Kick the Mom (or Dad!) Hustle: Embrace a Work/Life Balance

Full-time employee. Part-time employee. Parent. Stepparent. Mother. Brother. Friend. All of these and then some are titles that we identify with every day. And each comes with its own list of responsibilities and expectations. How can we possibly get to everything on our ever-growing lists? Have you found the balance yet?

The Hustle is Real

As a full-time working momma of three (one being new to our crew), I’ve found myself asking this on the daily. Probably similar to you, I have the desire to feel successful and accomplished in all the titles or tasks I take on in life.

I always hold myself to high expectations – be a productive and high-achieving employee, be social and invest in friendships, be the best mom and wife, make dinner every night, pay the bills, get the kids involved with school and extracurricular activities, help with homework, and the list goes on.

Trying to wrap my head around everything that needs my attention makes my head spin, sends me into a panic attack and drives my husband crazy.

Change is Hard

Instead of sending myself to an early grave, I decided I needed to adjust my expectations. I needed more balance if I was going to live my best life, be my best self and show up for the people who depend on me. That meant I needed to stop multi-tasking just to try and get more done. It meant being thoughtful and choosing what gets my attention.

Changing my mindset worked. Though some days it’s not easy to embrace and the panic can set in, overall, I feel better about taking on the tasks of the day knowing that I’m being intentional, doing my best and choosing to be fully present in the moment.

What I’ve Learned

I thought I would share what I’ve learned in the hope that it is helpful for at least one person who may need to hear this right now.  The following is a list of my suggestions and words of encouragement from my experience as a full-time working parent:

• Remember this is a season of life. It’s like that workout motto, right? “You can do anything for 30 seconds!”… okay so the season might be longer than 30 seconds, but you get the idea.
• Maintain a consistent schedule as much as possible. Kids thrive on stability and consistency… I do too!
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. This was (is) a hard one for me.
• Make a little time for yourself in your day. Something as little as taking a walk and feeling the sunshine or treating yourself to your favorite beverage (Kombucha, anyone?).
• Say no and don’t feel guilty about it. I want to do and participate in so many things right now. And I know that I don’t have the time (or, honestly, the energy) to do so. It’s okay… this season won’t last forever!
• Be fully present wherever you are. I would hate to miss out on a moment in my child’s life because I’m dividing my focus on other things or being involved in something important at work.
• You are making a difference!
• Comparing yourself to others isn’t productive. Don’t let it steal your joy.
• Plan and schedule rest time, a mental-health day or just a day to get the stuff done that’s piling up.
• Use meal-subscription boxes and grocery pickup to your advantage.
• Know your limit. Taking on too much at once feels overwhelming.
• Setting small goals now will lead to achieving big goals later.

At the End of the Day

Adopting a healthier work/life balance and adjusting my mindset wasn’t easy for me. I’m pretty set in my ways, as I’m sure my husband would totally agree with! We all know that change can be hard, and it can be good! Some changes are worth it. At the end of the day, just keep going, do your best and remember to give yourself and others grace.