Managing your wellbeing as a working parent

Hello hello readers, I am Diana Duque. I am sure many of you, have to wear a lots of hats- mom/dad, sister/brother, friend, grandparent, employee, cousin, the list goes on!

I am going to share with you a few tips for managing personal wellbeing while balancing life as a working parent.

Alright, Let's talk real for a sec. Being a parent? Crazy rewarding, no doubt. But, let's be honest, it's not all rainbows and sunshine.

Now, throw in being a working parent – it's like walking a tightrope. You're juggling work meetings, homework duty, drop-offs, pick-ups, and a parade of weekend birthday parties and extracurricular madness (football, swimming, rugby – you name it).

And here's the kicker – I often catch myself setting these unreal expectations. I'm a working mom of three energetic boys, and guilty as charged, I'm a bit of a perfectionist. I'm out here trying to be a superhero – the perfect mom, a friend, an awesome wife, and the ultimate life coach to my clients. It's in my nature, okay? I want to do it all and be everywhere, but let's get real – it's impossible! (But trust me, I still give it a shot.)

As a Life Coach, one of my priorities is to make you understand how important is for you to protect and prioritize your mental health as a working parent. As my clients know, we work around how to improve your life balance and be able to manage it all in a better way.

Alright, here are a couple of down-to-earth tips to help you keep your cool as a working parent:

1. Ease up on yourself: Ever catch yourself thinking, "Am I being selfish?" or "Am I really giving my kids enough quality time?" That self-critical mom/dad guilt can hit hard and leave you feeling pretty down. Instead of letting it get to you, take a moment to figure out the kind of working parent you truly want to be. Prioritize your own values and not the ones imposed by society. Then, start making gradual changes to move closer to that ideal. Cut yourself some slack!

2. Set some rules: Try to draw a line between work and home life. When you're with the fam, be all there. And when you're at work, focus on that. It helps keep you sane.

3. Pick your battles: You don't have to do everything at once. Figure out what needs attention first and go from there.

4. Don't be a hero: It's totally fine to ask for help. Whether it's at work or home, you don't have to do everything solo.

5. Time tricks: Plan your day ahead. Use calendars, to-do lists, or whatever works for you. It's like having a roadmap for your day.

6. Me time matters: Take care of yourself. Get enough sleep, move around a bit, and take breaks. You can't pour from an empty cup.

7. Flexible work vibes: If you can swing it, check if your job has flexible options. Maybe working from home or tweaking your hours a bit. It can make a huge difference.

8. Chat it out: Keep the convo flowing with your partner, kids, and coworkers. Let them know what's up, and listen to what they've got going on. Teamwork makes the dream work.

9. Say "no" sometimes: You're not a superhero. It's cool to turn down stuff that's too much. Overcommitting just leads to stress.

10. Treat yourself: Celebrate wins, big or small. It's good for the soul and keeps you positive.

11. Family time is quality time: Make the most of your time with the fam. Quality beats quantity. Be present and soak it in.

Finding that balance is an ongoing thing. Be flexible, and don't be too hard on yourself. You got this! 🌟

Diana Duque

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"Balance is not something you find, it's something you create"