The anticipation of returning to work seems deadly.  Each day the stress mounts, each night your brain races about what needs to be done.  The idea of balancing a job and homelife seems insurmountable.

Until you do it.

The first day is the worst.  Women put immense pressure on themseleves to be 100% successful at work and 100% successful at home.  They want to act like a full time mom while at work and while at home, they want to be considered a working woman.

But once you start doing it, you realize you need to adjust your expectations, relax a bit, and take it day by day.  Getting over the hump is the hardest part.  You should allow yourself time.  Time to process.  Time to be happy.  Time to be sad.  And time to adjust.

Work-life balance is a journey, not a one-time accomplishment. Similar to your career, you must define and redefine what “work-life balance” means for your family at various points in time.  But if you aren’t happy and fulfilled – at your core – your family will never feel “balanced”.  

1.     Take care of yourself physically and mentally.  

 2.     Pursue a job you love.  You have to feel purposed about what you are doing.

 3.     Set realistic, measurable goals that you can actually achieve.

4.     Finally, remember: You are a woman.  You are a mother.  You are a wife.  You are career-oriented.  You are many things.  Remember who you are.  Everyday.

If you need more tips plusa step-by-step guide on achieving work-life balance, check out my book Mom, Baby and Carer Make 3.