Mothers

​As a busy career woman with a family, achieving a work-life balance can seem like an impossible task. There never seems to be enough hours in the day to complete all the tasks on your to-do list, let alone spend quality time with your loved ones. But, with effective time management strategies, it is possible to find harmony between your professional and personal life.Prioritize Your Tasks The first step to effective time management is to prioritize your tasks. Determine which tasks are urgent and which ones can wait. Make a list of all the tasks you need to complete, and rank them in order of importance. This will help you focus on the most critical tasks first, and ensure that you are using your time efficiently.Learn to Delegate Many career women fall into the trap of trying to do everything themselves. However, delegating tasks to others can help you free up your time and allow you to focus on more critical tasks. If you have a team, delegate tasks to your team members based on their strengths and abilities. If you don't have a team, consider outsourcing tasks such as housekeeping, grocery shopping, or meal preparation to free up your time.​Set Boundaries It can be challenging to disconnect from work, especially if you are working from home. However, setting boundaries between your work and personal life is crucial to achieving work-life balance. Set specific work hours and stick to them. Turn off your work phone or email outside of those hours. Also, consider setting boundaries around your personal life. For example, if you have a family dinner scheduled, make it clear to your colleagues that you will not be available during that time.Use Technology to Your Advantage Technology can be a significant asset in managing your time effectively. There are many tools available that can help you prioritize tasks, manage your schedule, and streamline communication. Consider using a calendar app to keep track of appointments and deadlines, a project management tool to keep track of tasks and deadlines, and communication tools like Slack or Zoom to stay connected with your team.Take Time for Yourself It's easy to get caught up in the demands of work and family, but it's essential to take time for yourself. Schedule time for self-care activities such as exercise, meditation, or hobbies. This will help you recharge and reduce stress levels, making you more productive and effective in both your personal and professional life.Conclusion: Balancing a career and personal life can be challenging, but with effective time management strategies, it is possible to achieve work-life harmony. By prioritizing tasks, delegating, setting boundaries, using technology, and taking time for yourself, you can manage your time effectively and achieve your goals while still maintaining a fulfilling personal life. 

​Being a working mom can be a challenging balancing act, as you are responsible for both your career and your family! It often requires a great deal of time management, organization, and resilience. Many working mothers struggle to find a balance between their work and family commitments, and may feel guilty for not being able to devote enough time to either one. Working mothers often have to deal with the pressure of being perfect in both roles, and it can be difficult to ask for help or admit when things get tough. Additionally, they may face discrimination or bias in the workplace as they are still fighting against the stereotype of the primary caregiver being a woman. Here are 7 useful “career hacks” for working moms: 1.     Prioritize your time: As a working mom, you have limited time and it's important to use it effectively. Prioritize the most important tasks and delegate or outsource the rest. 2.     Take advantage of technology: Utilize tools like virtual meetings and time-tracking apps to make the most of your time and stay organized.​3.     Flexible schedule: If possible, try to negotiate a flexible schedule with your employer. This can help you balance your work and family commitments. 4.     Network and collaborate: Building a network of other working moms can provide valuable support and resources. Collaborating with other mothers in your industry can also help you find new opportunities. 5.     Self-care: It's important to take care of yourself, both physically and mentally. Make sure you're getting enough sleep, exercise, and time to relax.​6.     Leverage your strengths: Reflect on your strengths and skills and try to find a career or job that leverages them. 7.     Use your benefits: Check your company's benefits package to see if they offer childcare or other support for working mothers. Mothers would say it themselves: Being a working mom is incredibly rewarding. It can provide financial stability, personal fulfillment, and the opportunity to set an example for your children. By showing them that you are capable of achieving your goals and taking care of your family at the same time, you can help them develop a strong work ethic and an understanding of what it means to be a strong, independent woman. 

