Balancing personal growth with being a parent
For most of us, life is a delicate balancing act: we try our best to be good parents (and children!), loyal friends, to keep the house (mostly) tidy, eat well, sleep well, do some exercise and hold down a job. There are a lot of balls to keep in the air, and the trick is to try and figure out which ones will break if we drop them, and which ones will bounce. We don’t always get it right - especially not the first time - but that’s okay.
For me, the number one priority has always been my daughter. Despite juggling a successful business with life as a single parent, being a mum has always been (and always will be) my most important and most rewarding job.
If I’m completely honest, there have been times during the past 18 years when the idea of pursuing my own career development or personal growth plan has been at the absolute bottom of the list of my priorities. However, I have come to realise the importance of pursuing my own goals and development and as a result, I’m now the CEO of a successful business and about to publish my first book. Not to mention the fact that my daughter has turned 18 and recently started university - so I must have done something right!
Of course, it hasn’t all been plain sailing and like everybody else, I’ve experienced bumps in the road. But over the years I’ve learned a thing or two about juggling parenthood with my career. Here are my top tips:
Your growth sets a great example: it might feel selfish to indulge in personal growth initiatives, but it sets a great example to your child, because it shows them the value of self improvement and hard work.
Set clear boundaries in your working life: that means being clear about working hours and time off in order to ensure a good work-life balance.
Give whatever you’re doing your full attention: whether that task is work-related or an activity with your child, try to immerse yourself in whatever you’re doing, instead of trying to multitask or juggle everything at once. Let your child (or children) know when you’ll be free to spend time with them and when you do, turn off your mobile and avoid the temptation to check those work emails.
Take your child along for the ride: when my daughter was younger, she made regular appearances at my office, in business meetings and even at work social events! She was the perfect addition to the team and it was a great learning opportunity for her too.
If you’re interested in reading more, I recently penned an article in The Parenting Daily, which you can find here.
My book, “Untangled: A Practical and Inspirational Guide to Change We Choose and Change We Don't”, out on 28 November, takes a deep dive into this topic (along with many others!). Sign up here to receive an update about pre-ordering your copy soon!
Image credit: Anna Moffat Photography
