Developing an excellent work-life balance may be the most essential key to success for work at home moms (WAHMs). It can be challenging to juggle the demands of work and family and seem like an elusive fantasy sometimes. Imagine getting all your responsibilities accomplished with your job or business and still having time for yourself, your family, and your hobbies. That’s the goal of good work-life balance for work at home moms.
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Well, you don’t have to keep dreaming about it. You can achieve a work-life balance with some thoughtful planning and effort. Let’s look at some tips to help you find that ever-elusive balance.
Set Realistic Expectations for Yourself for Work-Life Balance
The first step is to understand what a work-life balance is and what it looks like for you. It’s different for everyone, so what works for someone else may not be the best fit for you. You need to find a way to juggle the demands of work and life that work best for you and your family.
Let’s say you have a full-time job, and you’re also a full-time mom. You may feel like you’re always running around and never have time for yourself. But if you take a step back and look at your week, you’ll probably see that you have some time that you can use for yourself.
Maybe you can get up a half-hour earlier each day and use that time to exercise or read. Or maybe you can put the kids to bed a half-hour earlier one night so you can have some time to relax.
You may also need to reassess your expectations of what you can accomplish daily. We all have 24 hours in a day, but not all of those hours are productive. You may need to adjust your expectations of what you can get done in a day and be realistic about your available time.
Develop a Daily Routine for Work-Life Balance
Flying by the seat of your pants can work for a while, but eventually, you’ll need some structure in your day. A daily routine can help you make the most of your time and get everything done that you need to.
Some people like to get all their work done in the morning to enjoy the rest of the day with their family. Others prefer to get their job done after the kids are in bed. And still, others like to break up their workday into a few different sessions.
There is no right or wrong way to develop a daily routine. It’s all about finding what works best for you and your family. Allow for some flexibility in your routine to adjust it as needed.
Make Time for Yourself for Work-Life Balance
One of the most important aspects of achieving a work-life balance is making time for yourself. You need to have some time each day that is just for you. This is time you can use to do something you enjoy or just relax.
It’s important to have some time each day to de-stress and unwind. If you’re constantly going, you’re going to burn out eventually. And when you’re burned out, it’s going to be that much harder to maintain a good work-life balance.
So take some time each day for yourself. It doesn’t have to be a lot of time. Even a half-hour to yourself can make a big difference. For example, fifteen minutes in the morning to enjoy a cup of coffee and read the paper or fifteen minutes at night to take a relaxing bath are both great ways to give yourself a break.
It can be hard to find time for yourself with all the hustle and bustle of everyday life. But it’s important to make time for the things you enjoy. It will make you a happier person and a better mom.
Schedule Family Time for Work-Life Balance
When trying to achieve a work-life balance, it’s important to schedule some time for your family. This is the time you can connect with your spouse and kids and just enjoy each other’s company.
It doesn’t have to be a big production. Just some quality time together can make a world of difference. For example, you could have a family movie night or game night once a week. Or you could take the kids on a weekend outing to the park or the zoo.
Scheduling some time for your family can help you feel more connected to them and make balancing work and family life easier. When you have a set time each week that you’re going to spend with your family, it’s easier to plan around it and ensure that work doesn’t always take precedence.
Keep a Designated Work Space for Work-Life Balance
Having your work area away from the rest of the house is important for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. When you’re done with work for the day, you can close your office door and forget about it until the next day.
If you don’t have an extra room that you can use as an office, try to create a designated workspace in another area. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. A small desk or table in the corner of the living room or kitchen can work. The important thing is to keep it separate from the rest of the house to mentally transition from work mode to home mode when you’re done for the day.
When you have a designated workspace, it’s easier to draw the line between work and home. And when you can separate the two, it’s easier to achieve a healthy work-life balance.
Minimize Distractions During Work Time for Work-Life Balance
To properly balance work and home life, you want to be as productive as possible during work time. And that means minimizing distractions.
If you work at home, there are a lot of potential distractions. But there are also a lot of ways to minimize them. For example, you could set up a child-free zone during work hours or limit your social media use to breaks only. If your spouse or roommates are home during the day, let them know not to disturb you unless it’s an emergency.
The mobile phone may be the biggest distraction for everyone these days. We feel the need to be connected to the internet and our social media accounts. A quick check of emails can lead you down a rabbit hole of checking Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Before you know it, an hour has passed, and you’ve accomplished nothing.
To avoid this, try to limit your cell phone use to specific times during the day. For example, you could check emails first thing in the morning, during lunch, and then again before wrapping up for the day. Or you could set a specific amount of time each day that you’re allowed to be on your phone. Once that time is up, put the phone away until the next day.
The key is to find what works for you and make sure that you’re as focused as possible when you’re working. When you can minimize distractions and maximize productivity, it’s easier to get your work done promptly.
Ask for Help with Chores for Work-Life Balance
Most of the time, moms are expected to do it all. But that’s not always possible or healthy. If you’re trying to achieve a work-life balance, it’s important to ask for help with chores around the house. This can be difficult for some moms because they feel like they should be able to do it all. But it’s okay to admit that you need help. You don’t have to do everything yourself.
If you have a spouse or partner, involve them in the household chores. Divide up the tasks so that each of you is responsible for different things. For example, one person could take care of the cooking and handle the laundry. If you have older kids, put them to work as well. They can help with chores like sweeping the floors or taking out the trash.
You might also consider hiring a babysitter or nanny to help out around the house. This can give you some much-needed free time to focus on work or just relax and unwind.
The Bottom Line
A solid work-life balance is possible with the right plan and support system. It’s all about making the most of your time daily and being mindful of your priorities.
Emergencies will happen; it won’t always be possible to stick to the schedule. However, if you can find a good balance most of the time, you’ll be able to manage everything without feeling like you’re neglecting your responsibilities.
Learning to be more productive when you have the time to work will also give you more free time. If you can get into a good rhythm, you’ll be able to find more success with your work-life balance as a whole.
Work-at-home moms, you can do it!