Returning to work after maternity leave can be a difficult and overwhelming experience. Not only are you adjusting to the demands of a new role, but you are also balancing the responsibilities of motherhood and possibly trying to maintain a healthy work-life balance. It's natural to feel anxious or uncertain about going back to work, but with some preparation and support, you can make the transition smoother and more successful. In this article, we will provide 10 tips to help you prepare for your return to work after maternity leave and set yourself up for success in your career. From setting clear goals to seeking support and taking care of yourself, these tips can help you navigate the challenges of returning to work and thrive in your new role.​Set clear goalsTake some time to think about what you hope to achieve upon returning to work. This might include getting back up to speed on your job responsibilities, taking on new projects, or building relationships with colleagues. Setting clear goals can help you stay focused and motivated as you reintegrate into the workplace.​Communicate with your employerBefore you return to work, make sure to have an open and honest conversation with your employer about your expectations and needs. This might include discussing your schedule, workload, and any potential challenges you anticipate.Further, if you have any concerns about your return to work, such as feeling overwhelmed or anxious, it's important to discuss them with your employer. They can help you find ways to manage these feelings and ensure a smooth transition back to work.​Gradually ease back into work​If possible, consider easing back into work gradually by starting with part-time hours or working a compressed work week. This can help you balance the demands of work with your responsibilities as a parent.​Seek supportDon't be afraid to ask for help or support when you need it. This might include seeking guidance from a mentor, connecting with other parents in your workplace, or utilizing resources like employee assistance programs.​Having a support system at work can boost self-esteem by reminding new working moms that they are not alone and that others care about them and are willing to help.​Find a balance​Balancing work and family responsibilities can be challenging, especially when you are first returning to work. Try to find a balance that works for you and your family, and be willing to make adjustments as needed.​Stay organized​Keeping yourself organized can help you manage your time effectively and stay on top of your responsibilities. This might include using a planner or scheduling app, creating to-do lists, or setting aside specific times for work and family tasks.​Take breaks​It's important to take breaks and recharge, both during the workday and after hours. Make sure to schedule time for yourself, whether it's going for a walk, practicing self-care, or spending time with friends and loved ones.​Stay connected with your colleagues​Staying connected with your colleagues can help you stay informed about what's happening in your workplace and also help you build relationships with your team. Consider attending meetings and events, joining professional groups or committees, and staying in touch with your colleagues via email or social media.​​Keep learning ​Make an effort to stay up to date on industry developments and continue to develop your skills and knowledge. This might include taking courses or attending conferences, reading professional literature, or staying connected with industry networks.​Take care of yourself​Remember to prioritize your own well-being as you return to work. This might include eating healthy, getting enough sleep, and engaging in activities that nourish your mind, body, and spirit.​Returning to work after maternity leave can be a challenging transition, but with some careful planning and support, you can successfully reintegrate into the workplace and continue to thrive in your career.​

​There are a lot of things that are considered when you’re applying for a job. But some can be more complicated than others, in this case, it’s pregnancy. How do you navigate job hunting while you’re pregnant? Are there rules you need to subscribe to in order to know whether to disclose your pregnancy or not to your potential employer? This article tries to make sense of these questions in a time when pregnancy still seems to be a factor in your employment. ""If you haven’t had children, employers regard you as an “extra-large time bomb” that will explode twice [take maternity leave twice]. If you’ve had one child, you’re a “time bomb” likely to have a second child at any time. If you already have two children, you must be too busy taking care of the children so [you] can’t focus on work".