10 Tips for Creating a Healthy Work-Life Balance for Moms

Motherhood is the most rewarding and challenging job that anyone can ever have. There are days where I feel like I'm doing an amazing job, and others where I worry that my kids will grow up without the tools they need to succeed in life. The one thing that gets me through these ups and downs is knowing I'm not alone. As moms ourselves, we all have our own unique path as a parent and no matter what kind of day you're having, it's important to remember that we're all doing our best! In order for any family unit to work well together, there has to be some sort of balance between work life and home life so here are some tips for creating your healthy work-life balance:

#1 Find your work-life balance sweet spot.

Finding your own work-life balance sweet spot is a process. You may have to try different things before you find what works best for you, but it's worth the effort. The first step is to think about how much time each week you want to spend working and how much time should be reserved for other activities in your life. It might help if you break down this question into smaller components: Do I want more or less time at home? How much vacation time do I hope for? How many hours per day do I need in order to feel productive at work?

Once you've figured out what kind of balance looks good on paper, take some steps toward making it happen! For example, if taking Friday afternoons off makes sense for both sides of your life--and especially if this helps keep stress levels low--then make sure there are no deadlines looming over those days so that they can stay free from work pressures as long as possible (or forever).

#2 Take time for you.

The most important thing to do is to make sure you're taking time for yourself. It's not always easy, but it's essential. Here are some ways you can do this:

• Take a bath or shower in the morning before everyone else wakes up. This will help you start the day feeling refreshed, relaxed and ready to tackle whatever comes your way!

• Go for a walk after dinner or on your lunch break if possible (or both). Not only will this give your mind time away from work and kids, but also help keep those endorphins flowing which help combat stress levels too!

• Turn off all electronic devices at least an hour before bedtime so that when it's time for lights out there won't be any distractions like emails or social media notifications coming through which could easily keep us awake longer than intended."

#3 Know yourself and your needs.

The first step to creating a healthy work-life balance is knowing yourself and your needs. As a mom, this can be tricky if you've never had the opportunity to do so before. You may feel like there are too many demands on your time; sometimes it seems like there isn't enough of anything (sleep, money). But knowing what makes you happy will help keep those feelings at bay:

• Know yourself--your strengths and weaknesses as well as what makes up a good day for you personally.

• Know what kind of life brings happiness: How much time do I want in each area of my life? What activities bring me joy? What do I need physically or emotionally from myself or others in order to maintain balance

#4 Find child care that works for you and your family.

Finding the right child care provider is an important part of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. You want to make sure that your child is safe and well cared for, but you also need to find a place that works for your family's schedule and budget. Here are some things to consider:

• Location: How close is the daycare? How much time does it take each day? Can I walk or bike there, or am I dependent on driving or public transportation? Are there other parents who live near me who could carpool together? If not, maybe this isn't the best choice for us right now--but maybe we can look into it later when our lives are more settled (and less expensive).

• Cost: What does it cost per month? Are there any discounts available if we pay up front instead of monthly installments? Are there ways we can save money through scholarships or tax deductions if we have kids enrolled at this location long term? Can any part of this fee be covered by our employers' benefits package--or even by government programs?

#5 Put down the phone and be present with them.

One of the most important things you can do is simply spend time with your kids. Don't let technology get in the way of quality time with them, and don't let technology be a substitute for parenting. It's easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and forget how important it is to spend face-to-face time with our loved ones--especially when they're young and innocent, before they become teenagers who are too cool to hang out with their parents!

You might be tempted by phone calls or texts while they play outside or watch TV together, but resist this temptation: put down your phone (or turn off notifications) so that you can enjoy being present with them instead.

#6 Make time for exercise and eating healthy food.

Making time for exercise and eating healthy food is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. It's not always easy, but it's worth it!

Here are some tips:

• Set aside a specific time each day to exercise (for example, after getting the kids ready for school). You might want to start with just five minutes of walking or doing yoga stretches. As you get used to exercising regularly, try adding more time until your workout routine becomes 30 minutes or longer--but only if this feels comfortable! Don't push yourself too hard or too fast; that will just make it harder on yourself later on when life gets busy again.

• Try making breakfast something special by adding fresh fruit like strawberries or bananas into your eggs; they're good sources of vitamins A & C as well as potassium. Or make sure lunch includes some leftovers from dinner last night so nothing goes wasted -- saving money while also saving time ;) .

#7 Create boundaries between work life and home life early on to prevent burnout later on.

Setting boundaries between work and home life is one of the most important parts of creating a healthy balance. It's easy to get sucked into work mode when you're at home, but setting clear limits will help prevent that from happening.

Setting Boundaries:

• Be intentional about when you check email and social media. If it isn't urgent, wait until after dinner or on weekends before checking messages and notifications on your phone or computer--you'll have more time to focus on family if they don't come first!

• Turn off notifications for apps like email, Facebook Messenger, Instagram and Twitter during the weekdays so they aren't constantly popping up in front of your face while trying to do other things (like eat dinner).

#8 Have some fun and don't forget to laugh!

It's important to have fun and laughter in your life. It can be hard to find the time, but it's worth it! Here are some ways you can make sure you're having fun:

• Take time to do something you enjoy with friends or family. Go out for dinner or go see a movie together (or both!). Even if it's just once or twice a month, this will help you feel connected with others while also keeping things lighthearted.

• Make plans with friends that involve physical activity rather than just sitting around talking all night--this will give everyone more energy and make the evening more enjoyable for everyone involved!

• Watch funny videos online together as a family! I love how YouTube has so many clips from funny shows and bloopers; there are also lots of funny short films available on Vimeo. But of course, your kids probably have a few in mind they'd love to share with you ;) 

#9 Try not to compare yourself to other moms.

Comparison is the thief of joy. You may find yourself comparing your household to those around you, or even comparing your own motherhood experience with that of other moms. This can be a dangerous trap for all of us, but especially for mothers who are trying to find their own way in this world.

Being different isn't bad; it's just different! You need to understand that there is no right way or wrong way when it comes to raising kids, so if someone else does something differently than what works best for your family (like sending their kids off on a daily bus ride), don't judge them for it -- just accept that it works for them and move forward with confidence in knowing that no matter what decisions we make as parents or how much time we spend doing each task related our children's lives (or not), there will always be someone out there who thinks we're doing something wrong!

#10 Acknowledge the positives in your life, even when it feels like things are overwhelming.

When life gets overwhelming, it's easy to forget about the positive things in your life. It's important to take time out and do something for yourself--whether that means going on a walk or simply sitting down with a cup of tea and reading a book.

When you feel overwhelmed by stress or anxiety, try focusing on all the good things that are happening in your life: think about how much progress has been made since becoming a parent, even if it doesn't seem like much at first glance; reflect on how far each of your children has come; think about how proud family members would be if they could see what kind of parent/child relationship exists between each one of them now (and then use this thought as motivation).

Bonus tip: Focus on those strengths!

Focus on your strengths. Give yourself a pat on the back more often than you give yourself a hard time when things go wrong. It can be easy for moms (and dads) to get caught up in feeling guilty about all of their mistakes as parents or not being able to do everything perfectly all the time--but don't forget: You're doing great!

In fact, you may even be better than great -- you might just be amazing at being a mom ;) (we have a hunch you are!)

We hope you enjoyed these tips, and if you have any of your own that you have found to be helpful, please leave them in the comments! And as always, be sure to follow on Instagram + Join Our Email List to save 15% off your first order from us here at Ade + Ayo!