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An Array Of Fantastic Survival Points For Exhausted Working Mums

10th May, 2010 - Posted by health news - No Comments

Sometimes you feel that pure adrenaline alone is keeping you going and you wonder how you are able to survive, let alone function well at work and juggle all the other requirements of being a busy mum.

You realise that you would do well if you could work to a schedule and manage things much more effectively, but your new arrival is not aware of your need to schedule things, at all! These are crucial formative times for the newborn, who is entirely dependent on mum and all these requirements can sometimes make you feel as if you are working a 9-to-5 shift overnight, as well.

You are loving your new life as a devoted mother, but often feel as if you are at your wits’ end as you struggle to find that extra bit of energy to conquer seemingly mundane tasks. Isn’t in awful, when you can see the new work week approaching and not know how you’re going to cope?

While we have already determined that it is difficult to maintain a schedule and if someone mentions the phrase “time management” to you once more, you are going to scream, but it is nevertheless important for you to establish as close to a routine as you possibly can.

Without routines we find ourselves bouncing from pillar to post and it all leads up to an elevated level of stress, which negatively impacts every other area. So, insofar as you will have to practice an element of damage control here, get into your routine!

When mornings roll around, try to keep it as simple as you possibly can. It can be very difficult to get going in the morning if your night’s rest has been disrupted by the needs of the baby. However, you have things to do and you should do them in the same order every day.

Your top priority must be your exercise regime. Don’t be tempted to take an extra 15 minutes in bed. While you’re on the treadmill, the coffee can be brewing and the early morning headlines, traffic and weather ahead of you on the TV. When you are done, it’s time to get the children up and make sure they have their own chores to do to lighten your load.

After a while, you will get this procedure down to a finite science, every single day. This is probably the most stressful time of the day, as you are trying to focus while still trying to wake up! By insisting on a clockwork routine and making sure that all your family are “on board” with this concept and that they help you, you’ll be ready to get out of the door running, on time.

From time to time, you might think that you have nothing available when it comes to keeping up with your “me time” and enjoying your social life, having to concentrate so hard on work and the baby. You will hopefully have a great understanding with a caregiver and understand just how important this person is within your whole picture.

At work, you will, also hopefully, have a very understanding boss. No matter how understanding the boss is, never take advantage of any situation and only call in favours or use delay allowances whenever necessary, including personal days. The more that you play fair with your boss, the easier it will be to deal with emergencies, should they come along.

Try not to schedule anything that is too demanding, technically for you at work in the morning and at all times, do not overload your schedule unrealistically.

Time management is very important during your 9-to-5 routine at work and you should try not to allow work to spill over into your own personal time.

Use professional coaching to help you focus on key areas. Dedicated coaching for women is praised by many in your situation, who have turned to online life coaching to really help them get past “the wall.”

Amanda Alexander is the Director of Coaching Mums and a widely renowned ICF-accredited coach who delivers professional coaching programmes to working mums across the globe who long for more time, balance and fulfilment in their busy lives. Download our free eBook especially for working mums with 5 easy ways to achieve balance.