How to Find Work-Life Balance as a Working Parent: Tips and Tricks from an “Unorthodoc” Mom

Are you a working parent struggling to balance work and family life? Don't worry, you're not alone! Finding work-life balance can be a challenge, but there are tips and tricks that can help. As an "UnOrthoDoc" mom, I know firsthand how important it is to prioritize balance, accept help, create boundaries, and take time for yourself. Balancing work and family life isn't always easy, but with some effort and these tips, you can find solutions that work for you.

PRIORITIZING BALANCE

Let's start by discussing the importance of prioritizing balance. It's not feasible to cater to everyone's needs, so it's crucial to deliberately choose to prioritize balancing your work and family life. This entails making well-informed decisions, such as finding a job that's not overwhelming, modifying your work schedule to create a better balance, or even considering a family size that you can raise responsibly.

However, let's face it, striking a balance between work and family life can be quite challenging. This is why it's essential to have conversations with your family and gather their diverse perspectives. By asking them how they feel about your work and listening to their honest opinions, you can identify areas that require improvement and make them feel heard. Furthermore, they will understand your work situation better.

ACCEPTING HELP

Accepting help is crucial in achieving work and family life balance. It's essential to overcome the fear of asking for assistance from friends and family whenever necessary. Whether it's picking your kids from school or taking them to their extracurricular activities, having someone you can trust to support you with these tasks can significantly ease your burden.

CREATING BOUNDARIES

Prioritizing boundaries is essential for balancing work and family life. It's crucial to draw clear lines that protect both aspects of your life from distractions. You can establish rules such as avoiding work-related phone calls during meals or not checking emails while on vacation. This approach will demonstrate to your family that they are a priority while also safeguarding your work.

Of course, it's impossible to achieve a perfect balance between work and family all the time. Sometimes, work obligations or family emergencies will require you to make sacrifices. However, it's important not to let this imbalance become a norm. Try to take every opportunity to bring the scale back to the center and maintain equilibrium.

TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF

Prioritizing self-care and taking time for yourself is essential to achieving a balanced life. Don't forget to schedule time for relaxation and rejuvenation, whether that's through exercise, binge-watching your favorite TV show, or enjoying a walk in the sunshine. Taking vacations can also be a great way to recharge.

It's important to keep in mind that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to balancing work and family life. What works for one person may not work for another. By implementing some of these tips and making an effort to find solutions that fit your specific needs and preferences, you can achieve greater balance.

If you're interested in learning more about living an "UnOrthoDoc" life as a mom, check out my blog for additional insights and inspiration.

THE BALANCING ACT:

Being an orthodontist and owning a practice means that finding balance between work and family life can be quite challenging. Before having a child, my primary focus was on growing my practice and achieving my personal goals. I enjoyed being able to travel on a whim and take time off for myself. However, after becoming a mother, I quickly realized that I needed to find a way to balance my professional aspirations with my responsibilities as a wife and mother.

It has not been an easy journey, but I have learned to prioritize and delegate tasks to make it work. I have a great team at my practice who I trust, and they help ensure that things run smoothly even when I'm not there. I have also become more efficient with my time and try to maximize the hours I have available to work.

While I take pride in my career, I have also come to understand the importance of slowing down and being present in the moments that matter. I don't want to miss out on my child's milestones or the little things that make life worthwhile. To achieve this, I make a conscious effort to create a more balanced life. I focus on things that bring me joy and fulfillment, and I have learned to say no to things that aren't essential.

It has been a worthwhile journey, and I am proud of the life I have built for myself and my family. I want my child to understand that it is possible to have a successful career and a happy family life, but it takes work and prioritization. I look forward to continuing this journey and living at a slower pace, where I can savor and appreciate the most important moments in life.