In this article…
- Why Work-Life Balance Matters for Moms
Why Work-Life Balance Matters for Moms
Work-life balance for moms is super important.
Of course, non-parents and single people need work-life balance too. However, in this article, I will share some work-life balance tips for working mothers because when you’re a mom, you have to ensure that you are always at your best (as much as possible) for tiny humans who depend on you to be a space of balance in a crooked world.
They don’t have the capacity to understand why you’re snapping and angry at them for spilling juice on your rug, or why you fell asleep on the couch before reading their favourite bedtime story like you always do.
What is Work-Life Balance?
For me, work-life balance means being able to be present for those who matter most to you while simultaneously showing up for yourself. Without being overly complex, work-life balance just means you have a sense of harmony between your work and personal life. It means you get to accomplish your goals without compromising your values (which includes your family).
Society often celebrates the women who neglect motherhood in the name of a career, while making women who prioritise motherhood feel as if they are not doing enough. A study on the impact of motherhood on women’s career progression highlights that
“In the workplace, mothers face a motherhood penalty, where they are perceived as being unfit for leadership roles, are evaluated as less competent and less committed to their careers, receive lower salaries, and are denied advancement opportunities.”
However, we need to remember that raising tiny humans is enough.
Now to answer the million-dollar question: what does work-life balance look like in motherhood?
Here’s how I find work-life balance as a Christian mom:
1. I spend a lot of time reflecting on what truly matters to me.
In a world of social media influencers constantly flooding our minds with images of perfection and selling “dreams”, it’s even more important for us to identify what truly matters to us.
In Chapter 1 of Don’t Die Broke, I explore the concept of “The Dream: How to Define the Life You DO Want to Live”. I share how I was crushing my goals but still feeling unfulfilled in life. My reason? I hadn’t spent the time to truly define what mattered to me.
Knowing what your version of success is will help you appreciate the moments in between the hustle.
2. Prioritize time with God.
I know religion can be a touchy subject for some, but for me, whenever I miss my devotion time, my whole day is chaos. There is no peace inside me, and I am more susceptible to the influences of the world.
I’ve spoken about this on my blog in multiple articles: number 12 on this list and number 1 on this list.
Just 30 minutes, first thing in the morning, makes a world of difference. This article is a valuable read if you are ready to discover how God speaks to you personally for better balance.
3. Start my day early for productivity and peace.
It could just be because I’m a chronic early riser, but waking up before the kids allows me to get so much done. That way, when they’re awake, I don’t have to feel guilty about being “unproductive”. You can take a peek into a day in my life here:
Even if you have no kids, waking up early can make all the difference in your routine. Of course, it is important to have a healthy sleep schedule. I manage to wake up early because I have trained myself to go to bed at more or less the same time every night.
If you cannot wake before the kids for whatever reason, I recommend having a set bedtime for the kids that’s early enough, so it allows you to have some time to yourself before you turn in for bed.
4. Take one day off each week to rest and recharge.
I have one day each week when I don’t work.
This was tricky for me at first because the life I’m coming from meant I was used to working seven days a week to make ends meet.
Even when things started to be different and I began experiencing some semblance of the success I wanted, I struggled to allow myself to rest and relax because I felt like I was being lazy. This, of course, was a limited mindset I learned in my early years.
What I’ve come to realize, though, is that if you do not choose to take a break, your body will crash, and then you will HAVE TO take that break—whether or not you like it. Except you won’t be enjoying the break because you’ll be sick.
5. Give myself grace as a mom.
I’ve started being more intentional about giving myself grace.
Understanding that I’m not running out of time takes so much pressure off me to perform a certain way within a specific timeline. It allows me to appreciate the moments between each accomplishment.
It allows me to spend a whole day playing around with my kids, just enjoying motherhood. I can sleep in late, turn in early, or binge-watch a series with my husband for a week and enjoy bonding with him without feeling like I’m “wasting precious time”.
Because each of those moments is a moment I’ll never get back. I can buy a house when I’m 40, but my kids won’t retake their first steps when I’m 40. If I miss that, I’ll never get it back.
Christian mom work-life balance tips (the pinnable version)
Final thoughts
I will be honest. I’m not perfect at this. But I try my best to check all the boxes, and when I do … oh, sweet, sweet balance. Remember that finding balance is not about perfection. Forget what you see on social media. All those polished aesthetics are beautiful for the art of it, but remember, real life has hiccups and bumps. Take the time to figure out what balance is for you and give yourself time to implement the changes in your life.
What does balance mean to you? How do you implement work/life balance in your life? Share in the comments below.
Lis
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