Figuring out work-life balance can be tricky – especially when you have kids. Many moms go back to work after having a child, but that doesn’t mean it’s an easy transition.
Thankfully, the number of remote jobs and side gigs has increased within the past few years. It’s great that mothers can both raise their children and work from home. But this can blur the line between work and life.
We came up with a few tips and tricks on how to handle work-life balance at home for moms.
Create a Dedicated Work Space
It’s important to come up with a room that’s dedicated to just your workspace. Ideas could include a second bedroom, a basement, or any underutilized space that could be transformed to fit your needs.
Depending on how much work you may need to put into creating this space, the cost could vary. For example, if you’re choosing to finish a portion of your basement for the office, this can be costly especially if you need to install insulation, drywall, or new flooring.
Fortunately, homeowners have the ability to use a home equity loan. Eventually you can use the equity built in their home to pay for projects like these. These payments come in lump sum amounts and may be more than you need. So be sure to create an accurate budget before starting the project and as always, stick to it.
Once you’ve built your newly dedicated workspace, you’ll find that you can get much more done. Separating home and work will improve your productivity and hopefully keep you focused while the kids are running around. If you prefer to keep your workspace plain and simple, you can!
Many moms like to add items like an oil diffuser, decor, ergonomic chair, or other personal items to elevate their space.
Perfect Your Time Management
As a mom, your daily tasks add up quickly! You’ll need to find an efficient way to manage them all. Working on your time management as a mom can be tough. But there are several ways to make your life much easier.
List making is one of the top tricks for managing your time.
You can use a standard notebook or go fancy and get a dry-erase board for your wall. Make a list of your daily and weekly tasks, and organize them by priority. Once they’re done you get the satisfaction of crossing them off your list!
Another tip is to work on tasks that are similar at the same time.
For example, if you have a chunk of tasks that involve the computer, sit down and get them done all at once. These types of tasks can include paying your bills like mortgage payments, utilities, and more. If you find there are tasks that you don’t have time for, consider outsourcing. Fortunately, these days there are several services that can do things for you. Grabbing your groceries, taking care of your weekly lawn care, and home repairs are all things that can be outsourced.
Make Time for “Me-Time”
We all know that finding any “me-time” as a mom can be almost impossible. Although that may be true, it’s also extremely important to find a way to make it happen.
Self-care for moms, especially busy ones, needs to be prioritized.
This “me-time” doesn’t always need to be as extravagant. It can be as a spa day, and can be as simple as taking a relaxing shower with essential oils. Every mom has their own way of relaxing. Finding what works for you in the little free time you may have can change the way your day goes.
A few ideas for “me-time” –– going for a short walk, talking with friends, or even just watching your favorite show. You need to fill your own bucket first before having any energy to fill others. The more you prioritize this alone time, the more productive you’ll find yourself, and the more you’ll enjoy life.
Following these few steps for creating a work-life balance at home can make your life a bit easier. Working from home while also being a mom can be challenging, it’s also extremely beneficial. Just as long as you can create that work-life balance.
