end-the-juggle-struggle End the Juggle-struggle

End the Juggle-struggle

Forbes reports that nearly 71% of women who work today have children under 18. It’s official; Superwoman is a juggler living in suburbia! We know that the balancing act of a job, combined with managing a family, has the potential to become a circus act. In light of Women’s Month, we’re unpacking the delicate balancing act of having a family in today’s world.

Many women spend the majority of their day at the office putting out fires and completing projects, just to do pretty much of the same when they get home. Other women are solely career or family-focused. Either way, it is not uncommon to feel like you’re juggling, trying to keep everything up in the air; occasionally, one of the balls is bound to hit the ground.

We’re all jugglers, and it’s time to acknowledge that some balls are made of rubber and some of glass. The key is not to drop the glass ones. Glass is the good stuff. Glass is ensuring your kids and husband are loved. Glass is dropping everything when a loved one is in need. Glass is pursuing your passion and teaching your kids that hard work makes dreams come true.

Yes, your kids may not take homemade goods to the bake sale, and the house cleaning may disintegrate just before a deadline to the point where your neighbours think you have been robbed. BUT… these things are not glass. Forgive yourself when you do slip up once in a while. Also, remember that glass also gets broken from time to time. Living life is sweeping up the broken pieces and trying again tomorrow.

The ability to be a woman at work, juggling family and career, takes masses of energy and a lot of skill. Fortunately, there are some quick, easy things you can do to end your juggle-struggle.

• Wake up early. Take advantage of small blocks of time. That extra ten minutes in the morning gives you time to prepare for the day – even if it means just five minutes to have coffee or meditate.
• Let go of perfectionism. Take a deep breath and prioritise.
• Learn to say no. Don’t allow fear of other people’s opinions to force you to do something you don’t have time, energy, or enthusiasm for.
• Celebrate your accomplishments. A busy woman’s mind is often on what still needs to be done. Break this bad thinking habit by reviewing your day before bed and congratulating yourself on a job well done. You will be surprised at how much you have accomplished.
• Ask for help. Don’t try to do everything yourself—delegate tasks to your co-workers at work and your partner and kids at home.

It’s wild to think that having children won’t rock your world. If juggling a career and a family is part of your life, stay true to yourself, try to find the balance and remember not to get lost somewhere in between.

Sources: www.psychcentral.com, www.sheknows.com, www.imperfectwoman.com, www.littlepinkbook.com