Understanding the Balancing Acts of Working Mums

Being a mother in the home and being employed full time is not easy. She must find the balance to meet the demands of motherhood and employment. Learn how.

Being a mother in the home and being employed full time is not easy. Working mums are like tightrope walkers performing a balancing act. And just like the tight rope walker balances to keep from falling, the working mum must balance the demands of motherhood and employment.

Living in both worlds is difficult, but like the tightrope walker, the working mum can use specific techniques to maintain balance, walk the rope, and achieve her goals.

Women in the workforce

Women first entered the workforce in significant numbers during the early nineteen hundreds. This was the so-called Second Industrial revolution. The first and second world wars were also periods when women entered the workforce in significant numbers. This was then followed by the baby boomers who entered the workforce in the 1960s. For ten years, from 1964 to 1974, the percentage of women in the labor force increased by 43%.

The percentage of women in the workforce increased throughout the 1960s and kept growing until 1999, peaking at 60%. In more recent times, especially after the great recession in 2008, the women's labor force participation rate declined.

Even though the labor force participation rate of women has declined, the number of women entering the workforce has increased, as has the percentage of the workforce they represent. For example, in 1950, the workforce comprised 18.4 million women, and this represented approximately one-third of the total labor force. By 2000, 66.3 million women were in the workforce. By 2015, 73.5 million women were in the workforce, representing around 46% of the overall workforce.

Helpful Pointers for Working Mums

When it comes to managing being a mum and at the same time being actively employed, it's all a question of balance. Here are some helpful tips which will help working mums find that balance.

1. The first and perhaps most crucial step is to be true to yourself and be true to your decision. For many reasons, mothers often feel guilty about entering the workforce, and the simple solution to this is, they shouldn't be. Working mums should be proud of their decision to work and push aside the guilt. This can be done by concentrating on the positive outcomes that eventuate from working. For example, if you are proud of your job, then focus on that. This will make you a happier person, which in turn will affect your relations with your kids.

2. It may seem selfish, but the reality is, every working mum needs "me time." It is time dedicated solely to yourself, and it is your chance to relax and mentally recuperate. Shift your focus onto yourself, pamper yourself at the parlor, visit the gym for a workout, or go shopping and purchase those Guess women's shirts you have always wanted.

"Me time" is critical for working mums because it is a time of escape where your attention is on yourself rather than the concerns of others. Force yourself to take some free time and view it as a reward for all the time and effort you have dedicated to others.

3. Learn to compartmentalize and focus your attention. For all working mums, learning to compartmentalize and focus is essential. When at home, working mums must learn to "tune out" work and "tune in" at home. Put work on the back burner, or better yet, seal it off in a mental compartment and concentrate your focus on family and home. By doing this, you will have more family time and be able to make more of it.

4. To keep the two worlds separate from each other working mums have to know everything is okay in the home while they are at work. This is where nannies and daycare come in. The choice of nanny or daycare is critically important because knowing your child's care is in good hands allows you to fully concentrate on the issues at work.

5. Use technology to keep yourself organized. With the busy lifestyles of today's modern family, keeping everyone organized can be quite challenging, and this is where technology comes to the fore. From wall calendars to organizational phone apps, it is now possible to manage the activities of the busy modern family.

6. Never forget to have fun. Having fun with your family is so important because it helps create a happy atmosphere in the home, which at the end of the day is something that benefits everyone.

Now the times have changed, more and more women are choosing to work and run a household at the same time. The tasks that entail this balancing act are challenging. But like how they've proven, women will continue to power through and handle responsibilities with ease. They only need to remember to take care of themselves as well.