What tips would you offer mothers on how to maintain balance in their busy lives?

Question

As a working professional, I am always asking other mothers for tips on how to keep a healthy, balanced life. What are some strategies that you would recommend?

Y! Answers Staff Note: This is the real Maria Shriver, find out more:
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-d8pH0dcoRKeB12yOcnUQp.9VCFos?p=12689

Answer 1

MY ADVICE IS TO AVOID BEING MARRIED TO ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER !!! THAT CAN DRIVE YOU NUTS !!!

Answer 2

First, I do the grocery shopping myself. That way I know I'm eating more healthy food then junk.
Second, I take at least an hour for myself every day. Usually this consists of grabbing something to drink and sitting on my porch. This way I can breath.
Third, I schedual a spa day every month. The price dosen't matter. It's a relax day.
Fourth, no matter what happens at work it stays there. This takes some mental training. There is nothing so important it has to close in on my home life. It can be dealt with tomorrow.
Fifth, If I don't want to answer the phone I won't (cell included). They all have message modes, I'll get back to you. This includes my family.
Sixth, The computer is optional. I do not have to use it everyday. The email won't wither and die if I don't check it.
Seventh, Television is not an escape, my flute is, a book is or music is.
My kid comes first.

Answer 3

Well I have never answered a question before...This topic however, is literally right up my alley. I am a widowed mother of four, I remarried this April and gained two more beautiful children. I am a stay at home mom by choice and hard work. I also am helping my best friend ( who is terminally ill ) raise her three beautiful kids. On average i have seven to nine kids at my house and after school our home is the place to be for 12-15 kids ages 3-15. A healthy balanced life is one that lets you spend time as a family. I believe having a wide emotional and social support system is key. So if i have a scheduling conflict i can place a call or a few calls and get back up for arguments or transporting to/from activities whatever is needed. My biggest advice is talk with your kids they can really surprise you with ways they can help the home and life be a fun place to be.Even if all you have time for is 10 min a person each day to go one on one they will really appreciate your effort. Also make sure you Listen to your family..Amazing to me is the fact most of my teens friends have no clue what there parent's do and/or the parents have no clue who is friends with their kids and where the kids spend time. Cell phone are not a substitute for asking questions and talking as a family.

Answer 4

There is so much advice I could give, as I helped, really helped raise 4 much younger siblings, had my own two and now nurture 3 granchildren, and other experience makes me think I have some ideas.
Number one would be somehow make a little time for only yourself , in each day. Exercise, read, do your toenails what ever. You must have something for yourself. Very important!
Number two, try at least once a month, more frequently if possible, to take only one of your children out for play, lunch, walk to a new place, a movie --whatever is approriate and possible. Do this wirh each of your children at least once a month. You will know these children better and give them memories for a lifetime. ( 3 hours X # of children per month)
Number three, if your really, really busy do not worry too much about the beds, rooms, fingernails, toenails and all that everyday. But have one time and one day ,it should be consistent when everyone does all of these things. It is good management of your time.
A fourth, every time you prepare (or bring home) a meal your family rally likes--do it double--put one in the freezer. After a while you will alway have 3 /4 extra meals on hand.
Another-as early as possible-age 5-6-7? engage your children in the kitchen. They can learn to make toast, make a sandwich, arrange food on plates, put ice cubes and or lemon(or orange?) slices in the waterglasses and much more. This will pay off in many ways both short and long term..
Last but not least , have at a sit down relaxed meal with ALL the family at least once a week, with the telephones and other comm. devices turned off and no company.. Could be breakfast on Sunday morning or whenever. Dress-come as you are!
Doing some of the things I have mentioned are; time savers, guilt savers and short routes to keeping in touch with all--even if you have a very busy schedule.

Answer 5

At the end of you day make it the end of your day! Don't push yourself if you tired. The housework and kids will be there tomorrow. Sure tell your kids you love them and goodnight but don't do any more work-writing is work-cooking is work-talking on the phone is work also if you are tired and don't feel like doing the necessary things. Just sit or lay down and rest for a while and then you will feel like taking care of your family. Allow yourself time to rest and heal from the emotional rollercoaster of a day!Sometimes just 30 min or an hour will do the trick if it is done in solitude! At least twice a month go out for a day for yourself if you are single or married. Have a leisurely lunch, shop,visit others you haven't seen for a little short vist,walk, see a museum or other interest that doens't really require too much physically or emtionally becaue this is your day to refuel your body and mind so you can deal with family and life with a much better focus and calmness.If you are married go out on dates at least twice a month with just the two of you. Maybe double date or group date once a month-it really helps to make focus on each other the main goal of the evening . It will strengthen your bond!You will be surprised to see how much you can catch up on about your lives apart and how the family is doing.If you take your rest time by watching tv or reading you are still not totally relaxing so do nothing at all for the allotted time.Also the family will not see that you are resting and wil feel free to interupt!I hope this helps! When your rest time begins read some form the Bible or a devotional book and then pray as you rest. Then just rest! Best wishes!I know you have lots of stress in your work and your husband's as well!

