Happy International Women’s Day Moms!
International Women’s Day is a time to reflect on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities. and this year,
I #ChooseToChallenge all women and especially moms to find some sort of Work-Life Balance.
COVID-19 has been one that put us as women to the test and I must say the ladies all around the world have raised to the challenge. Women have always had to work twice as hard to get half as far and the one thing that we have had to struggle with is that we need to find some sort of Work-Life balance.
Here are my 5 tips for a better work Life balance that I have compiled from my journey as a working mother.
ACCEPT THAT THERE IS NO PERFECT WORK-LIFE BALANCE.
When you hear someone say “work-life balance” and you drift in though thinking of a productive day at work, get home early and get time to spend time with family and friends. Well, however ideal that is, it will not always be like that, and accepting this is the first step of achieving Work-Life Balance.
It is important to remain fluid and practical because, there are days you might focus more on work, while other days you might have more time and energy to pursue your hobbies or spend time with your loved ones. Balance is achieved over time, not each day.
PRIORITIZE YOUR HEALTH.
Your overall physical, emotional, and mental health should be your main concern. If you struggle with anxiety or depression and think therapy would benefit you, fit those sessions into your schedule, even if you must leave work early or ditch your evening aerobics class.
If you are battling a chronic illness, do not be afraid to call in sick on rough days. Overworking yourself prevents you from getting better, possibly causing you to take more days off in the future.
LEAVE WORK AT WORK
Develop a mental on-off switch between work and home. It helps to establish a transitional activity between the two realms. This might consist of listening to music or recorded books during your evening commute, exercising at the fitness centre, running errands, or keeping personal appointments. Scheduling such activities immediately following your normal work hours also prevents you from spending that extra twenty minutes at the office which then turns into several hours.
MAKE TIME FOR YOU
As much as work, health, and relationships take priority in your life, it is also important to schedule a time for your own renewal. Indulge in some small pleasure daily. Take at least 30 minutes of uninterrupted “you time.” It will do wonders for your well-being, and your relationships and your career will benefit too. Belief in God, or a higher power, can be a deep well from which to draw inspiration, guidance, and strength. Setting aside a weekly day of rest can be helpful, as well.
HAVING A SOCIAL LIFE
While you usually reserve fun things for the weekends, plan at least one enjoyable activity during the week. You’ll be able to head into your work week with something to look forward to and have a way to blow off some steam if the week starts off too strong.