We all know that every mother is a superhero right off the bat. But never think of how much of a superhero they are until you add a full-time job to their schedule. If this is you, you know how much of a difficult scenario it is… For those that are trying to juggle a full-time job at home while looking after a young child, you may be forgiven for thinking that it is impossible. But can it be done? Well, yes, it is possible, but it is very difficult. One of the important things to do is to plan, but, as we all know, children do not care about your plans, so here is how to do it properly…
Schedule, Schedule, Schedule!
You have time that is for work, time for family, and time for you, it all needs to be scheduled. And while this may sound a bit anxiety-inducing to know that you’ve got your week mapped out, if you leave it to chance, there’s no telling if you will get everything done! It could all be difficult to do, especially if you add into the mix doing housework, but can you afford to get some home cleaning services, or have a meal delivered to the house once in a while? If you can reduce your non-essential duties as much as possible, this will be a massive benefit. You need to schedule your working day around when you work best; some people are able to work better at night-time. So if you are one of these people, schedule everything around that.
Establish Boundaries
This is very important, especially if you have children old enough to know that they shouldn’t bother Mummy. Maintaining concentration when you are trying to work with a child in the house is incredibly difficult, especially when they want to play with you. So, dedicate time to both aspects equally. Maybe you can dedicate half an hour to playing with your child, and then half an hour to work, and alternate accordingly. If this doesn’t work, and you’ve got an important project due, it may be worth looking for childcare just for these important work days. If finances are an issue, some nurseries can do half days, meaning you’ve got a window of time to get work done.
Do The Hardest Tasks First
Find the quietest time in the household, and when you are at your most focused, so if you do the hardest tasks first, your day can get progressively easier. It can be a very difficult habit to acquire, but this may mean you end up joining the 5 a.m. club. But if you stop working at an early time of the day, and you find yourself flagging by the time your child is down for a nap; the added bonus is that you can have a nap too!
Look After Yourself
This type of life means you are being pulled in lots of different directions, and it’s very stressful, so rest and recuperation is a luxury most people cannot afford. But you need to make time for this, if you find yourself struggling to wind down at the end of the day, you may want to start thinking about getting a method of practice in to help you relax. Maybe breathing exercises, meditation, or just a nice soak in the bath away from the household traffic.
It is a hardship to get both working in tandem with each other, looking after a child as well as maintaining a full-time job, but if you get everything in place first, this will help. Lay the groundwork, and think about planning your day methodically. This is the only way you will get ahead.
No Comments