How to Kick Start Your Career Now You’re a Working Mom

Getting back to work after a break to have a baby can be very daunting. When you’ve spent a couple of years raising your kids, it’s easy to lose touch with what’s going on in the world. For several years your only concern has been providing a safe and nurturing environment, keeping the house tidy and cleaning up after your little darlings. Then, the time comes when they’re off to school and you’ll be left with some time on your hands.  
What do you want to do with it? Do you think you’re up to the challenge of returning to work and juggling family life with a new career?  
You’ve been out of the game for a while, so there are a few steps you need to take first. 
 
Take Stock and Reflect 
Before you get too deep into looking for gainful employment, spend some time reflecting. Think about what you’ve accomplished in your life so far and whether going back to work is really what you want. Think about the goals you had for your life before the patter of tiny feet and have you actually achieved them? Are there any you can revisit, or is it going to be better if you make some more? Have your interests changed? Would you like to try something completely different?  
 
Take a Break 
Something else you can do before jumping back into work is to spend some time relaxing and enjoying some ‘you’ time. Your kids are out at school all day and you might have a lot on your mind, so do yourself a favor and take a break, enjoy a few weeks doing nothing but concentrating on yourself. Find some things to do that will take your mind off this new chapter in your life, and you’ll feel energized and refreshed. You might also experience an ‘a-ha’ moment when everything suddenly becomes clear. Even if you’re not actively thinking about your future career, your brain is working things out and finding a valid solution.  
 
Reconnect 
Go back to your roots and get in touch with people that matter to you most. You’ve been living in a whirlwind of diapers, shopping trips, doctors visits; in fact, everything possible that’s kiddy related. It’s time to reconnect with the people you know best such as family, friends and your significant other. There are also going to be old colleagues, role models, mentors, and others with similar values to yours.  
Reconnect with others and you’ll find you learn more about who you are because you’ve finally got people you can share your struggles, dreams, frustrations, and ambitions with. Let’s be honest, little Jimmy might have been a great listener, but at 2 years old there was little constructive advice he could offer.  
Ask people’s advice on your next move and you’ll find everyone you talk to will have something different to say. Not only that, but you’ll also get some feedback on how you’ve handled things and adapted in the past.  
 
Consider Freelancing 
This is an option that works for a working mom because of the flexibility it allows. You might not think there are people who would be willing to pay for your writing skills, for example, but you might be surprised. Freelancing is also a great way to expand your portfolio and explore areas you might have been interested in previously.  
Believe it or not, it’s also yet another opportunity to learn more about yourself. You learn how to manage a project from beginning to end, starting with sourcing a client through to delivering the end product. You might find there are certain parts of the cycle you enjoy more than others.  
 
Go Back to College 
Never underestimate the value of education. Not only can you improve your current skill set by gaining an extra qualification, but it also enables you to move onto another career path or take your career to a new level. If, for example, you were enjoying a general nursing career before kids came along, now might be the time to explore a more management focused role. In which case, you might be interested in DNP online programs in nursing leadership because this type of study allows you to stay at home and work your study around your family commitments.  
Now you’ve got a better idea of where you want to go, here are some tips to help you juggle your new founded career and family more successfully.  
 
Tips on Balancing Career and Family 
Do you think you can handle being a mom with a career? There are plenty of women who do it very successfully, so how hard can it be? Here are some tips that might make it a little easier. 

• Develop a Schedule and Stick to It 

If you’re not a great one for planning and having a schedule this is not going to be easy, but it is worth trying to change. Work out what hours you want to work, what hours you want to spend with your kids and those you want to keep for yourself. Once you’ve decided, do everything you can to stick with the plan. It might mean using a time management planner, to-do lists and prioritizing your tasks. You’ll benefit in the long run because you’ll be more focused and able to keep on track. Consider getting up earlier, before the children are awake so that you can organize your day without any interruptions. Spend time productively in the evening, after they’re in bed, getting school lunches packed and clothes laid out ready for the morning.   

• Plan Quality Time with the Family 

It’s important to spend quality time with your kids and your partner. Make sure you fit it into your schedule. The best time for family is generally in the evenings. You’ve got a couple of hours quality time with the kids, and when they’re in bed, you can concentrate on spending time with your partner. Consider introducing a date night a couple of times a month.  

• Plan Mealtimes 

Reduce your stress by planning mealtimes ahead of schedule. If you plan out your meals for the week, you can make sure you’ve got all the necessary ingredients and save countless trips to the store. Double up your recipes and you can save even more time by freezing the extra for later use.  

• Plan Household Duties 

If possible, plan all your household duties for one day of the week. It’s also going to help if you delegate tasks to other family members who can pitch in. Get your kids to help with housework and you’re giving them valuable life lessons.  

• Make Time for Yourself 

You might find this the hardest, but it is the most important. Make sure you eat healthily, exercise more, and give yourself opportunities for de-stressing. You’ll feel more focused, have more energy and feel less anxious and irritable.  

• Come in Relaxed 

When you come in from work, give yourself ten minutes to relax before you sit down with the children. Take a shower, change out of your work clothes, and everyone will benefit from the relaxed atmosphere. Children are very good at picking up on moods and if you come in from work complaining about problems at work, not enough hours in the day and generally being stressed, they’re going to feel it too.  

• Eat with Your Children 

Even if it’s late and they’ve already eaten get into the habit of sitting down, enjoying a light snack together and talking about their day. Talk to them about some of the more pleasing aspects of your working day such as the people you’ve met and the places you’ve visited. Try to make every evening different, and it can be a time in the day that everyone looks forward to. 

• Do Things Together 

This doesn’t necessarily mean days in the park or on the beach. It doesn’t have to be anything special or take very long. The important thing is that you’re doing it together. Give them opportunities to enjoy being around you when you’re walking the dog, working in the garden, preparing dinner, or doing the weekly grocery shop, for example.  

• Enjoy the Bedtime Routine 

The bedtime routine is very important, especially when your children are young. Your children don’t need full on entertainment at the end of the day, but they will enjoy quiet time with you while they play in the bath or have a short story at bedtime.  

• Introduce a Special Night 

Ask your kids what they fancy doing and have one special night every week. If there’s more than one of them perhaps they can take it in turns deciding what to do. It might be a movie night, computer games night or a night making cupcakes and decorating them in the kitchen. It’ll be a great opportunity for everyone in the family, including mom and dad, to do something enjoyable together. 
 
One last thing to remember, you might enjoy your new found freedom and challenge in your life but don’t let it stand in the way of spending time with your children and partner. If you’re starting to feel over-extended or over-worked, don’t be afraid to ask for help.   ​