Caring for your baby or toddler while working from home? Taking on both of these responsibilities at the same time requires an immense amount of organization, patience, and hard work. On your best days, it may feel as though you’ve achieved superhero status due to the sheer number of tasks you completed. On your worst days, you may feel like a failure as both a parent and as a business owner or employee.
Now is the time to stop being hard on yourself. Recognize that being a parent of a little one and a working professional is no easy feat. To help you move from survival mode to thriving, use these valuable tips from Mothers In Training.
Plan your week in advance
Do your days often feel like they are happening to you — rather than you “happening” to your days? Not having a plan in place for your week is often the culprit. There will always be unexpected things that pop up, especially when you are the mom of a baby or toddler. However, planning each day of your week in advance can give you far more control than planning the day or night before. Expect that, although you’ve set a schedule, you will likely need to make last-minute changes. Sicknesses, injuries, impromptu meetings, and other challenges can spring up at a moment’s notice. Thankfully, when you have a template for each day and a plan for the unexpected you can feel much more balanced and in control.
Dress for comfort and style
Working remotely means that you never have to dress up or put makeup on. At first, this can feel like a freeing privilege. When you’re a mom, wearing comfy and practical clothing can be even more tempting. After a time, however, “going” to work in your pajamas or loungewear can reduce your productivity and self-confidence.
Prevent getting into a work and confidence slump by dressing for comfort and style. Wearing clothing that looks good and that is comfortable and professional can help you feel better about yourself. This approach to style can also improve your focus. Upgrade your wardrobe by purchasing new tank tops, a cozy pair of leggings, and anything else that makes you feel amazing.
Never be ashamed to ask for help
Moms should never feel like they have to take on everything by themselves. Balancing work and parenting is an incredibly difficult thing to do. Expecting that you should be able to handle all related duties while also taking care of yourself, cooking, cleaning, and handling other day-to-day errands is unrealistic.
When you need help with anything, don’t be ashamed to ask for assistance! From babysitting to cleaning services to outsourcing business tasks, some professionals can help you balance your life.
Ramp up your self-care routine
Although it may sound counterintuitive, now is also a great time to ramp up your self-care routine. Too frequently, moms of little ones save time by cutting self-care time first. Instead of delegating duties to a partner or professional, mothers typically sacrifice their well-being to serve others and their children.
This approach is a quick way to experience symptoms of burnout. You cannot be the best mom, business owner, or employee if you are always pushing yourself to the brink of exhaustion. Adding little extras to your self-care routine — such as 10 minutes of reading, a face mask, or 5 minutes of meditation — can do wonders.
Work with a parenting coach
An emerging trend among moms with toddlers is to work with a parenting coach. For those who are unfamiliar with this service, a parenting coach (like those at Mothers In Training) provides gentle parenting solutions that help form a calm and connected bond. If your child frequently argues, whines, or throws tantrums, connecting with one of our experienced professionals can help restore balance and calm in your home.
As you begin to practice these strategies, be patient and graceful with yourself. Implementing habits like these is not possible overnight. Rather, with consistency and repetition, you can achieve a work-life balance that works for you.
