How to Achieve a Balanced Lifestyle : 5 Tips for a busy working mom

Hey Super Moms! Ever feel like you’re juggling a circus of responsibilities and trying to balance work, family, couple and everything in between? I hear you! In fact, being a working mom is a rewarding yet demanding role, often leaving little time for you for personal care and own interior peace.

Introduction

Picture this: six months after welcoming my second bundle of joy, life was a whirlwind of chaos. In fact, my baby boy, just 18 months old now, demanded every ounce of care and attention. Meanwhile, my eldest, a vibrant 4-year-old at the time, needed nurturing, school drop-offs, and the reassurance only a mom can give. And oh, all the chores and the other responsibilities: work – nurturing a home…

I found myself in a place I never thought I’d be—a dark cloud of stress, anger, and sadness hovered over me. That’s when I decided, “Enough is enough.” I needed to reclaim my life. So, I took a step back and re-evaluated. What truly mattered? My boys, my family, my home but specially my own well-being. But how could I tend to them amidst this chaos?

Here are five essential tips that changed my life for over a year now; let them be your guiding stars to a healthy, balanced lifestyle:

1. PRIORITIZE THE ESSENTIALS

It’s about consciously choosing what truly matters amidst the chaos, ensuring attention to significant tasks, relationships, and personal well-being. Indeed, by allocating time and energy to priorities, it streamlines focus, maximizes productivity, and fosters a fulfilling, balanced lifestyle aligned with one’s values and goals. Make a list of essentials things in your daily life. For example:

• Quality family life: Dedicate substantial effective time to nurturing bonds with your kids, For example, I commit to one hour a day after school, where I play with them engage in their world and provide undivided attention.
• Couple time: Foster your couple relationship, plan moments with your partner to keep the connection alive.
• Me time: Make self-care rituals like morning meditation or evening journaling non-negotiable to preserve mental well-being…
• Professionally:  it’s about setting clear goals and optimizing work hours to maintain efficiency and precision.

Don’t waste your time with things that might consume a lot of time without contributing significantly to personal growth or fulfillment such as overthinking small life decisions, excessive scrolling social media.. Always, prioritize the essentials if you want to be more productive as a busy mom!

2. EMBRACE THE POWER OF PLANNING

Planning is the key to efficiency and balance. It means setting a clear agenda for the day, the week, even the month, jotting down tasks, and allotting time blocks for each. So, create to-do list or use productivity apps, Here are examples of my planning tips:

• Weekly meal plan: Designate Sundays for meal planning, jotting down a menu for the week to streamline grocery shopping and cooking time.
• Daily planner: Use a daily planner or app to organize tasks, appointments, and reminders, ensuring nothing slips through the cracks I’m a paper person, so I prefer writing over apps in my daily planning. I set my goals for the day and my tasks to do in my life planner which I keep with me in my bag.
• Children’s Schedule: Create a visual schedule for the kids, displaying their daily routines and activities, to instill a sense of structure and predictability.

Planning helps tackle priorities systematically and brings structure, reducing chaos and fostering a sense of control in the whirlwind of everyday life. It’s the key to achieve a balanced lifestyle as a busy mom.

3. ACTIVATE YOUR BODY, ACTIVATE YOUR MIND:

Regular physical activities, even short ones, boost energy, reduce stress, and enhance mental clarity. In fact, it’s a personal recharge, fostering resilience and ensuring a working mom can tackle daily demands with renewed vigor and positivity.

For instance, here are the three doable things that I commit to to stay active:

• Three workouts a week: for 20-30 minutes, generally, I do my workouts after work (sometimes I go to the gym in my hour launch break).
• 10 min mindful movement: every morning before starting my day I incorporate 10 min Stretching or Yoga, to invigorate the body and clear the mind.
• 2 outdoor walks per week: I try to plan outdoor activities with family, going for a walk in the park or by the beach is a very refreshing activity while bonding with loved ones.

4. HOLD ON YOUR “ME” TIME

In the midst of managing various roles and responsibilities, self-care for a working mom isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. Certainly, it’s the fuel that keeps you going, ensuring you have the mental and emotional stamina to handle the demands of work and family without feeling depleted or overwhelmed. Here are three things that I commit to to take care of myself as a working mom:

• Protected evening hour: I cherish one hour each evening for myself, so, each night at 9 PM becomes my personal sanctuary. After tucking my boys in bed, it’s my time to relax, diving to a book, taking a relaxing bath, soothing a skincare routine… This hour is sacred and dedicated to my own happiness.
• Morning Solitude: I treasure the tranquility of my mornings. I wake up an hour before the rest of the family, so this first hour sets the tone for my day. Engaging my mindful movements, planning for the day, and preparing lunchboxes for my boys in a quiet kitchen grants me clarity and peace before the bustling day begins.
• Me Time Dates: I commit to a self-date every other week. These solo outings—be it shopping, indulging in an ice cream treat, or simply taking a solitary walk or drive—nurture my spirit and offer invaluable moments of personal connection and rejuvenation.

5. KEEP THE FLAMES ALIVE

Amidst the chaos of work and parenting, nurturing the couple’s relationship is vital. Date nights and shared moments become lifelines, grounding the partnership amidst life’s chaos. Investing time in each other fuels the bond, ensuring resilience and understanding. Actually, it’s not just about fleeting romance; it’s the pillar that supports the family structure. Here some tips to keep the flames alive and the connections strong:

• Open communication: Open dialogue cultivates trust, ensuring clarity in expressing needs and emotions. So, try to always keep the connection with your partner- Set aside dedicated time to talk, discussing both everyday matters and deeper feelings.
• Date Nights Matter: Every week/other week (for very busy parents), plan a date night with your partner. It’s not just about the fancy dinner; it’s about nurturing the spark that lights your life. These dates are important to reconnect and foster intimacy and understanding beyond the roles of work and parenting.

Conclusion

To my fellow SuperMamas! I want to tell you that you are not alone. Every other warrior mom is in the same ocean with all the tasks and responsibilities. These tips aren’t just suggestions; they’re the secret weapons to carving out a balanced, healthy and happy life. So, Prioritize, plan, activate, cherish ‘me time,’ nurture your relationships, and especially take care of yourself!

Until next time, take care and be happy!

Hannah.