How to Balance Work and Life as a Woman

As a working woman, you know how difficult it can be to juggle work, kids, and other life responsibilities. It can seem like there is never enough time in the day to complete all of the chores on your to-do list. It’s easy to become burnt out and overwhelmed by all of the activities demanding your attention. Too often, this constant running around creates health issues, causes irritability, and it can even drive a wedge between you and your partner. Balancing work and life can be hard, but below are a few tips to help you manage your daily activities.

Share the work

Delegation is an important skill to have in an office. If you’re constantly swamped at work then it’s past time to start delegating some of your tasks to others on your team. There’s no shame in asking for help or handing off small tasks so you have time to focus on a major project. Figure out when to delegate responsibility at the office so you can get your work done on time and be home at a decent hour. 

Of course, sharing the work doesn’t just apply to your job, either. A majority of the housework still falls onto women’s shoulders even though almost 47 percent of U.S. workers are women. If you’re working eight hours or more each day just to come home to laundry, dinner, dishes, cleaning, and more, then you’re heading for burn out. You need to start splitting the daily chores with your partner so you’re not the only one taking care of the house.

Create a family calendar

One way to evenly distribute family and house responsibilities is to create a family calendar. You can go with a wall calendar or use shareable electronic calendars, whatever works best for your family. Add activities, bill dates, chores, childcare needs, and any other tasks to this calendar. Assign a person in your family to each task. This is a great way to work with your partner to even out the housework. 

When creating this calendar, however, don’t just assign your partner duties. Some men will rebel against these assignments and you’ll still be left picking up the slack. Instead, sit down with your husband and give him a list of chores to choose from, then decide together how often that task needs to be done. You should also explain why you want the calendar and how it will help your relationship. If your partner understands the importance of the chore distribution and feels involved in the decision, he is more likely to participate and be on the same page about responsibilities.

Spend one-on-one time with your loved ones

A big part of work-life balance is making time for the people you love. Even if you have to literally schedule it into your week, try to spend one-on-one time with your kids a little bit every day or every few days. You’ll enjoy this special bonding time with your kids and they’ll feel more connected with you, too. The same goes for your partner. Create regularly scheduled date nights away from the kids so you can both catch up on the week and reconnect. This will keep your bond strong and you’ll have an opportunity to address any concerns that might be coming up in your relationship.

Get rid of the guilt

Mom guilt is a real thing. The traditional mother role says a woman needs to be at home with the kids all day. You might feel guilty for being at work instead of with your kids, but it’s time to let this antiquated notion go. Instead, focus on everything your job is bringing to the family. Perhaps your position helps pay for certain educational opportunities, or you can afford to take your kids on exciting trips. At the very least, remember that you’re not alone. Seventy percent of mothers with children under 18 have a job, with over 75 percent employed full-time, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. There’s nothing wrong with supporting your family or enjoying your work, so set the guilt aside. 

Make time for yourself

Everyone needs alone time every now and then, so don’t forget to schedule time for yourself. Plan a spa day, go see a movie, or take a girls’ trip with friends. It’s more than OK to do things for yourself every now and then. Setting aside this time to do things you enjoy will give you more energy for your job and your family. Just as you want them to be happy, they want you to be happy, too.

If you’re interested in knowing more about the effects of work-life stress or if women's therapy could be right for you, please feel free to contact me or visit my women's counseling page.