Time-saving tips for working moms

Being a working mom has never been easy. Work stress, family pressures, childcare dilemmas and time management issues can take their toll. As a result, you could find yourself praying for a smoother daily routine. Feeling tempted to quit your job/ career. Looking more unkempt as the days go by.

Giving up or getting frustrated is not the solution. Try our tips to help you juggle all those responsibilities better.

Home: Organise and delegate

~ Have a 'clean-up' routine every night before you go to bed, where every family member puts things back in their right place. Even toddlers can help.

~ Make mornings less hectic by planning ahead. Finish things like packing schoolbags and ironing clothes. Decide what you want to wear to work the next day and keep it ready the night before.

~ Have a planned menu. Decide what to cook every day of the following week and shop for groceries accordingly. This can save a lot of time. Have 'timetables' like 'Sambar on Monday', 'Roti-sabji on Tuesday', etc, and make sure you have all the ingredients ready during the weekend. This way, you can avoid those daily trips to the local grocery store or market. Planned meals are healthier too, because they are not last-minute decisions.

~ Give your children quality time every day, even if it is just a couple of hours. Read to them, play games with them and talk to them about their day. It is not important what you do or for how much time you do it. All that matters is that you show your baby you love her/ him.

Tip: Make your kids go to bed early. This will not only give you some peaceful time with your hubby, but also make sure the kids get the forty winks they need.

Home and office: The perennial balancing act

If you are planning to get pregnant soon, ensure you select a company that is family friendly and has reasonable maternity leave policies.

If your job permits it, try working from home, an option that millions of moms all over the world are exploring. This way, you might be able to have your cake and eat it too.
If you not fortunate enough to get flexitime or permission to work from home, then the only option is to be very organised. Save time by making priority lists, using organisers and planning your workday smartly.

Getting back to work: Be prepared, be professional

~ Keep in touch with your boss and co-workers even while you are on maternity leave so you do not feel totally lost when you get back to work. Try to stay in the loop where new developments in your company are concerned.

~ Stay abreast in your field of work. Keep reading, surfing and checking mails when you have the time.

~ Feed your baby before leaving your home and after you get home.

~ Be prepared for a lot of changes and face them without defiance.

Workplace: Efficiency is key of the game

Don't allow work to spill over onto your home and vice versa.

~ Tell you colleagues you would prefer to be contacted via e-mail rather than phone. At the same time, make e-mail communication clear, crisp and concise.

Be as professional as possible and while you are at work and aim for maximum efficiency. This will ease your adjustment phase and people will forget that you were ever away.

Most of all, try and suppress the inherent desire to be 'Supermom' all the time. For your kids, you will always be special even if you are not perfect. What matters the most to them is that you love them and will always be there for them.