How to balance career, family and self

Jun 28, 2010 2:47 AM by Marcia Reynolds

Posted in Living / Career and Time Management / Career Advice

Can Career Moms
Really Do It All?

Many women enter the corporate world excited about the possibilities. They were told as girls they could accomplish anything. No one told them it would be hard to accomplish “everything.” However, career women can strike a balance between their career and their family and even self-care. Here’s how.

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How to balance career, family and self

Maintain social bonds

Putting friendships on the back burner is one of the greatest mistakes of busy, working women. Not only will your friends help you maintain focus when customers whine, kids scream, health issues nag, and projects overwhelm, they will keep you from feeling isolated when you work for yourself. Find at least three other women who are consciously trying to create more satisfying, purposeful lives like you are. Meet regularly. Eat meals together. Take walks. Your "community of support" keeps you sane as well as productive.

Keep your body healthy

English discovered that she quickly lost track of her schedule when working for herself. To keep her body in good working order to get everything done, she found she had to start the day with exercise before even reading read her email. Also, she makes sure she eats healthy meals instead of what she can gobble down in quick breaks. She schedules her lunch hour and sticks to it.

Regularly notice the world around you

I get acupuncture once a month to reset my overtaxed body. It was my acupuncturist who first told me that I was disconnected. He then prescribed a daily dose of going outside, smelling the air, appreciating the trees and feeling the ground beneath my feet. When I reconnect with nature, I reconnect with my soul.

Recreate

Mitsch says she still needs to recreate herself every few years, answering the question, "What's next?" She has to give herself private reflection time to find an answer which always includes work that is meaningful for her and contributes to the world she brought her precious children into. She says she will always be learning, playing and growing to feed her wandering soul.

With a refocus on self, career women can strike a balance between their career dreams and family needs.

More tips for career women

How to be a career mom
Can working moms really be happy?
Balancing work and family

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Tags: career management working moms

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Comments

Comments on "How to balance career, family and self"

My husband and I had a conversation about this last night. We have to make time for ourselves in order to be a better wife/husband and parent.

It's hard, but I think it's doable. Self is definitely the hardest part for me. My alone time lately has been the shower, haha.

Balancing life is the hardest challenge for me, but it's possible. Sometimes that means waking up early so I can have alone time or run to the gym, but it's always worth it. Alone time is so precious now that we have kids.

It's important to remember that everyone gets a lunch break. I like to get out and get some exercise, so I'll often take the kids on a walk or to the park and we'll bring our lunch. It's so nice to get outside and get fresh air. A nice break from the daily grind of working and chores!