And For My Next Act: Life-Work Balance

Step right up! The circus is about to begin! As a full-time working mom, most days feel like a circus. I noticed recently that I went from feeling like the ringleader to a juggler. I was struggling to keep all of my priorities, roles, and commitments in the air without dropping one. I needed to rethink how I managed the 24 hours in my day.

In 2023, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the labor participation rate for moms with children under the age of 18 was 74%. Between working, raising kids, maintaining homes, and managing self-care, how do we balance it all? I did some research, talked with other working moms, and changed some of my habits.

Here are three strategies I’ve implemented to help me shift from “work-life balance” to “life-work balance” because my life outside of work was worth prioritizing:

1. Don’t Do It All

I asked some of my working mom friends the same question: “How do you do it all?” and almost every one of them said “I don’t” or “I can’t.” Most talked about prioritizing bedtime routines over dishes in the sink. All were thankful for a partner who shared household expectations (and a few now have monthly or bi-monthly house cleaners). I think we put so much pressure on ourselves that we have to actually give ourselves permission to share responsibilities with others when possible.

2. Be Present

I know some of us are in careers that require us to be plugged in and turned on at all times, however, if you can, turn your notifications off. Do I still get emails on my phone? Yes, but I turned off the notifications on my smart watch and scheduled my work emails to not come through as a notification during certain hours. I was letting work take over my time well after I was “off the clock” simply because I could see my inbox filling up. When I can close my laptop and step away from my work for the day, I am a much better wife and mom. Same for when I am at work: I stay off of social media and close extra internet tabs that are not related to my work for the day. This helps to eliminate multitasking and keeps me present at work.

3. Make Time for Yourself

Several of the working moms I talked to said they have standing appointments for self-care (think: facials, massages, mani/pedi, etc.). It doesn’t always have to be a spa appointment, though. Others talked about being part of book clubs or other standing social events. Personally, I have worked hard to set aside time *almost* every day to exercise and read. Those were two of my realistic resolutions for this year that I have proudly stuck to!

The Grand Finale: Giving yourself grace because there may not be such a thing as balance. Our commitments and responsibilities between life and work shift depending on seasons, obligations, etc. While there may not be a perfect balance, there most certainly is a realistic one.