Are you considering the possibility of earning and starting your career as a work from home mom? Indeed, teporting to the office and observing a typical 9-to-5 work arrangement used to be the norm, but that’s no longer always the case.
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Work from home jobs, hybrid jobs, and output-driven jobs are now commonplace in a number of fields. Job hunters can look to disciplines as diverse as medicine, education, technology, ecommerce, content marketing, and the like for rewarding WFH career opportunities.
For moms, this current wealth of work from home or WFH job opportunities also means newfound flexibility, allowing them to pursue careers while still being present for their families.
All the same, it can be a challenge to observe the delicate balance between work and family responsibilities within the same environment—one’s own home. As a stay-at-home working mom, it’s important for you to aspire for work-life balance.
This ensures that everyone benefits from the WFH arrangement, from your household to your company. Here are twelve practical tips for striking the perfect balance between your career and your life as a work from home mom:
1) Set Up a Dedicated Workspace
First, start by putting up a designated workspace within your home. This will create a physical boundary that can separate your work from your family life, allowing you to compartmentalize and transition between both roles more effectively.
Moreover, your home office or work area should be recognized and respected by your family as your work sanctuary. Teach your kids that when Mom is in there, distractions and disturbances should be minimized unless there’s an emergency.
2) Develop a Daily Schedule
A structured daily schedule is a lifesaver for a work from home mom. Get into the habit of making a schedule that allocates sufficient time for work, family activities, and self-care.
This can help you maintain focus and cut down on wasted time. You can opt for the usual method of using a pen-and-paper calendar or planner, or you can use a productivity app or two to streamline the process.
3) Identify Your Work and Home Life Priorities
With so many demands to take care of, both at work and at home, you’ll want to identify your top priorities. Understanding what matters most in both your personal and professional lives will allow you to allot time and energy where it counts the most.
Try making a list of tasks that are both family- and work-related, and then ranking them in terms of urgency. That way, you won’t lose sight of the most important matters, like meeting a major project deadline or making sure your kids get to their scheduled doctors’ appointments.
4) Learn the Art of Saying “No”
Moms often nurture their desire to be helpful and accommodating, but this can also lead to over-commitment. To maintain work-life balance and preserve your energy for the important things in life, you must learn to say no to additional tasks or commitments that detract from your priorities.
Though it may not feel good to do in the moment, remember that politely declining when necessary helps you avoid spreading yourself too thin so you can be mentally present for your kids,
5) Take Advantage of the Added Flexibility of Being a Work from Home Mom
Working from home grants moms the unique advantage of flexibility. Take advantage of your schedule and tailor your work hours around your family’s needs, such as attending school events or simply spending quality time with your children.
As much as possible, don’t feel guilty about baking in time to rest or bond with your family instead of utilizing every waking hour to be productive. You won’t regret tapping into the unique flexibility of your work schedule to better observe healthy work-life balance.
6) Utilize Your Work Breaks Wisely
In a similar vein, each and every work from home mom needs to realise the importance of integrating regular breaks into their workday to maintain productivity and avoid the tendency for burnout.
Instead of scrolling through social media or getting a little more work in during breaks, try engaging in rejuvenating activities like stretching, meditating, or taking a short walk with your kids. These brief pauses will help you recharge and boost your focus.
7) Communicate Your Work Expectations with Your Family
It’s also a good idea to practice open communication with your family members with regard to your work expectations. Telling your spouse and children how busy you expect to be on any given day will foster understanding and support within the whole family.
Being a work from home mom means that your family members can also take an active role in helping you observe your work boundaries and minimize interruptions during crucial work hours.
8) Engage Kids in Age-Appropriate Chores and Activities
Knowing that a lot of your energy will go into your work, even when you’re working from home, it would help to get your kids’ assistance around the house if they’re old enough. Older kids, for example, can participate in simple household chores such as folding laundry or watering plants.
As a work from home mom, training your kids early on with household chores enables you to teach your kids responsibility and teamwork, aside from reducing menial home-related tasks from your workload,
9) Prioritize Your Self-Care
To be the best work from home mom and employee, you should also bake in time for self-care. Make time for regular exercise, hobbies and interests, or quiet moments for relaxation to help you recharge from work and parenting and make you feel more like yourself.
10) Seek Support
As a work from home mom, remember that you are not alone in your journey to earn a livelihood while juggling household responsibilities.
Don’t be ashamed to ask for support from family, friends, or online communities. Engaging with like-minded moms will allow you to share experiences, challenges, and tips for achieving work-life harmony.
11) Utilize Productivity Techniques
It’s never too late to improve your WFH workflow by incorporating productivity and time management techniques into your routine. Try techniques like the Pomodoro Technique, time blocking, or the rapid planning method to boost your productivity while you’re at home.
12) Outsource When Possible
When workload and family responsibilities become overwhelming, don’t hesitate to outsource certain tasks whenever possible. Hire help for childcare or household chores, for example, to get some much-needed breathing room for both your work and family commitments.
Proper work-life balance will not only benefit your family, but also help you be your best professional self. Use the tips listed above to harmonize both your professional life and family life as a work from home mom.
