Alma Causey
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Being a mother is already a full time job. Add a career, a sense of guilt (for never doing enough) and subtract a housekeeper, nanny, cook etc. and there you have a supermom. Society pressures women into getting a job, getting married, having kids. If you choose to leave the office to be there for your family, you may be looked down upon for ‘being a freeloader’ and ‘not earning a living’.

However, as time changes, so do people. And today’s supermom isn’t the usual cooking-cleaning-working-baby producing machine. Kevin A. Thompson defines today’s supermom as, “One who is willing to reject the societal expectations of modern family life to create an environment that is most healthy for herself, her husband, and her children.”

The most important part of being a mother is not about being ‘the best chef’ or ‘a DIY queen’ or having ‘the cleanest kitchen’ or an ‘Instagram worthy bedroom’. What really matters is the unconditional love and support children get from their mother and the self-confidence their mother instills in them.

But, how do you make sure that your kids are loved, washed and cleaned, and have food in their stomachs, while also keeping your work on track and having quality time with your hubby? Well, here are some of the not-so-secret habits of a supermom:

1. Don’t Compromise On Time – Office Time, Quality Time and Personal Time

Every mom understands that there are some core responsibilities that cannot be neglected. These include her quality time with children, her dedicated work hours and the essential ‘me time’ to recoup.

Office Time

An invaluable strategy is to never take home-related issues to work and vice versa. You need to ensure that you focus wholeheartedly on your work during office hours, so that you are a valued and productive resource for your employer and succeed as a professional.

Quality Time

Once you’re home; be sure to spend a considerable amount of time with your children every day. Firstly, because children inherently require love, guidance, and support from parents in order to thrive. Secondly, it is important in order for you to have a deep and meaningful bond with your offspring. Thirdly, it is easy to get preoccupied in the hustle and bustle of chores and work, however, this leads to regret in many parents for not spending enough time with their children. Help them with homework, go out, have dinner together, watch TV, or just sit and chat. Plan out fun family activities to do over the weekend.

Personal Time

In order to function at an optimum level and grow as a person you need to take time out for yourself. Spend your personal time with your partner, read a good book, or work on your physical fitness. This will give you a chance to maintain a happy marriage, remain healthy, keep hobbies, and have a social life.

Supermoms are aware of the significance of taking care of their health specifically in the long run, therefore, they take care special of their own and their family’s health by incorporating healthy food items in their regular diet so that they remain fit and healthy and avoid ailments. (Fun Fact: Did you know chamomile tea has several health benefits?!)

2. Capitalize On Your Most Productive Time

The US army has a popular slogan that ‘they get more done before 9 am then most people do all day’. Similarly, you can leverage the time that you have while your kids sleep to get most of your task done and get a head start. If you’re an early bird; wake up before everyone else and get you’re most urgent tasks done so that you remain stress free for the rest of the day. Conversely, if you find it easier to focus at night; you can use the time after your kids go to bed. It’s important that you choose whichever one of these times is convenient and available for you instead of waking up unusually early or staying up too late. Otherwise you may become over-exhausted, which reduces your efficiency and negatively affects your overall health.

3. Be Approachable To Your Children

A dire component of parenting is being approachable to your children. Supermoms have a lot on their plate but they realize that there are certain responsibilities that take precedence over others. Chores, work and society can wait, because being ignored by a parent has long lasting impact on children. So, if you’re in the midst of chores or at work and your child asks for your time, always be responsive to their needs and make them feel that you are interested in what they have to say. Whatever their age, your kids should be able to come to you with any problem and know that you will help.

4. Master The Art Of Organizing and Prioritizing

Master the art of organizing and prioritizing tasks with a to-do list. A to do list sounds simplistic, but it is crucial if you want to maintain your sanity amidst the countless tasks that are expected of you. Compile a list of all things that you need to do and prioritize them so that you don’t overlook the most crucial tasks.

The Pareto Principle is a time management approach which states that 20% of your tasks on the to-do list will give you 80% of the total value. All you need to do is to identify these crucial tasks that will ensure your day was productive, even if you miss out on any minor tasks. Another important way to efficiently allocate your time is to divide it in time blocks designated for specific tasks and then try to accomplish as much as you can within them and then move on to the next. For instance, you might dedicate one hour for cooking, half hour for cleaning, one hour for kids’ play time, TV time etc.

5. Refrain From Procrastination

When you delay a task, chances are you’ll keep on delaying it until you absolutely have to complete it. This can lead to an overwhelming amount of work in a limited span of time. Hence, conquer tasks as soon as you can. This goes a long way in increasing efficiency and reducing stress. Inevitably, there will be times when you just want to rest and relax. For such occasions; put aside duties for a little while and do something that makes you feel happy and rejuvenated.

6. Delegate

No one can do everything on their own. Everyone needs help every now and then. Acknowledge that you’re human who has limitations. Do what you can and then delegate the rest. If you want someone to look after your kids while you work or complete chores, call up a familiar face like a relative or close friend instead of unfamiliar babysitters or daycare centers.

7. Learn to Say “No”

Mothers at times find themselves overextending out of love or societal pressure. This can be a waste of time and energy, therefore, if you are presented with an activity that you know is not worthwhile or will disrupt crucial undertakings; be comfortable in politely saying “no”. Saying no to your kicking screaming child might make you the worst mom alive for a while but at the end of the day, your kids will always love you.

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About Alma Causey

Alma is a mother, wife and a professional blogger by choice. She has completed her masters in English literature from the University of Groningen. As a blogger she wrote quite a few posts on health, technology as well as management. She loves to discover new places and share experiences in words. Oh, Alma is incomplete without cats.

Follow Alma on Twitter here.

View all posts by Alma Causey here.

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