If you’re a hard working Mum who’s trying to balance her work life and her home life then this first tip will really help you get started in finding your work-home balance.

OPEN THE BIN AND THROW THE GUILT IN.

As a working mother I know there is so much we can feel guilty about. Lots of working Mums feel an incredible amount of guilt about working outside of the home as do other Mums who work just as hard inside of the home and who struggle just as much in finding time to have quality time with their kids.

There will always be another load of washing to hang out or another load of ironing to be done. There will always be bills to pay and groceries to purchase and people to keep happy. None of this goes away does it, but where you put your focus is important and if you constantly focus on the negativity of guilt, you will bring yourself and others down. Guilt seems to be one of our greatest glitches in our juggling act but guilt is a useless emotion. It really doesn’t do us any good to feel guilty. So STOP FEELING GUILTY and instead try and focus on the things that make you a GOOD MUM. So Open the bin and throw the guilt in!

STEP BACK & TAKE A LOOK

Maybe you’re a woman who’s returning to the workforce after having a baby, or maybe you’re a corporate Mum who has to do a lot of travelling in her work. Maybe you’re a stay at home Mum who just wants to find some time for herself to get back a little bit of who she was BEFORE KIDS. Remember those days? Sleeping in late. Actually having time to read without interruptions.

No matter what situation you’re in, it’s time to step back and take a really close look at things. What are your key challenges in trying to balance your work life and your home life? To get that balance it helps to get an impartial perspective. A fun way of doing this (if you can’t afford the time or money to come along to our women’s forum), is to pretend that you’re advising your best friend on her life. A little objectivity can make the world of difference. Step back & take a close look. What would your best friend (if she had no bias at all ) say to you about WHERE YOU ARE NOW, and WHERE YOU WANT TO BE?

This pretending can take the pressure off. What would your best friend say about where you are now in terms of your WORK/HOME BALANCE? Would she say you value yourself enough to take time out to look after yourself both physically and emotionally, so that you’re better equipped to be a good Mum? Would she say that you spend time refuelling your tank so that you can really be there for others, without feeling exhausted and resentful? Would she say you struggle with these things and a whole lot more, as most working mothers do? So what are your personal key challenges as a mother working inside or outside of the home?

WRITING IT DOWN REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

Well girls, remember that movie where the little girl writes a wish on a piece of paper and puts it under her pillow, hoping it will come true? Well it’s a little bit the same when you’re a fully grown woman. Actually writing down: WHERE YOU ARE NOW and WHERE YOU WANT TO BE can make all the difference. When you see it in black and white, it’s almost as if there’s no more fooling yourself, it’s time to TAKE ACTION. Not only that, when you write it down, your subconscious starts ticking over and sending you ideas of exactly HOW to make it all happen. So next time you have five minutes for that cuppa at home or work, grab your pen and paper. Next time you’re out with the girls for coffee, grab a serviette and start jotting down ideas. Ask yourself or someone you trust what are your key challenges in work/home balance and write them down. WRITING IT DOWN REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE.