There is a growing sector of women in our society who have broken free from the stereo-typical ‘stay-at-home mum’. These women raise their children, look after the house (and often their partner!) AND have a successful career or run a business, often from their own home.
As a busy Mum, Life Coach and Trainer from an office in our home, I fit snugly into this category and, as I coach many women who are also in this position, I understand the importance of maintaining balance in one’s life.
All too often, women can feel that they are one-step away from being a ‘Super Mum’ – they can’t let anyone down, whether it’s their family, friends, partner, career or business and this can leave them feeling unappreciated and unsupported.
It’s so amazing to be in a position where you can have the best of all worlds, but if you are feeling like you are trying to do or be too much, here are some tips that I’ve learned along the way:
- Work your career or business when your children are at school, nursery or being looked after by someone else – if money is tight, ask a friend or relative for help and set times for your career or business around this. You may also find women in a similar position to yourself in your area who you can help each other out with child care. If your kids have a nap during the day, or when they are asleep at night, this is a great time to work.
- Get your kids involved with the housework. Even from a young age, children are interested in what we do and their play reflects our household jobs. You can ask them to dust, sweep, wipe, bake, or stir while you get on with it, too. This is great time together, makes the jobs more fun and you can sing songs and rhymes with little ones while you do it. For older children, they enjoy the responsibility of tidying and cleaning their own space and if you start while they’re young, they’ll get into great habits.
- Be time efficient – use what time you have for the important things and prioritise every task. I find it useful to write a list before I set to work. Take each task and put a star by the most important ones, then prioritise them again by numbering the order you will do them. If you get them all done in the time you have, do the same with the tasks you didn’t star. Also, when prioritising your starred tasks, do the ones you dislike doing first. This gets them out of the way and you’ll feel much better once they’re done.
- Make sure you get time with your partner. Whether it’s a night out or a cosy night in, it’s really important to your relationship to have together time. Make sure you add this into your schedule each week.
- Get your ‘you-time’. This is probably the most important thing to remember. It’s like in the aeroplane - you put on your oxygen mask before your child’s – you have to look after yourself in order to look after them. If you’re not a relaxed, well-rested and happy person, this will reveal itself in your day-to-day life. So take guilt-free you-time, whether it’s a night out with friends, a long bath, a spa day, shopping, or a film and chocolates, time out will give you a huge boost in your home and work life.
So don’t try to be a Super Mum – it is possible to get balance as a Mumpreneur and if you need help with that, a Life Coach is only a click or phone call away!
According to a recent report in the UK by major bank Barclays, new mums and housewives are the driving force of the new entrepreneurial economy as mums are both forced and choose to return to their careers after having children. A further report by Yellow Pages as the issue hots up in the UK shows mothers who work from hom in fact contribute a turnover of more than £4 billion a year.
Some really great advice for mums…
As you said, the field of play is definitely changing, from the more traditional “stay at home mum” to the “career mum”
It is possible to have the best of both worlds, if you can organize your time correctly, and stay healthy, then there should be no reason as to why this cannot be done..
.-= Khaled Andrews´s last blog ..Panic Attacks Cures =-.
Great tips on not trying to do too much. I see a lot of “mumpreneurs” trying to do it all as they get their families organized while running a business, etc. Thanks for the good list.
as a female entrepreneur myself i couldnt agree more, i know what you mean with finding some me time im doing most of the above and trying to organise a wedding at the same time so its important to relax and give yourself a little pamper!
.-= Beauty Salon Wakefield´s last blog ..Spa Detox Treatments =-.
Thank you for this article. I recently found out I am pregnant, this will be our first child and of course I am very happy. But since I also do love my work I wasn’t quite sure how to manage both things at the same time. I think your advice will help me a lot.
i think that mums should take care of their children until they are old enough to be able to socialize with other person , before having to work. Its important that a child gets all the attention he can as an infant from his parents before being left. For me,children is still a top priority.For mums, you can consider working from home in the meantime.
.-= dimas´s last blog ..Pedometer : A Helpful Device for Fast Diets =-.
Hi, I see you are in the UK. I’m in the US, but if I couldn’t live here, I would live there. I love the UK. Years ago I lived for a short time in Wroxton, which is 3 miles from the famous Banbury in the Cotswolds, a beautiful area.
I enjoyed your blog very much. I have a similar blog, trying to get people to take care of themselves too, with healthy living (you know the mind, body, spirit connection). I would love you to check it out. I couldn’t agree with you more. I’m always telling my friends to, especially the ones with small children, that they need to take care of themselves first. Sometimes people just don’t get it, and think that is a selfish thing to say or do. Like you, I try to tell them that they won’t be any good to anyone else if they aren’t good to themselves first.
It’s a good message you are putting out, and especially good when it comes from a woman who is juggling motherhood and a job herself. Let’s continue the message.
Take care,
Jeanne
.-= Jeanne Coffey´s last blog ..PREPARING FOR TAX DAY =-.
I find that getting children involved with the housework at a young age is easier than you would think. They are curious, energetic, and actually consider many chores to be fun! The tricky part is to get them to finish a task, and not just try it out for five minutes before moving on to something else.
These are truly excellent tips. I am a mother of three and while my husband works as well, I run a small real estate website from our apartment in Soho. Needless to say I am extremely busy and these tips are most welcome, you sound like a wonderful life coach!
We need more people like you paving the way, teaching the younger generation.
When many women come to see us they are at a crucial level for changing their lives. Many have had to deal with the issues you mention and are almost in guilt with “doing something for themselves” A positive outlook and lifestyle are intrinsic to the success of what we do certainly. Women have been it seems, always the “unheard factor” for taking on the stress for the whole family…A question of balance indeed. Thank you Dr.Robert Yoho
.-= Dr Yoho ´s last blog ..Varicose Vein injection in Pasadena and Los Angeles =-.
I like to say if it weren’t for the last minute, nothing would get done! Its amazing how elastic time can be really. As long as I stay positive it doesn’t seem to matter how much needs doing there is always some time left over for having fun. The minute I lose faith and get down hearted suddenly it all starts falling apart. Thats when I know I need some “me” time and take a day off, the world doesn’t end, but everything just seems to get back on an even keel the day after.
.-= self improvement books´s last blog ..Stop Being Your Own Worst Enemy =-.
This is very good advice and as a mum who has always gone to work I currently have my own business as an equality and diversity consultant and this requires me to be very organised and planning is a major part of my life. Women can have everything (so can men) we just need to think through what we want and do it!!
Managing time and family responsibilities truly demand the jod of super woman. In this matter ur advices like work when your children are busy, spending quality time with partner, and most importantly your ‘you time’ i.e time for your own relaxation and thinking are important. Healthy and peaceful living are what we aspire for.