while others may require more attention to my family and personal life. By allowing myself the flexibility to prioritize what is most important in any given moment, I am able to achieve a sense of harmony and fulfillment in both areas of my life. This allows for a more realistic and sustainable approach to managing my career and family responsibilities.”—Sarah Jackson, Jackson Marketing
Achieving work-life balance is a struggle that many women in business face. To provide guidance and assistance, we’ve compiled advice from 15 successful women who have found effective strategies for juggling career and parenthood. From optimizing tasks for productivity to prioritizing health and self-care, these women share their valuable insights on how to achieve work-life harmony.
1. Optimize tasks for maximum productivity
Effective communication with employers and colleagues, setting strict working hours, and delegating tasks can help prioritize crucial assignments and make the most of the workday. Lera Gelbart from Gleexa emphasizes the importance of optimizing workflow for maximum productivity.
2. Prioritize health and self-care
Allison Carmichael from Indigoextra Ltd stresses the significance of maintaining health and self-care while juggling motherhood and business. Eating a plant-centric diet and avoiding sugar can help maintain energy levels and manage stress, enabling women to balance work and family life more effectively.
3. Reject the Wonder Woman myth
Rebecca Houghton from BoldHR advises women to reject the idea of achieving a perfect work-life balance and instead focus on multi-tasking and teaching children to be self-sufficient. By letting go of unrealistic expectations, women can alleviate the pressure of trying to do it all and find a more manageable approach to managing career and family responsibilities.
4. Incorporate family into work life
Emily Dills from Seattle Nanny Network, Inc. suggests incorporating children into work-related activities to alleviate mom guilt and involve them in the business. By integrating family into work life, women can create a more seamless and harmonious balance between career and parenthood.
5. Design your work-life on your own terms
Marissa Green emphasizes embracing a work-life design mindset to create balance on one’s own terms. By letting go of unrealistic expectations and developing a strategy based on personal and family needs, women can find more joy and fulfillment in both their professional and personal lives.
6. Value a supportive company culture
Dasle Hong from DailyPay emphasizes the importance of finding a company culture that embraces and supports working parents. Having colleagues and leaders who respect and support flexibility for working parents can make a significant difference in achieving a healthy work-life balance.
7. Set specific goals and a time frame for meeting those goals
Dominique Johnson-Lindsay recommends setting specific goals and time frames for achieving them to ensure a dedicated balance between work and family life. By prioritizing goals and allocating time accordingly, women can feel confident in their ability to succeed in both career and parenthood.
8. Adopt a life-first business approach
Michelle Pontvert suggests adopting a life-first approach to business, where all aspects of work are designed to fit around family life. By creating a flexible and adaptable business structure, women can better manage the demands of career and family responsibilities.
9. Be fully present at both work and home
Jennifer Williams advises practicing mindfulness and setting boundaries to ensure full presence in both work and home life. By maintaining a clear separation between work and family time, women can give without mental distractions and find more fulfillment in both areas.
10. Seek work-life harmony, not balance
Sarah Jackson emphasizes the importance of seeking work-life harmony instead of striving for a perfect balance. By prioritizing what is most important in any given moment and allowing flexibility to focus on work or family as needed, women can achieve a more realistic and sustainable approach to managing career and family responsibilities.
