From Burnout To Balance: A Guide To Balancing Your Career And Motherhood

Navigating and maintaining a successful balance between career and motherhood is a challenge more women face than ever before. 

Unlike families of generations ago who could live on a single income while the mother remained at home in a homemaker or stay-at-home mom capacity, the cost-of-living is now at a point where even two-income homes struggle to meet the household income required to “live comfortably”. 

For many, this means that balancing a career and motherhood has become essential, even though being a mom is an all-encompassing full-time job in its own right. Despite this, finding balance is possible. It requires thought and intention, with a smattering of practical strategies being put into play, but navigating motherhood and work can be done, and done in a way where you do not have to lose yourself in the process. 

Build a support system

The first and possibly most important thing you should do when starting to create a work-mum balance is to utilize the support system you have. The reality is that no one can juggle the demands of work and motherhood alone, so embracing help from friends, family, or your spouse is critical. Delegating tasks or supervision is not a sign of weakness or failure, but a well-thought-out and planned move by you to maximise your ability to effectively manage both roles.

Some ideas beyond simple babysitting requests may include swapping playdates with friends to free up time for you both, engaging with local resources such as church groups, parenting meetups, or online communities, or investigating government programs, vouchers, certificates, or subsidies for childcare you may be eligible for.

Ask for help when you need it

Many moms feel as if they have to do it all, but when working and parenting, this will only lead to burnout. Instead, learn to recognise when you need help, and go ahead and ask for it by engaging with your support system. Remember, work smarter, not harder.

If you are at home, make sure you and your partner are dividing household and parenting responsibilities evenly. Learn to lean on the family, friends, or services that are there to support you, and even allocate age-appropriate tasks to your children to simultaneously help you out while also teaching them responsibility. 

If you are at work, it is important to have an open dialogue with your manager about what is manageable and what is not. If you can delegate, do it. If you are overworked, speak up. Communication with your workplace is key.

Create a schedule

Planning out your days –  and sticking to the plan as best as you can – is crucial. This can look like dropping the kids off at daycare for a few hours while you get some chores done, or allocating a set time to study your DNP family nurse practitioner program and get that higher qualification you are seeking.

A well-planned day can help you feel you are in control. A few hot tips include utilizing time-blocking to assign specific times for work, family and self-care, using a calendar or digital solution to map our priorities and provide a visual representation of your day, and starting little habits such as prepping your family’s meals, getting your outfit ready and packing your child’s bag the night before to avoid the morning stress and rush. 

Set boundaries with work

Setting boundaries, or learning to say “no,” is a powerful tool when looking to balance your career and motherhood. Maintaining strong boundaries and declining requests that are beyond your contracted work schedule or would stretch you thin socially is not limiting your opportunities; it is simply preserving your time and energy for the ones that matter most. 

Other boundaries you should maintain to keep your work-life balance safe include creating a dedicated workspace if you work remotely, setting specific work hours, turning off email or chat notifications once you are off the clock, and maintaining continuous communication with your workplace regarding your availability. 

Let go of any guilt

Society’s expectation of mothers is still too high. ‘Super mom’ is expected to be strong and protective, fierce but loving, know the developmental milestones of every age, understand what a baby wants with a single cry, maintain solid nighttime routines, and create educational but fun activities to fill every moment of a child’s day. Oh, and hold down a job too. It’s enough to make anyone implode, and for many moms, it elicits the very common feeling of mom guilt – feeling the need to do it all and “failing”. 

Letting go of mom guilt is hard, but instead of dwelling on what you couldn’t do, focus on what you did do. Celebrate the small wins, and understand that being present and putting the effort in is what matters. With a kinder mindset, you can shed the unnecessary guilt and learn to appreciate yourself. 

Prioritize self-care

A burned-out mother is no good to her children, her friends, and family, or herself. Unfortunately, moms often let their well-being drop to the bottom of the priority list behind everyone else, resulting in less than stellar performances at both work and home. 

When it comes to prioritizing self-care, it doesn’t need to be an entire weekend away at a spa (although it definitely should be an occasional consideration). Try instead a quick workout during the day, spending 15 minutes reading a book, or enjoying a hot beverage in peace. Caring for yourself is not selfish – it can help you better care for others, while supporting your own health and well-being. 

Balance is an ongoing challenge

Learning to balance motherhood and work is an ongoing journey that is forever shifting and changing. There is no one-size-fits-all solution that will magically solve the balancing challenge for every mother, but by taking on these foundational requirements, you can start to work towards achieving the lifestyle you want and be the most effective person you can be at both work and home.