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Last Updated on June 29, 2025
Key Takeaways
- Designate a dedicated workspace: Separating your work area from home life boosts focus,
productivity , and signals a mental shift between roles. - Set and pursue realistic goals: Even small steps toward education or advancement can open doors and help you reclaim a sense of progress and purpose.
- Delegate household responsibilities: Sharing chores among family members reduces burnout and builds accountability while
teaching valuable lifeskills . - Prep ahead to ease mornings: Evening routines, such as packing lunches and laying out clothes, minimize chaos and give everyone a calmer start to the day.
- Create a structured daily schedule: Balancing work, family, and self-care requires planning and boundaries that prioritize what matters most.
Maintaining a career while you are a mom can be a struggle at times. It doesn’t matter if you’re back to working in an office or still working from home; there are many different things you need to manage. Here are some tips for creating a balance that will leave you feeling empowered, rather than depleted.
Balancing motherhood and a career isn’t easy—but it is possible. From organizing your space to sharing the load at home, these tips can help you thrive professionally without burning out. Start building your balance today. #workingmomClick To TweetPreventing Burnout
To prevent burnout, start by creating a positive workspace with personal touches, such as color, plants, and photos, that make the environment more enjoyable. Keep your desk clean and organized, with specific areas for essential items to enhance
If possible, designate a separate room as a home office to help draw a clear boundary between work and home life. Incorporate regular breaks and self-care activities such as exercise and hobbies into your routine. Finally, set realistic goals and prioritize tasks to stay focused without feeling overwhelmed.
Designated Workspaces
Having a designated workspace is the first step to achieving success in your career. This step is a little easier if you leave your home to go to work each day. If you work in an office, you already have a designated space to work.
Transform your workspace from a dreaded place to a pleasant one by adding personal touches, such as color, plants, and pictures. Maximize functionality by keeping your desk clear and organized, and designating a set place for necessary items.
Working from home can present a challenge, as household tasks can easily distract from work. To minimize distractions, consider designating a separate room as your home office. This separation helps focus on work tasks and allows for a more apparent distinction between work and home life.
If you don’t have an extra room that can be converted into an office, then you should still find a space that can be set aside specifically for work. Having a separate space dedicated solely to work will help your brain distinguish between work and home time.
Work Towards Goals
Sometimes, you may become so caught up in the daily grind that you forget to pursue your goals. Sometimes we may have dreams and goals that we delay and wait for a time when we have more time. If we are honest with ourselves, we know that there is no such thing as the perfect time to go after our dreams.
If there is something important to you, then you need to make it happen. You may want a promotion at work that requires additional
If you’re thinking about making a
You may also want to pursue a degree or return to school to gain additional education. Acquiring more education can be enriching in itself. Still, it can also prepare you to advance in your current career or explore new possibilities in other areas of work.
Share the Load
Often, working mothers bear the brunt of all the family’s work. This is unfair and will ultimately lead to burnout. It is essential to delete some of the work from others, which makes it possible for everyone to feel fulfilled and work together as a
Your spouse and children should assist you with household chores. You can discuss with them how you need help and come up with a system to manage everything. Some people may be comfortable choosing one job to be in charge of, while others may want to rotate through jobs to add variety. It doesn’t matter how you set it up as long as you are not doing it on your own.
Delegating chores for children is an excellent way to help prepare them for the future and encourage them to take responsibility for their homes. Even small children can help in small ways. They can put their dirty clothes in the hamper and pick up their toys before bed. They may also be able to set the table at mealtimes and take their dirty plate to the kitchen. While these tasks may seem small, if everyone is doing a little bit, it will take a burden off your shoulders.
As children grow, they can take on more responsibility. Learning to do laundry, load the dishwasher, clear the table, clean the bathrooms, and vacuum are all essential life
Prepare for the Next Morning
Mornings are hectic. You are getting ready for work. Your kids are getting ready for school or other activities. You’re trying to find backpacks, get the kids dressed, and make breakfast and lunches. Everything is in chaos. Does this sound familiar? This is very common, and spending a little time the night before getting ready for the next day can help make it better.
You can check homework and put backpacks by the door each night. You can also pack lunches after dinner, or even have the kids each pack their lunch. You can also set out clothes for the next day for each child or have them do it themselves. Doing these little things each night will make mornings less chaotic.
Create a Schedule
Since you are balancing numerous tasks, it is essential to create a schedule for your day. Be sure to schedule your work hours in advance. Especially if you are working from home, it’s vital to ensure you’re not working all night when you should be focusing on other things.
You should also schedule time for your family to spend together to strengthen your relationships. You could go for a walk, play games, or watch a movie. And finally, be sure to schedule time for yourself to unwind and prepare for the next day.
Next Steps
- Designate a workspace at home: Choose a quiet area and set it up with essentials to create a boundary between work and home life.
- Plan your weekly family schedules: Use a shared calendar to coordinate activities, meals, and responsibilities, reducing stress and increasing household cooperation.
- Explore flexible education options: Research online degree programs designed for working adults to support long-term
career growth while balancing daily responsibilities. - Assign age-appropriate chores: Involve kids in household tasks based on their age and abilities to promote teamwork and reduce your daily workload.
- Prep the night before: Set out clothes,
organize lunches, and pack bags in the evening to create calmer, more manageable mornings for everyone.
Final Words
Balancing motherhood and a career is challenging, but with the proper structure and support, it’s absolutely achievable. Minor adjustments, such as creating a defined workspace, sharing responsibilities, and preparing in advance, can make a meaningful difference in how each day unfolds. Taking time to pursue personal goals and education empowers you to grow professionally while setting a strong example for your family. With planning, teamwork, and self-care, you can feel capable and confident in both roles.
Rooted firmly in social science research, Pfeffer’s 7 rules provide a manual for increasing your ability to get things done, including increasing the positive effects of your job performance.
Joey Trebif is the pen name of Mark Fiebert, a former finance executive who hired and managed dozens of professionals during his 30-plus-year career. He now shares expert job search, resume, and career advice on CareerAlley.com.
