I’ve said many times that mums are the hardest working people on the plant. By that logic, a working mum is working overtime!
Since these successful, and diligent mummies have so much on their plates, it’s reasonable to say that there are probably some things that they could do without. A few days ago, Working Mother shared a list of the things that working mums should quit…besides their jobs.
It was such a great concept that we figured we would share our own list. These are ten things that working mums need to stop doing. Not because they can;t handle it, but because they deserve to take a load off!
Working mums, if you’re struggling to juggle everything in your life at the moment, this list is exactly what you need in your life:
10 things working mums need to stop doing
1. Striving for the ‘Mother of the Year’ award
Whether this award actually exists is unknown, in any case, you’ve already earned your family’s respect and adoration by being the best mum you can be. There’s no need to impress anyone else, and it’s okay to expect that you’ll have the occasional slip up or parenting faux pas. Keep up the good work, and stop beating yourself up for not being perfect!
2. Staying up late
There are myriads of reasons why you shouldn’t stay up late. Among the top reasons to avoid staying up: detriments to your health and mood. It’s easy to say that you’ll start going to bed earlier, but harder to actually follow through. Especially with so much going on at work and at home. Try your hardest to avoid sleeping late, though. A good night’s rest will allow you to be as efficient, productive, and pleasant as possible…which are qualities all working mums value.
3. Cooking duties
Surely your motherly instincts are to blame for your need to provide your family with food every night, but there’s no obligation to do so if you’re not the only one capable of feeding your family! Let your partner handle the burden every now and then, order in, or get take out. Either way, you work hard enough as it is and there’s no need to come home and work even harder.
4. Going to the gym
Pump the brakes. We’re not saying that you need to stop exercising. All we mean is that there are other ways to get a good workout that don;t involve expensive gym memberships and long drives back and forth to the gym. If you value exercise and find the gym to be the best place to get it, then don;t mind this entry. However, if you feel as though you can substitute your gym trips with a jog around the neighborhood, or through an at home routine, then by all means give it a go.
5. Convincing yourself you’re okay
There’s nothing wrong with a little self-motivation. In fact, it’s how disciplined people get things done on a daily basis. There is a point where one must draw a line, though. Hard working people, like working mums, have every right to blow off some steam or vent every now and then. Try asking for help when you need it, and never be afraid to express your frustrations. Don’t dismiss your own need for a break, by trying to convince yourself it’ll all be okay.
6. Being a part of all of your kid’s activities
This may sound like another tricky one, but what we mean to say is that you shouldn’t overexert yourself in some areas. For example, you don’t really need to attend every single practice, game, recital, or event. It’s the big and important ones that matter most, and you shouldn’t miss those ones. You still need to be involved in your kid’s activities since it helps develop your relationship with them, but you also have to think about how it affects your ability to provide for your family as a whole. Don’t force the issue every time if they don’t need you there.
7. Comparing yourself to other mums
Your kids have different habits than other kids. There’s no surprise there. But just because your kid isn’t valedictorian, isn’t in as many clubs, or doesn’t play any sports doesn’t mean other kids are better. That also means that other mums aren’t any better than you are. There’s no true standard for being the best parent you can be, and you know more than anyone that you work hard to raise your kids. Don’t discourage yourself by comparing yourself to other parents. Conversely, don;t hold your nose high and look down on other mums! Treat your fellow mums the way you want to be treated.
8. Trying to complete every last thing
There’s a good chance that you’ve tried your hardest to get everything done and still came up short. We’re here to tell you some good news: that’s okay! You don’t need to get everything done right this second, or this very day. Properly plan everything that you can for a more reasonable, practical workload. No one wants to come home from work to a handful of chores and tasks and no one wants to reserve those tedious duties for a weekend. Space it all out, try not to overburden yourself, and just complete what you can when you can.
9. Sacrificing your personal time
Mums need personal time, and working mums do too! You should never compromise or sacrifice your “me” time for the sake of something else unless it’s an emergency. Mum, you have to sacrifice enough as it is, don’t take away the time you have to reward yourself for something trivial. You need time to express yourself, or to just relax. Don;t give it up because if you do, you could make being a mum even harder than it needs to be.
10. Apologizing
Mums have a tendency to say sorry a bit too much. Well, you know what? You don’t have to. You’re not perfect, and that’s okay. With all that’s going on in your life, it’s understandable that a mistake comes up every now and then. There’s no need to apologise all the time! Give yourself some credit when it’s deserved…but this doesn’t mean you have to stop saying sorry all together.
If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them with us!