Sunday, November 8, 2009

To the beloved "Women @ Work"

To my beloved home makers....

Gone are the days when women were doing only Work@home.

These days women are complete multitaskers...managing office, home, children, in-laws/parents, and so on. Is this merely enough? No, still they want to do more and more and more.

Now comes the challenge to all these...time...how can such people manage time.

Every individual in this world has only 24 hours every day.Then how does it work?

For many working mothers, the work life balance is one of life’s greatest challenges. While men often feel conflicted between workplace and fatherhood demands as well, women usually suffer from more than their fair share of the burden of balancing family and work life.

1. Lose the guilt. It’s not like you’re going to a resort every day. You’re at work. As a career woman, you’re serving as a breadwinner for your family, and that’s an essential role.
2. Divide the workload fairly. Unless you are a single mom, take the time to negotiate responsibilities with your partner. Avoid conflict as much as possible by communicating with your partner about how to distribute the work fairly. Sit down when you’re not angry and negotiate a fair work distribution. Who’s going to do the grocery shopping and the laundry?. Who’s going to pick up your child at daycare?
3. Be in the moment at work or with family. This can be a difficult goal, especially if you work at home or are expected to bring work home from the office. But when you’re at home, do the best you can at just being a mom. At work, do the best you can at being committed to your job.
4. Communicate with your boss and your coworkers. Open a good line of communication with your boss to make sure you are fully aware of your job expectations and of any concerns about your work. At the same time, don’t be afraid to insist on reasonable accommodations. You may need to take sick days off for your child, and if your employers do not accept this without penalizing you, they are asking for a lawsuit. Communicate with them about things they may not know you need, like a private place to pump.
5. Look for smart ways to readjust your schedule. Can you telecommute a few days per week? Is a flex schedule or part time work possible?
6. Put housework lower on your list of priorities. Your child could care less if your kitchen floor doesn’t sparkle. Besides, trying to keep your home spotless with a toddler running around will make you insane.
7. Find a good child care situation. This can be a challenge. However, you’ll feel much better at work if you know your child is in good hands.
8. Schedule in down time with your partner. You need to be more than parents once in a while. Treat yourself to a night out, or have a “date night” with take out food and a DVD.
And the most important......Schedule in time for yourself. Busy working women need to recharge, so don’t feel the least bit guilty about taking time for yourself. Get out of the house with your girlfriends once in awhile. Indulge in a manicure, a hot fudge sundae, a margarita, or whatever makes you feel just a little bit naughty.
Remember, don't feel guilty, take care of yourself, and try to have a sense of humor!
ALL THE BEST!!