As a working mom, I know how difficult it can be to find time for yourself. Between work, taking care of the kids, cooking dinner, and keeping up with the house, it often feels like there just aren’t enough hours in the day. However, I’ve found that making time for myself is essential for my own well-being and helps me be a better mom and employee.
The key to making time for yourself as a working mom is to prioritise self-care and schedule it into your day. This might mean waking up 30 minutes earlier to have time to exercise or meditate before the kids wake up, taking a lunch break to read a book, or scheduling a weekly massage or spa day. It’s important to treat these self-care activities as non-negotiable appointments that you can’t reschedule or cancel.
Another important aspect of making time for yourself is to enlist the help of your partner, family, or friends. Don’t be afraid to ask for support in watching the kids or taking care of household tasks so that you can have some downtime. Remember, taking care of yourself is not selfish – it’s necessary for your well-being and the well-being of your family. With some planning and prioritising, it’s possible to make time for yourself as a working mom.
Setting Boundaries With Your Work Schedule
As a working mom, it can often feel like a struggle to make time for yourself. With work responsibilities, household duties, and taking care of your family, finding moments to recharge and take care of your own needs can feel impossible. However, setting boundaries with your work schedule can make a big difference in your ability to prioritise self-care.
Here are a few tips for setting boundaries with your work schedule:
- Establish clear working hours and stick to them: Set specific working hours and communicate them clearly to your employer, colleagues, and family members. Ensure to prioritise your predetermined working hours and resist the urge to work outside of them. When you’re not working, commit to focusing on your personal life.
- Learn to say no: As a working mom, it’s important to learn how to say no to requests or commitments that don’t align with your priorities. Don’t be afraid to decline projects or tasks that overwhelm you or threaten to take away from your personal time.
- Take breaks and schedule in downtime: It can be tempting to work straight through your day without taking breaks, but this can quickly cause burnout. Schedule in time for regular breaks and make time for activities that nourish your soul and promote relaxation.
- Create a dedicated workspace: Having a designated workspace can help draw boundaries between work and home life. Whether you work in an office or from home, create a workspace that is free from distractions and reminds you to shift your focus outside of work hours.
By setting boundaries with your work schedule, you can create more space for self-care and prioritise your well-being. Remember, making time for yourself is not a luxury; it’s a necessity for your mental and physical health.
Maximising Your Free Time
As a working mom, finding time for yourself can be a real challenge. But, by making the most of your free time, you can take meaningful steps to prioritise self-care in your busy schedule. Here are a few tips on maximising your free time:
- Create a schedule: One of the most effective ways to maximise your free time is to create a schedule. You’ll want to organise your day to ensure that you’re using your time wisely. This might mean getting up earlier in the morning to exercise or scheduling out your errands to avoid wasting precious minutes. Make sure your schedule is flexible, so you can adjust it as needed.
- Multitask when you can: Multitasking has a bad reputation, but it can be a valuable tool when you’re trying to maximise your free time. Take advantage of the moments when you have downtime, like when you’re cooking dinner or commuting to work. Use that time to catch up on audiobooks, podcasts or even make phone calls to friends or family.
- Simplify household tasks: Between work, family, and household duties, there’s always something that needs to be done. But there’s no reason that household tasks should take up all of your free time. Look for ways to simplify tasks like cleaning or meal prep, so you can spend your limited free time doing the things that you enjoy.
- Take advantage of childcare: There’s no shame in accepting help when it comes to caring for children. Whether it’s arranging playdates with friends or family, or hiring a babysitter, taking advantage of childcare allows you to focus on your own needs for a few hours – guilt-free.
- Stay organised: Finally, staying organised is key to maximising your free time effectively. When you know what needs to be done and when, you’ll waste less time, feel less stressed, and have more time to focus on your own wellbeing.
By following these tips, you can be sure that your limited free time is spent doing the things that are most important to you. Remember, self-care isn’t optional – it’s essential for your health and wellbeing!
Asking For Help And Delegating Tasks
One of the biggest hurdles to making time for yourself as a working mom is feeling like you need to do everything on your own. However, you don’t have to be a superhero, and asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Here are some ways to delegate tasks and responsibilities so you can free up time for yourself:
- Outsource household chores: Cleaning, laundry, and grocery shopping can eat up a lot of your time. Consider outsourcing these tasks to cleaning services or grocery delivery companies to free up your weekends.
- Enlist your partner’s help: Communicate with your partner about your need for downtime and work together to carve out time in your schedule. Divide household tasks equally so you both get time for the things you enjoy.
- Involve your kids: Assign age-appropriate chores to your kids to teach responsibility and free up some of your time. Older kids can help with household tasks, while younger kids can help with meal prep or folding laundry.
- Utilise your networks: Reach out to family, friends, and neighbours who may be willing to help you out with childcare, carpooling, or other tasks.
Remember, delegating tasks is not only beneficial for you, but also for your family. It allows you to prioritise self-care and be a happier, more present mom. By taking small steps toward delegating household responsibilities, you’ll find yourself with more time and energy to focus on your own needs.