Finding a way to juggle a successful career and a happy and wholesome family life has never been easy. Being a full-time working mom is even less easy- it comes with bouts of guilt for not being able to be there for the family, as well as the stress of not being able to focus on particular tasks at work. 

More and more women from all walks of life are choosing to have it all- a rewarding career, a wonderful family, and the opportunity to find solitude to rejuvenate and find time for themselves.
Here are some of the ways you can manage to have it all while maintaining your balance. 

Manage Your Priorities

In order to be a successful working woman/wife/mother, it is important to have priorities set in order- that is for both your personal and professional life.
To get this figured out, ask yourself the following-
‘What cannot be compromised and is completely non-negotiable?’
‘What tasks require most of your time and attention, or can use less energy to complete?’ 

‘What are the most important commitments to work/family/life?’

Getting a clear picture of these things helps you to prioritize and make adjustments around what needs to be done, and those that can be left a while. 

You can also be clear with yourself and others about what you are prepared, and are not prepared to do.
Having this in place gives you the freedom and balance to work on the most important things first. 

Communicate with Employer (If you have one) 

Keep the lines of communication open with your employers- that includes management, HR and those above you.
Be honest and transparent about what you need, especially when it comes to flexibility. For example, if you can’t get to the office on time because there have been issues with childcare, talk to your boss and offer to work longer hours on a different day- or work from home if that’s possible.

Always approach these things with a solution and never present a problem without them. This will enhance the respect given by your employer, particularly if these arrangements don’t affect your performance at work. 

Practice the Fine Art of Delegation 

Just because your aim in life is to do all and be all, it doesn’t mean life has to be that way. There is no weakness in acknowledging that you can’t do it all on your own- a little bit of help can ease a large workload, meaning you get to put your energies into other things.

If you do choose to do all of the things alone, you’re not only going to get tired, you’re likely preparing the path toward a breakdown. 

Decide what can be done alone, and what can be handed to others. 

For example, if enterprise software development is not your strong point when running a business,  hand it to those whose expertise lay in this area. Only give your time to that which you thrive. 

As for running a home? Delegate there too. There’s nothing worse than coming home from a long day at work to a messy and chaotic house. Talk to your family about the tasks they could do around the house. Teamwork makes the dream work!

Keep Connected With Loved Ones 

Being at work doesn’t always mean having to be disconnected from those you love. Use all of this technology to your advantage. If you miss your spouse and kids, call or video call them during your lunch break to get connected again.

It’s important to take regular breaks away from your desk, and actively taking the time to speak with loved ones allows you to put the stresses of the day behind you momentarily, giving you the opportunity to press the reset button on particular tasks that may be seen as particularly challenging.

It also helps your loved ones continue to feel close to you during busier periods of your life. 

Have Clear Work/Life Boundaries
The most important mantra to have when successfully managing your work-life balance is learning to say ‘NO’ to the things that don’t align with your goals and priorities. 

For things that are asked of you outside of your usual tasks, it’s either a ‘HELL YES’ or a ‘no, thank you’.

Set boundaries so that life doesn’t merge into work and vise Versa. If you’ve set time aside to spend with your spouse and children, don’t talk on the phone or answer emails- leave work at work. 

Be mindful of personal relationships and start saying ‘no, thank you’ to those things that don’t develop them.