Becoming a mother can change your life in many ways. You not only have a little person relying on you, but you also have to wear two hats – or more – while conciliating motherhood and your career. Being a working mom is not easy and we understand that.
Work-life balance is crucial as it enables better productivity and engagement in the workplace while benefiting home life as well. Corporate Stays CRO, Laurence Montplaisir, has two kids and gave us valuable tips on how to attain that successful balance as a working mom. Here are her top 5 tips:
#1 Working Mom Tip: Create a Routine
Before you have children, it’s easy to decide on a whim that you’re going to work late, start early, or alter your working hours. After children, however, your entire life depends on a routine for your own sanity and your family’s well being. Creating a routine is the way in which you achieve a happy, healthy, and well-balanced life.
Our Corporate Stays CRO says that while she wasn’t a “routine person” before she had children, she certainly is now.
“I personally find happiness when I feel I have accomplished something great at work, when I eat well, when I exercise just enough, and when I spend time with my loved ones. The only way I can achieve all of these in one day is through a routine… It helps me to keep my balance.” – Laurence Montplaisir
#2 Working Mom Tip: Eat Well
Even if you feel like you’re always running out of time as a working mom, it’s crucial to set time aside to eat well. When you eat nutrient-rich food, your body responds by providing you with the energy you require to keep going. If you eat fast food or high quantities of sugar and saturated fat instead, you wouldn’t have that same amount of energy and thus wouldn’t get the same tasks achieved every day.
#3 Working Mom Tip: Rest During Free Time
While it’s rare as a working mom, you may find there are moments where you have free time. When they appear, don’t take them for granted. Free time is your opportunity to catch up on much-needed sleep. Just make sure it’s in a comfy bed. Never skimp on a quality mattress as it can significantly impact your quality of sleep. Even if you are travelling for work, always opt for accommodations where rest is possible through quality furnishings and calming décor.
#4 Working Mom Tip: Exercise
With two children of her own, our CRO also believed she didn’t have time to exercise. But she got a great advice that made her realize that in reality, exercising should be as important as personal hygiene. You make time for showering, brushing your teeth, and washing your face, so make time for exercising as well. If it becomes a natural part of your routine, somehow you will find time for it.
Instead of taking the elevator at work, take the stairs. Instead of reading a book at lunchtime, take a walk. Try that 30 minutes yoga video on Youtube. Run to the mailbox instead of popping your head out the car window as you drive past it. There are many ways in which you can incorporate a little bit of exercise into your life.
#5 Working Mom Tip: Spend Time with Your Loved Ones
Corporate Stays places a real emphasis on work-life balance and understands how important it is to spend time with your loved ones. It helps you to remain engaged at work, improve your productivity, and give you more strength. Being a working mom takes hard work, routine, and dedication, but most working moms wouldn’t have it any other way.
While you’re making it through every day – dropping the kids off at school and going to work, it’s crucial to remember to spend time with them when it matters the most. Clear your Saturday for your child’s football game. Get home a little earlier to help with their homework. Surprise them with a trip to the park and ice cream after dinner. It’s the little things that matter the most.
You can succeed as a working mom, it’s about creating a healthy balance for both your career and family. Spend time with your family, eat well, exercise, prioritize, rest, and show them who is the lady boss!