Balancing Family And Career – You Can Have It All

The subject of balancing your family and your career has never been so popular as it is now. As women make greater advances in their careers while also wanting families – it’s become less of a question of if you can do both, but how. Managing both is a balancing act, but not an impossible one. Here’s some great advice on how to juggle your family and career so that you really can have it all.

Decide what you really want

You’ll face some tough decisions when it comes to balancing your family and career, so it’s important that you think about what it is you really want. You might feel pressured either way into returning to work or staying at home and not really making a decision that you’re happy with. Becoming a mother will make you see things differently, and you might find that the things you wanted from your career pre-motherhood have completely changed now that baby’s here. Don’t let what other people think stop you from making the best choice for you and remember that you can always change your mind if it doesn’t work out.

Consider a change of career

Things will be different after you start a family, and the high-pressured job you once loved might no longer be the best option for you now that you have other responsibilities and commitments. There may be other ways that you can use your qualifications that you might not have thought of. ‘Want to Do Something Unique with a BSN? Check Out Your Choices’ is a great post on finding alternative careers with a nursing degree, with many principles that can be applied to other types of career too. You may even find that motherhood makes you decide to try something completely different to before, opening up an exciting new chapter in your life.

Know what your rights are

Understanding your rights as a parent in the workplace can be difficult, as policies can vary from company to company. The US is often considered as being behind when it comes to the work rights of parents, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad news for all industries. Having an honest conversation with your employer about what they expect from you and what you’d like your working conditions to be could help you come to a solution that suits you both. Some employers will want to be seen as helping employees to establish a good work/life balance and consider flexible working amongst other types of policies. If your present employer isn’t particularly understanding, you should consider a new opportunity elsewhere in an organization you know is good to mothers.

Consider going self-employed

If you want to have a career, but on your own terms, one of the best ways you can do so is to go freelance. There are plenty of inspirational moms who have a thriving freelance career while looking after a baby that can do so on their own terms. The use of technology today has made it even easier to enjoy your dream career from your very own home – an option that is becoming more and more popular for mothers. While you will have to be responsible for your own workload and taxes, you’ll have control over the kind of work you take and who you work for – giving you a much better sense of freedom than you might have had in past job roles.

Find the best child care solutions

A number of parents are reluctant to return to work because of concerns over child care. If family members live far away or you’re concerned about the cost then you can find yourself facing different barriers to returning to work. However, there are some great ways you can save money on child care that can help ease the financial pressure, or you can switch to working part-time until your child is old enough to start school.

Make time for yourself

While struggling to manage your responsibilities as a mom and a career woman, it can be easy to forget that you need some time to yourself too. Despite having a family and a great job, you need to remember that there is more to you than that and you need to have a break once and a while. Make time for hobbies and keeping fit or just catching up with friends as ways to let off steam and make you feel more like your old self now and then.

While it can be difficult to make time for yourself with so much going on – there are ways you can sneak in some extra meantime. Booking some extra hours with the sitter now and then can help you do things like go shopping or get your nails done, and even walking home from work instead of driving or taking transport can help give you time to decompress and relax. Whatever it is you enjoy doing, make sure you set aside some time for it.

Step away from stress

Your priorities will have changed considerably since becoming a parent, and you’ll have enough to be worried about at home, let alone work. If work starts becoming too stressful, it can have a serious effect on your home life. Stress can affect your mood, make you irritable and stop you from sleeping – bad news if your baby is also keeping you up at night! If you begin to feel like the pressures of work are getting too much, then take a step back. Stepping on the breaks doesn’t have to mean the end of your career forever, you can simply take a step back or move at a slower pace while you get your priorities straight.

Managing both a family and a career is certainly a balancing act, but you can make it work. Finding the best fit for your circumstances might take some time, and there are always alternative options to explore if it’s not for you. Reach for the stars, and if you decide that you really do want to have it all, then there’s nothing there to stop you from going for it.