Are you a working mum? If so, life is probably incredibly hectic. You may feel like you never get a minute to yourself, or find yourself in a constant state of frenzy. If this sounds familiar, you’ve come to the right place. One of the biggest struggles facing parents today is establishing a healthy work-life balance. Here are some useful tips, which may help you to crack the code.
Be more organised
Are you one of those people who never knows what they’ve got on that day? Are you late on a regular basis? Do you forget meetings or appointments? Is your desk a mess? If so, it’s time to get organised. Adopting some new skills will not only save you time. It will also make life a lot easier. Set aside time to clear your desk, sort your in and out trays, and update your schedule. Keep a diary with you, or use your phone to set reminders. Check what’s coming up at the beginning of every week, and try and plan ahead.
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Know your rights
As a working mum, it’s essential that you know your rights. Is work getting you down? Are you spending more and more time at the office? Are you being treated unfairly? Are you worried about putting a foot wrong in case you lose your job? Every employee has rights. If you think your boss is taking advantage of your good nature, or you’re worried about unfair dismissal, seek legal advice.
Factor in ‘you time’
When you’re working out your schedule, don’t forget to include some ‘you time.’ Everybody needs time alone or a period to have fun with friends or family. It’s fine to work hard. But your entire life shouldn’t consist of working and parenting. It’s essential to have time off both jobs. Nobody will begrudge you a trip to the cinema or an afternoon at the spa after a busy week.
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Learn to say no
This is one of the toughest things to do, especially if you’re a self-confessed people pleaser. Are you running around like a headless chicken? Do you have work coming out of your ears? Sometimes, there comes the point where you can’t take anything else on, and you have to say no. Your kids are probably your world, but they don’t need to go to every after school activity out there. You may love your job. But there’s a limit to how much overtime you can manage. It may take a little getting used to, but saying no from time to time can be refreshing.
In this day and age, it can be tough to find the right balance between working, parenting, and having time to yourself. You may never find the perfect solution, but hopefully, these tips will prove useful. Try and be as organised as possible, take up offers of help, and be a little more ruthless. If you’re struggling at work, talk to your boss. If you find yourself worrying about discrimination or the prospect of dismissal, don’t hesitate to contact a law firm.
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