Being a mother is rewarding but requires a lot of patience and work. Daily chores keep the place nice and tidy but take much time to complete. Many women prefer being stay-at-home moms and concentrating on the household. But, there are those who believe they should do their part in filling the budget.
That’s why they sign up for part-time jobs. This practice is no longer a choice for many American households due to rising living costs. Being a stay-at-home mom and working can be a lot to manage. But, there are several ways to balance these activities.
Prepare in Advance
Taking care of things in advance is one of the best practices for keeping a work-life balance. Stay-at-home moms often have a couple of hours free after dinner. Women who get an online education may look for a “write my essay for me” platform to take care of their assignments. Before going to bed and shutting the lights off, you can:
- Go over the groceries and find out if they need resupplying.
- Discuss possible changes in the family schedule.
- Lay out the child’s clothes in advance.
- Pack the school lunches for kids.
- Cook the next day’s meals.
Going through the items won’t take too much of their time. But dealing with chores in advance will leave more time for other things. This approach will make their mornings more carefree. There will be enough time to spend breakfast without rushing kids and your spouse out the door. You’ll also have more hours to dedicate to work. Getting done with it early in the day feels great.
Set Personal and Professional Boundaries
Working from home can be stressful for everybody. Stay-at-home moms often can’t set boundaries between job-related and personal activities. People assume you’re always ready for a new task or can reply to an urgent email. Not being able to set your boundaries can get you buried in your work. Take the time and set hours when you’re available.
Moms who work for companies should discuss the timeframe with their employers. This way, they won’t get calls, emails, or new assignments during their personal hours. Self-employed individuals must make their business hours clear. Remember to follow this schedule yourself. So, no work-related activities during personal hours.
Follow a To-Do List
As a working stay-at-home-mum, you have many things to do every day. It’s important to keep everyone fed, drive kids to daycare or school, shop for groceries, and do dozens of other little things. That’s not even talking about work-related activities. An updated to-do list is necessary if you want to keep up with these things and have a good work-life balance.
There’s no need to buy a notebook or post-it notes as there are many free online solutions. An individual can use Google Tasks, Todoist, or Microsoft To Do. Each program creates lists of daily tasks and sets reminders about them. This will leave no room for uncertainty and ensure that your daily schedule is easy to follow and execute.
Take Advantage of the Latest Apps
Grocery shopping and related activities used to consume a considerable amount of time. Luckily, modern technology allows replenishing supplies without leaving the doorstep. You can choose from and download various delivery apps to get food to your doorstep. Stay-at-home moms may take advantage of InstaPuff, Gorillas, or Instacart apps.
Sometimes you don’t know what to prepare with the food you have at home. Or you want to surprise your family with a new culinary experience. If stay-at-home moms find themselves in this situation, they can place orders on HelloFresh. This platform delivers the best ingredients and easy-to-follow recipes.
Keep a Family Calendar
Your job isn’t over even after working on your daily schedule. It’s equally important to keep the rest of the family members on track. A schedule shows upcoming bills and chores for kids to complete. It also reminds everyone about family and school events, birthdays, and other important dates. More structure means less chaos in your work-life balance.
There’s no need to keep the schedule on a piece of paper. Mothers can use simple apps like Google Calendar. The complete schedule can then be shared and synchronized on devices owned by family members. This way, everybody is aware of upcoming events and can prepare for them better. Spend at least 15 minutes on Sunday to review and adjust the family calendar.
Don’t Forget About Yourself
Many people put the needs of others above their own. Stay-at-home mothers aren’t an exception to this practice. They often fail to leave time and space for themselves. This attitude can seriously destabilize their work-life balance. Spending each day on chores and work also damages their mental and physical well-being.
Mothers should remember that they’re not robots but living people. That’s why it’s equally important to leave some time for things they love. It can be something as simple as reading a book or watching your favorite show. In any case, the activity shouldn’t be work-related.
One of the best ways of taking care of yourself is getting enough rest. On average, a person needs 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. Stay-at-home moms are not an exception. To achieve this, there must be a sleep schedule that applies to all family members.
Know Your Limits
Mothers often try to cram as many tasks as possible every single day. Sometimes the list is too big to fit in the 24-hour cycle. This approach often leaves them exhausted. Instead of trying to accomplish the impossible, it’s better to focus on three chores and several work assignments.
During the day, dedicate your time to only the most pressing problems. Know your limits and accept them. Life is not a race, so take the time to appreciate your loved ones. This is an important step towards achieving a healthy life-work balance.
Final Thoughts
Stay-at-home moms always look for something to do. They often can’t seem to stay still. But, if they want to keep their health and have a well-balanced life, they should keep these tips in mind.