Being a mom trying to juggle full-time work with family life is never easy. Maybe your day looks something like this:
Wake up. Get the kids’ breakfast ready. Get them ready for school. Drop them off at school. Go to work. Pick up the kids. Help with homework and after-school activities. Make dinner. Housework. Put kids to bed. Try and grab a couple of hours to yourself. Do it all over again tomorrow.
For many working parents, this is a reality. And as much as you may love your kids, it’s natural to feel like you simply never get a minute for yourself to rest and relax.
If you answer ‘no’ to the following questions, you’ve probably not got much of a balance:
- Do I get enough sleep?
- Do I usually complete my to-do lists?
- Do I get time to do things for myself?
- Do I feel fulfilled?
So, we’ve put together some tips to help busy working parents find that much-needed work-life balance.
Spend Some Time Preparing the Night Before:
Setting aside some time the night before, when you’ve put the kids to bed, is a good way to get prepared for the morning ahead and avoid a manic morning rush. Some evening to-do’s include:
- Clean up the kitchen and get breakfast and packed lunches prepared in advance
- Get clothes ready for both the kids and yourself
- Have school backpacks and any other essentials for the day ready
Meal Prep for the Week:
Spending some time at the weekend getting meals ready for the week ahead will give you more time for yourself at mealtimes, and set the tone for a more relaxing week overall. Plus, when you’ve got food ready to warm up, you’ll be less likely to spend money on convenience food or take-out at the end of a busy week.
Some good meal ideas for batch cooking include:
- Pasta sauces – just boil pasta and add the sauce when you’re ready
- Fishcakes
- Fajita fillings
- Burgers
- Cottage pie or shepherd’s pie
- Fish pie
- Stews
- Soups
- Curries
Improve Your Sleep Situation:
All too often, a busy parent’s bedroom can become a dumping ground for toys and games, a far cry from the relaxing sanctuary that it needs to be. By improving the look and feel of your bedroom, you can get a handle on your sleep situation and make sure that you’re getting enough high-quality sleep each night.
- Upgrade your mattress: If you’ve been sleeping on an old, worn-out mattress that you’ve had for years, this might be causing you to have trouble falling asleep. If you tend to wake up with aches and pains, your mattress could be to blame. A firm mattress can help you fall asleep faster and remain comfortable throughout the night.
- Clean out clutter: If your bedroom is getting rather cluttered, this can easily distract you when you’re trying to fall asleep at night. Use smart storage solutions, like under-bed storage, to keep all clutter out of sight and out of mind.
- Add some relaxing scents: If the business of each day leaves you struggling to wind down and relax at night, some soothing scents can help. Try a drop of lavender essential oil on your pillow to help you drift off into a relaxing sleep.
Make a Family Calendar:
Finally, being as organized as possible will help you get on top of your work-life balance as a busy parent. A family calendar will help you stay in control of everything and encourage your kids to be more organized, too.
Hang your calendar in a place in your home that’s widely used, like the kitchen. Include any important family or school events, and color code them for each family member.
Would you like to add any tips on finding a good work-life balance as a busy working parent? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.