The children are having important exams in their online school, at the same time with your deadline for an important presentation in the office. Suddenly, your husband is not feeling well. Is it your typical hectic day as a working mom?
Stephen Covey in his legendary book “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” has reminded us since a long time ago that it’s important to “Sharpen the Saw”. Imagine we’re working as a lumberjack, we spend our days cutting down trees with a saw, but we never sharpen it. At the end of the day, we won’t have the same productivity as those who took a break during the day to sharpen their tools. That’s the classic illustration on the importance of taking a rest. Take note moms, taking a break for self care is not “lazy” or “selfish” – instead, it shows that you care enough for those who rely on you.
So, what are the practical guidelines to become an effective working mom? Check out some tips below:
Hack the time
Is there any task that can be delegated to other colleagues/family members, or can be automated? A simple example would be using the service of online groceries shopping at home, or using automation features in collaboration tools with your colleagues.
Out of sight, out of mind
Make a board of your to-do list or daily priorities to visualize your daily agenda and give you a sense of control. If you’re into manual board, put it on your desk – or if you prefer using apps with notifications, go ahead. Pick any method that works for you.
There’s no such thing as over-communication
Be transparent in communicating your loads with colleagues and family, so they can support you and understand in which time slot they should not interrupt you.
Most important things, enjoy regular breaks time to self-care and always consult with your supervisor or Human Resources staff should any concern arise. Moreover, you have to realize that you’re not alone; there are lots of working moms in today’s workforce, and it will be great if you can find a community where working moms can vent and share their daily struggles.
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