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Scheduling and Time Management
Answer: There's no doubt about it, having 2 full time jobs, and one which requires
you to be on call 24 hours 7 days a week, is an amazing challenge!
Congratulations to you on your re-entry into the workforce and be rest
assured, you are just like all the other Moms out there. Trying to find the
stamina to balance your family and work responsibilities is quite possible
the greatest quest of all. Try these steps to gain a little energy and
reclaim your sense of control over your schedule.
STEP 1: Take care of yourself first. Hard as this sounds and I've said it
before, much as we'd like to think we can, we simply cannot have it
all....at least not all at one time. Bear in mind, you can craft a life
that has pieces of everything you want and find great happiness. However
there's nothing like a sick child to remind you that often, we must focus
more energy on one responsibility while others take second place. So the
first key to your success in both demanding roles is to operate in full
health. Get back to the basics by eating right, taking a multi-vitamin,
getting moderate exercise on a regular basis and yes, a 30 minute brisk walk
every day at lunch time counts, and getting enough rest to function
productively. Not only will you feel better but your family will also
benefit as you make healthy choices at the grocery store that translate into
healthier children. Taking time to exercise shows the value you place in
treating your body with respect, and this is a lifelong habit your family
will be very grateful to have learned very early on.
STEP 2: Delegate. Every family needs a good wife, the saying goes,
whether its the female or the male partner. Fact is, laundry, bills,
housekeeping, carpool, trips to the dentist and the occasional visit to the
vet all still need to occur. If you are returning to a two-career
household, you are learning first hand how hard it is to educate both
yourself and your family that times have changed and where before, you may
have taken care of all those little details, you simply cannot do it alone
now. So, starting with your partner, revisit your traditional household
responsibilities and see if there is an even distribution of tasks overall.
If there is an unequal equation, see if you can work together towards new
solutions. Maybe its time for a new primary grocery shopper. Better yet,
consider ordering online and having them delivered. Maybe one of you can
handle morning carpool by going in later, the other handles afternoon
activities by coming home earlier. Even just jockeying work schedules by 2
hours either way can work wonders in providing coverage for your children
throughout the day. Be willing to switch things around based on
availability of both partners and see if there is some breathing room. And
by all means, look closely at your family budget and see if you can afford
maid service. Truly, there is not one working mom out there who would
rather clean a bathroom than relax with her family at the end of the day or
on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. If you can't afford it now, look for
ways to work it in as you earn pay raises in the coming year. This is one
expense you won't regret making a priority...trust me!
Good luck and remember that you are only one woman with so very many
demands. Imagine you were on the outside looking in on someone else's busy
life. What would you say to this woman when she hits the wall of exhaustion
and feels so drained she can't even enjoy the time she has with her family?
You would say...don't forget what matters to you most...your family. It is
an honor to be a mother so take the very best care of yourself that you can
so you are up to the challenge and able to enjoy the rewards!
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