all, I am a wife, mother, lawyer, business owner, blogger, etc. And I love each and every one of those roles! It takes a lot of commitment, dedication, and will power to say the least! But more than that, there’s a few key principles I have to live by in order to make it work. Keep reading to hear all that I have on balance tips for the working mom!

PLAN AHEAD TO AVOID FAILURE

One of my favorite quotes is “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” That quote has proven true in my life on more than one occasion. So, I try to make planning a part of my every day life. My husband and I do family sharing over our phone calendars. Naturally, we share our work schedules, but we also have a family calendar as well. It’s super important that we update the calendar to include ALL of our events, meetings, responsibilities, etc. You’ll find your regular appointment reminders like doctor visits, birthday parties and holiday reminders. But you’ll also find things like Noah’s show and tell reminders, Lou’s haircut appointments, and my singing rehearsals. The more we have spelled out, the better we are able to plan for it! In addition to our phone calendar, I have my own planner that I use in order to keep up with my blogger content and collaborations, my essential oil business, and my goals. I carry it with me EVERYWHERE so it’s always within arms reach. It has been a game changer for me. I love having it around so that I can write in it whenever I get an idea!

FIND A SUPPORT SYSTEM

This is such a BIG one! I have several people in my life who I feel comfortable enough to talk with and bounce ideas off of. My husband being on the top of the list, but there are others who I depend on to keep me grounded, motivated, inspired, and accountable to my goals. No matter what your goals may be, it’s so important to find someone who can help you stay on task. I should note here, you can (and maybe even should) have different people serve as your support and accountability for the different roles and goals in your life. I have someone I can turn to for each of the following categories: business, motherhood, fitness, life, etc.

If you’re on the hunt for a tribe of Mamas who can encourage you and empower you into making the decision to become your own boss, I would love to have you join the Making a Mama of Both Worlds Facebook Group! We are a group of Mamas who have either been in your shoes before or are currently wearing the same shoes you are! We’d love to have you join in on the conversation and community!

WORK WHEN IT WORKS FOR YOU

I can’t stress this enough! The best part about being my own boss, is that I don’t have to work conventional hours. I know to some this idea sounds strange, and I’ve even read a blog or two where they don’t recommend this. That being said, it works for me! I have no problem working during lunch, or after bed when my children are fast asleep. To be honest, I love being productive! So, although I do enjoy snuggling up with my husband on the couch and watching our favorite Netflix show, it feels amazing when I do use that time to write, work out, plan, etc. All of this to say, work when it works for you! If you enjoy rising with sun, wake up a little before the kiddos to get some solid work in before the day starts. If you’re a night owl like me, then spend a couple of hours each night burning the midnight oil. Make your schedule work for you!

UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO HAVE BALANCE

Here’s an idea that I’d like you to try to wrap your head around: Balance doesn’t mean equal. Let that one sink in. There will be days when your role as mom will require more of you at the expense of your job, i.e., sick kid = no work. Then there will be days when your work responsibilities will require more of you at the expense of your mommy obligations, i.e., meeting a deadline and having someone babysit the kids so you can get your work in on time! And that’s ok! That’s the point of balance. It’s finding a way to make it all work. It’s realizing that you should take the kiddos to the park this weekend for a day of fun because this past week you had to work more than normal. It’s putting your head down and getting that work done because you know you were on vacation last week having the best time with your family! Balance does NOT mean giving each role in your life equal attention at all times, it changes week to week. Your work and family obligations change weekly so what worked for your family last week will need some adjusting this week.

LISTEN TO YOUR BODY

Mental health days are a real thing, or at least they should be! If you’re feeling run down, exhausted or like you’re being pulled in too many directions, it’s ok to slow down and take a day or two to rest. Once you’ve had a chance to catch your breath, you’ll come back more focused and determined than before. I’m sure it sounds counterintuitive to take a break, but if you’re spent, you’re not being efficient anyways! Whew! I know that was a lot, but it’s really what helps get me through the busy, some chaos filled life I’ve made for myself! 😉 Share some of your favorite tactics and balance tips for the working Mom!

---

If you enjoyed reading ‘Balance Tips for the Working Mom’, then make sure to check out these great reads:

• • • • Lessons for Mamas Starting a Business
      • How to find Success as Your Own Boss
      • That time I decided to become my Own Boss