— A popular saying on the Chinese internet describing the impossible position working women face under China’s two-child policy​There are so many things that come into play when you’re being considered for a job by a potential employer. You will be assessed on your suitability, qualifications and cultural fit, these are all the things that will determine whether a job offer is presented or not.After several rounds of interviewing and doing your level best to impress your prospective employer, you made it through to the final-round interview, and now you’re waiting to hear whether or not you’re hired. This stretch of time for jobseekers is the most agonising - but luckily for you the call comes back from the recruiter and it’s the four words you’ve been waiting to hear:You’ve got the job!If you’re newly pregnant, this may bring you mixed emotions--the joy of being offered the job but also a moment of dread and internal conflict as you ask yourself whether it’s the best move to tell your prospective employer whether you are pregnant or wait until you start with your new job.Are there actually rules women should follow when job hunting while pregnant? Hear us out for we will share some insights on how you should handle your employment process while you’re pregnant.To tell or not to tellPregnancy is a very happy and special occasion. Although, when we’re talking about employment, there’s no denying that it can affect your job, whether you’re already employed or still on the lookout for one. If you’re pregnant and you’re looking for a job, one thought that may be daunting is whether you should disclose it or not to a potential employer. You’re thinking that this might affect their evaluation or decision whether to hire you or not and I’ll assure you that this is a valid line of thought.It can be difficult to disclose your pregnancy to your prospective employers because of the idea that you may lose on a job offer. Research shows that due to gender norms, women are at a disadvantage of being hired because of their likelihood of becoming pregnant and having to be involved in childcare.Technically, you are not held by any legal obligation to disclose your pregnancy to a potential employer. Some may say that it is ideal to relay such information throughout your process of applying for a job just so you can secure the necessary arrangements that you will need to take care of your pregnancy while you work. This is, of course, the ideal scenario--you being offered a job by your prospective employer with the proper accommodations you need to cater to your pregnancy. And I would love to tell you that every company would provide you with such an opportunity but I’m afraid that’s not the case.You need to be comfortable with how you’ll bring your pregnancy up. You may choose to open it up in the later stages of your interviewing process or you may decide to be upfront about it--the choice is yours.Whatever the outcome, it all depends on your potential employer. They may be welcoming or not. If yes, then that’s amazing for you, if not, that’s definitely not on you and I’m sure there are other organizations who would not give you a negative response.Nonetheless, what still needs to be addressed is how pregnancy is still a factor in employment. The fact alone that you need to navigate how to disclose your pregnancy as you seek employment raises issues in gender-biased organizational cultures that do not favor women because of reasons they cannot change.Why is pregnancy a factor?Motherhood, even if it’s something that comes to women as naturally as can be, is still considered a factor in employment. This can be because of an outdated idea that pregnancy can disrupt an organization’s workflow because pregnant women are kept away from their work.Throughout history and all over the world, many laws and policies were put in place to put an end to pregnancy discrimination in the workplace so as to protect women from being deprived of opportunities simply because of their pregnancy.Even so, pregnancy discrimination still seems to persist in many organizations, especially in male-dominated industries. It can usually be rooted in deeply-held biases, both unconscious and not, that supports the saying above--that employers perceive women as ticking time bombs just because they are capable of being pregnant--that a woman’s pregnancy can hinder a company’s growth.Such thinking obviously stems from gender biases that have been existing in the workplace for a long time now, which do nothing but prevent women from striving to reach their career goals.  Pregnancy is a factor in employment because of age-old beliefs that dictate women’s place in society and the workplace. Even though policies and laws are in place to prevent pregnancy discrimination in the workplace, we can still see women be victim to it. Findings from a research on pregnancy and maternity discrimination show that even though some organizations welcome pregnant women with open arms, there are still those that treat pregnant women and working mothers so poorly that they end up either not pursuing the job they applied for or leaving their job.As we come to terms with these things that continue to persist, how do we move forward and foster a workplace that treats women better?Shifting perspectives, resetting mindsetsThe fact that pregnancy is considered as a factor in providing career opportunities for women is very telling of how the workplace treats women. What we need is a shift in perspectives and a reset in mindsets with how we view pregnancy in connection with the workplace. Women should not do a double-take on whether they will be disclosing their pregnancy or not in a job interview because they fear it will affect their qualifications for a job.Women shouldn’t be made to feel that their pregnancy can factor in whether they’ll get a job or not. Women should be as comfortable as possible with their pregnancy and their career and it’s time to overcome outmoded biases that do nothing but disadvantage women.