How to have WORK--LIFE Balance.

"How I wished I have more than 24 hours a day!"
"Is WORK-LIFE balance really possible?" 
"Can I really be a MOM and a successful CAREER WOMAN at the same time?"

These are the very common questions you'll hear from modern day mothers who are working real hard, sometimes struggling, to balance life at work and at home. And believe it or not, though I appeared to be enjoying the corporate world, I've thought of the same countless times.  

I've been working for almost 10 years now and the struggle is super duper real. It's even more difficult now because I have a 2-year old kid already and it has always been a pain leaving him for work, 5 days a week. How many times have I sneaked out or lied about me coming back soon to play with him. Oh dear, it's truly heart breaking. 

So how do you really overcome the feeling? How can one succeed in both areas?

Let me share how I "try" to do it.
Please take note though of the key word in here - TRY. I will not claim to be an expert in this field for I have also failed at some point in time. But these steps have helped me somehow get close to the ideal.

One thing is for sure. It's not and it will never be easy to balance life as a hands-on mother and a career woman at the same time. Who alone can give you strength to overcome the physical and mental challenges in performing these ever demanding duties? I know one. GOD, of course!

How about you try these? :)

• As soon as you open your eyes in the morning, PRAY. Thank God for another day that He has given you another opportunity to serve your family and to contribute at work. You may not notice it, but this will somehow give you that extra inspiration to perform your best in both areas. 
• In the office choose to work SMARTER not really HARDER. Oh yes, there's a big difference. PRAY that God will guide you on how to effectively manage your time in the office. For sure, there are smarter ways to do the required job in a shorter period of time. This gives you more quality time for the family. Yey! :)
• If you haven't cracked the codes yet to working SMARTER and you still end up spending a lot of time on certain tasks, you get tired because of the pile of work in front of you, then PRAY. Seek for God's guidance and draw strength from Him. Still thank Him for the fact that you have been blessed with a decent job and with this job, you're able to provide for your family. Did that make you smile? :) I hope it did because that smile will surely go a long way. Be surprised with how much work you can accomplish by just being happy and positive.  
• Right before you leave the office after your 8-hour job, regardless of how toxic work has been, PRAY. Thank God for the day that has passed and be excited about heading home to see your family once again. While in traffic, you can probably  think about what new bonding moment you can share with your loved ones. This for sure will give you that extra push and energy that you can spend with them when you finally get home. 
• Now what if your work really requires more than 8 hours (sometimes 10 or even 12 hours), I know for sure that this happens. How in the world can one still find the luxury to perform the "best mother and wife" roles at home when you're already too drained because of work? Then, I will recommend to PRAY even more. You may not find it resolving your work-life balance issues immediately, but in the long term you'll realize how God's wisdom will lead you to the job that's right and best for you. 

There you go! :) 

The above may not be the direct steps to achieving work-life balance, but they sure are helpful. 

In the end, work-life balance is subjective. You define your own concept of it. 

For me, it's simple and it's all about enjoying and performing your best at both roles regardless of the challenges they bring.

We may have differences in how we view this matter, but one thing is for sure - developing that habit of being prayerful and having a heart of gratitude will all help us achieve a happier and a more balanced life as a mother/wife and as a career woman.