Anyone who has a demanding job already knows just how difficult it can be to achieve a work-life balance. However, if you add kids to the mix, things become seemingly impossible. Constantly racing to meet all the deadlines and scheduled appointments can be really frustrating. If by some miracle, you actually succeed to accomplish everything, your babysitter will cancel last minute or your little one will come down with the flu. That is just how things go sometimes.
But, believe it or not, there are ways you can juggle these two successfully and make it a tad bit easier on yourself. You just have to feel confident enough that you can actually do it and try out some useful busy-mom life hacks.
Create a meal plan and start prepping
Arguably the worst thing for any busy parent is to come home after a long day at work, open the fridge to start preparing dinner and finding out that a) there is absolutely nothing to eat or b) you have no idea what to prepare. That is why you should try and plan out meals for the entire work week in advance and ensure that you obtain all the necessary ingredients. Additionally, you can even half-cook the meals in advance and only finish them up when their turn comes.
Find a way to keep your youngsters entertained
Busy working people know that, more often than not, you will find yourself in a situation where you need to put in some extra hours at work. While some may afford to stay longer in the office, parents – and especially single parents – simply don’t have the same luxury. What this means is that you’ve probably brought your work home more than once. Now while being able to do so is certainly a blessing, it can be quite challenging to focus on the work at hand with your little one clinging to you, demanding attention. That is why you need to find a way to keep your kids entertained. You can achieve this by playing their favorite cartoon, giving them something interesting to color or finding them a fun interactive toy at FuntasticToy.
Rely on your village
As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child – and that really is true! If you have your figurative village, don’t shy away from relying on them to help you out whenever necessary. Understand that you won’t be able to do everything by yourself – no matter how strongly you want to – and allow others to help you. Speak with your partner and delegate house chores fairly. If you simply can’t make it home in time to put the kids to bed, have your significant other take care of it for you. If, on the other hand, you have managed to come home on time but you simply feel overwhelmed, have your family member or friend step in until you take a shower and let some steam off.
Set boundaries at work
Finally, probably the most challenging thing you will need to take care of is setting clear boundaries at work. Here, we are not suggesting that you stomp in the office one day and make insane demands. We are simply saying that you should try and work out a schedule that will keep both your family and your boss satisfied. Moreover, try to avoid making private phone calls during your work hours but also try to make it clear that – unless there is an absolute emergency – your off-hours shouldn’t be disturbed with work-related stuff.
As mentioned earlier, it is no secret that managing to achieve a healthy work-life balance is very difficult. However, if you give it your best and learn how to prioritize properly and organize your time the right way, you should be just fine.
