I always saw mothers struggling in their daily lives because of the struggle to balance their personal and professional lives. New mothers, in particular, find themselves in difficult situations faced with enormous burdens and responsibilities that continue to increase day by day.
Work-life balance
The presence of children in every woman’s life is essential and desirable. But having a stable job, and therefore a stable source of income, is just as important as having children. However, there are only 24 hours in a day, and this number is always very small and insufficient for working, caring for children, managing the home, and taking care of oneself. The challenge, therefore, is to find an optimal balance for these four points while maintaining a healthy mind and continued motivation.
Time Management
The first key to the success of each assignment is proper organization and planning. You will therefore need to start by identifying a list of daily tasks and planning each one as best as possible.
Here are some examples of common tasks and their planning:
– Children’s Meals: Plan the weekly meal list, do essential shopping on the weekend, and specify set preparation times.
– School Clothes and Supplies: Help children prepare their belongings and clothes in the evening before bed.
– Early Morning Wake-Up: Ensure children go to bed early and prohibit any access to electronic devices before bed.
– Homework Preparation: Set times for homework and provide a little help and follow-up for the children.
Workplace Adjustments
Regular work schedules and routines may prove inconvenient with the new responsibilities of a baby or children, especially if the company or boss is intolerant of employees’ personal circumstances.
However, there are some solutions that can help establish the desired work-life balance:
– Consider the possibility of working remotely, either fully or partially.
– If the nature of the job allows, seek flexible working hours.
– Request the possibility of compressed working hours.
– Ask colleagues for help on days with high family responsibilities.
– Communicate with your boss and request temporary exceptional working conditions.
Support and Personal Well-Being
The importance of support from loved ones in caring for children and the home should not be overlooked when the mother is a working mother. The first person who can help is certainly the father. If he is understanding and supportive, he will provide a lot of assistance to the mother by taking care of some household chores, either completely or partially, or simply looking after the children from time to time.
Help from other loved ones is also important, especially sisters or grandmothers.
The last option is daycare or daycare for those who cannot rely on help from loved ones.
This support is essential, particularly for the mother’s physical and mental well-being. It gives her time to:
– Work or take care of other responsibilities without worrying about her children
– Take time off for her personal well-being (going out with friends or doing hobbies)
– Simply rest