Answer 6

I would say, get as much help as possible with the children, never stop excercising, have a trainer, but do it in moderation, no more than 30 to 45 mins. daily (Obviously prioritize) have internal peace always is the key, develop a life style of having peace, having a spiritual life, feel the sense that God is in control by casting all your cares upon him, daily prayer and a devotional helps a lot , audio books, have time to stop and smell the roses no matter what, take a break, go on vacation, don't take on any more projects than you have to, schedule everything and stick to it and do not over due it nor over load or over work yourself. Make it a point to do your chair therapy, get a lazy boy and just close your eyes, meditate and take deep breaths, contemplate nature, enjoy the ocean breeze, you live by it, walk your dog, take as much time off as you can, let others do the work and forget your cel phone from time to time. (I'm sure you do more than these things, you are quite bright, practical and sophisticated at the same time)

Do nothing at all. All these things help you keep a balance. Do not listen to any nonsense or stressful talk, from anyone, whether it'd be from your husband, kids, any one. Teach them how to approach you and what shouldn't be said based on its positivity or negativity. You know a lot about these things, you wrote the book one more thing before you go, which I bought, but never read, and another one on 10 things your mother didn't tell you, I have them.

Best regards. (and your husband should be a lot nicer and less absorbed by work, he should change careers soon, so you don't suffer by yourself!!) Your kids are growing, you've had such a successful career and have a great public image, better than his.

Answer 7

For the past 7 years my husband has been the stay-home parent. He's an artist so he can work on his art and drive the kids where they need to go. If you can't afford this luxury (which is hard if you lose your job, as I did recently), then follow the advice we received from a Berenstein Bears book we read to the children when they were small - be selective about what you sign up for. You can't do it all, so don't pretend you can. Play to your strengths and commit to only those activities that you love. We combine family time with volunteer time. We don't watch much TV, and when we do, we make sure that it's a good investment of our time. Eat meals together as often as you can. Do stuff together. Avoid junk food. Get enough sleep. Exercise regularly. Learn to say no. Life is a gift. Open every day with joy and wonder.

Answer 8

How to keep a healthy balanced life, first of all look at your children your husband and your extended family and thank God for your family. Keeping involved in your childrens life and helping them get off the computer -- laugh a lot even though you want to cry -- pray even though you just want to sleep. Believe in your family and all the precious moments. Stay close to your children. Get up early and drive up North with your family enjoying the country and having a great lunch.
It's hard to balance both so my answer is this it's either or, when your children have grown up and don't need you as much immerse yourself in work, if not enjoy the previous years that your children are young and be involved in them.
I'm not a working professional and I chose not to I just love staying at home and being with my kids and being their for them. If if this means a very limited financial freedom, my family is much to important and I know the kids will grow and one day I'll be working full time.

Answer 9

Your question assume balance is a good thing.

Why is that?

Do you feel that the unexamined life is not rewarding?

I have known many women who go through life never questioning their lot in life and always being perfectly happy.

A happy life is all you can hope for in some cases.

You live a life of privelege and power and that is good if that is the life you want. You chose to have children and again that is good if that is the life you want.

But, I have listened to women who chose not to have children, and women who fear they had too man, women who feel abandoned by others, and women who feel like their day is never done. They are not you.

As a person who loves to answer the big questions hoping one day to get one chosen I wonder why a "working professional" is asking mothers for tips. You didn't say working professional mothers but just mother. Are you not comparing apples and oranges? Not all mothers need the same balance in life.

I'll give ou the same advice I would give any person and given your position you have the opportunity to put it to better use than more.

Learn to love. That mean to build relationships based on honesty, trust and caring for whoever or whatever you are dealing with. the balance you seek is the balance of these three things. If you can't balance them then your relationships are doomed and that includes your relationship with yourself. Learn to trust yourself, to tell yourself the truth about your self and to care for yourself when no one else seems to care for you.

You may think that you already do this but I know of few people who actually love themselves to the point that it is revealed in their health and well being. Most of those people who do have the balance that leads to health and well being are in fact those people I referred to before, the ones who are always happy. They avoid stress, avoid worry and focus on doing the right thing because it is the right thing and for no other reason. These are happy people.

So my advice to you is learn to love, in your relationship and in your life and maybe you too may be a happy person and a healthier person too.

Answer 10

always remember that the child has two parents, and both parents are responsible for the child's needs. Find a way to parent and be part of the working world such that both parents are sharing responsiblity 50/50. Each relationship is different and each strategy has to be different. Mothers are expected to do the lion's share of the work in society these days, and for not as much respect or remuneration. I think this question should be moot by now. The question should be, what should parents do...
If we ever get to that point, society might find itself a little healthier.

For myself, a single and sole support mother with three kids at home and one in university, I recommend involving yourself with your family (forget the tv for a few years, for example); live as naturally as possible getting as much food, exercise and sleep as is healthy - I go to bed with the sun and get up with it. No later than 8pm in the winter months. I try to live without electric lights; it really reduces stress! Make sure you involve your kids in the logisitics of family life as much as they are able so they understand better some of your decisions and you're not just handing edicts from on high.
Stop trying to compete with the Joneses and hang out with your kids, you'll all be much happier

Answer 11

Just like the busy executive you married, you find it necessary to organize things well -- schedules, lists of things to do -- and delegate. The delegation needs to be as much as possible in the public side, so it is not necessary to delegate too much of the mothering part. But it doesn't matter if someone else cooks the food; it does matter if you are at least usually there at dinner time to eat with your kids. And if a nanny is almost always the one to give them their baths and put them to bed, make sure whenever you can, you do. They will know that (a) Mommy loves them and enjoys being with them, and (b) Mommy and Daddy are both very busy, and what they are doing is important, and that's OK, because they love us very much.

Of course, it is so terribly important that you can really trust that your nanny and your secretary are understanding and wise and capable, too. The nanny especially needs to reinforce that yes, your parents care about you and love you a lot. No, they don't need to be here all the time to prove that because they hired me for that, and I love you almost as much as they do. You're not my kid, but you're a very nice kid, and that's enough for me.

Personally, I think you can bring it off splendidly. I just hope the other several million mothers out there can do as well, when they have so much less in the way of economic support.