👩‍👧 7 Tips for Working Mothers Re-joining the Workforce

Work | The hardest thing for working mothers is finding a work-life balance between being the best mother, partner, and employee. No one said it would be easy, but it can seem nearly impossible some days. In the movie ‘I Don’t Know How She Does It’ with Sarah Jessica Parker, even Hollywood has recognized the daily frustrations that mothers in the workforce encounter. But here are seven tips to help you find equilibrium.

Get organised

The key to balancing work and a family is organization. Children need to have a routine and schedule they can stick to. If you can get up at least half an hour before everyone else in the family, you can collect your thoughts and get more organized before the children wake up and chaos ensues. You can use this time to get dressed, have a quiet cup of coffee, or exercise.

Prepare your clothes the night before

You know what mishaps might happen in the morning, so save yourself extra time and prepare your clothes the night before. Working mum Victoria Beckham says in her fashion bible ‘That extra half an inch’ as a mother of three (now four) that she’s always rushing in the mornings, so she often works out her outfits the day before. She may have the help of a stylist to help her, but it’s a tip that can apply to all working mothers.

Get lunches and meals ready the night before

As per your work outfits, you can also get lunches and meals ready the night before and insert them into the children’s lunch boxes before they leave. This will save you a lot of preparation time for making morning lunches. Clothes for the children can also be put out the night before,e as well as anything else they may need, such as a sports kit or library bag. Showers and baths can also be taken the night before to save time.

Find reliable childcare

Finding reliable childcare is a significant obstacle for working mothers. In some areas, there are waiting lists for childcare facilities. Ask your friends, families, and colleagues for recommendations. The best choice for childcare is a trusted relative or neighbor, but that is not always an alternative. Other options may include sharing the cost of a nanny or sharing child minding with another working mum who works a different shift from you.

Learn to delegate

Every mother has their views on their children helping with the housework, but as they say, many hands make light work. It is never too early to start getting the kids involved in helping around the house. If you can afford to, outsource jobs you don’t have time for or you don’t like, such as cleaning, ironing, and doing the garden. You could even team up with other working mothers and swap the tasks you dislike.

Make friends with technology.y

Instead of driving to the supermarket, paying for petrol, parking, and waiting in queues, why not shop for groceries online? Some online stores even let you save your shopping list so you don’t have to start a new one every time. As much as possible, save time and money by shopping online. The money you pay for delivery may be worth it in convenience, and the time you save can spent doing other essential tasks.

Speak to your boss about a work-life balance.e

By being a working mother, you are admittedly missing out on those special milestones, such as seeing your children at the school swimming carnival or attending awards days. Speak to your boss in advance about taking time off and whether you can make up the hours after work. If you have a job that isn’t customer or client-facing, you may be able to negotiate working from home a few days a week. This will give you more flexibility.

Admittedly, much work still needs to be done to create family-friendly and more flexible workplaces where parents feel supported. Being a mother while holding down a full or part-time job can be a struggle, but it can also be gratifying. Working mothers can achieve a work-life balance with help from their family and boss and a little realism thrown in.

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