Trying to navigate the responsibilities of both motherhood and a professional life is often a delicate balancing act. In fact, for many moms returning to work, managing both tasks can seem intimidating or even impossible. If the idea of going back to the office and crunching numbers after maternity leave or time off to raise your kids stresses you out, we’re here to help.
You may be feeling guilty, out of touch with your industry, or even under pressure to perform well. In this blog, we’ll provide you with actionable strategies to help you balance your family and a part-time job in finance, to make the most of your home and work life.
Set Realistic Expectations
If you’re one of the many moms returning to work after some time off, you need to be clear about what you expect from your job, and what’s expected of you. This means in both a professional and personal capacity. You need to define a set of goals for both your job, and your family.
Defining professional goals
Knowing you’ll be re-joining the world of accounting isn’t enough. You must clarify your career ambitions and practical needs. This means knowing your ideal role, and the associated responsibilities and financial targets. If you’ve been absent from the professional scene for a while, you may even need to research this information. After all, with technology evolving so quickly, so too do the jobs that embrace them. These days, many accounting roles are at the forefront of technological innovation.
At the same time, try to find out if there’s a degree of flexibility in hours or location for your desired role. For example, will you be able to work remotely or in a hybrid situation, where you only come into the office occasionally? Or maybe you need to do all your work on-site. Also find out how many hours in a day constitute part-time, and whether that is spread evenly on a daily basis or bunched. Perhaps you’ll need to work all day for some of the week, while you have other days off. Knowing these details will help you set your personal schedules and goals accordingly.
Next, take an objective look at your skill set. Just because you took some time off for your kids doesn’t mean you’ve not gained professional skills relevant to accounting.
During your career break, you likely mastered multi-tasking, organizational skills, and problem-solving. All of these are valuable skills in the professional sphere, and should be reflected on your resume.
However, don’t forget that you may also need to refresh some finance-specific skills, or renew accreditation in the relevant software.
Setting goals for your family
Just as you need to know what’s in store for you professionally, you’ll need to be clear on what will happen at home. This requires input from your nearest and dearest. For example, outline your priorities for family time, childcare, and household responsibilities. If everyone at home has a clear understanding of what’s expected from them and when, your personal life will be much more streamlined.
Of course, this means you’ll need clear communication. Be transparent about your scheduling needs, expectations, and fears. This will help you build trust with your employers and colleagues, and with your family.
Leverage Time-Management Tools
For many moms returning to work, juggling their work schedules along with their already busy home life can be a source of endless frustration. Thankfully, there are tools available to help you alleviate a lot of this stress. Below are a few of the easiest ways to ensure you make the most of your packed schedule.
- Shared calendars. Being able to see and share your home and work responsibilities simultaneously can be a lifesaver. It means fewer double bookings, more time to plan ahead for work projects, and increased transparency for everyone. Even better is the ability to integrate calendars with your accounting software to ensure that all your home and work appointments can be viewed from a single platform.
- Project management tools. Platforms like Asana can help you stay organized, by breaking down larger tasks into manageable steps. That way, you’ll always know that you’re on track with your many tasks.
- Batch your tasks. Whether you’re at the office or at home, grouping similar tasks can help reduce your mental load. That means you don’t need to switch between tasks so much. To make the most of this, break up your schedule into chunks to give you sufficient time for each type of activity – whether meal prepping or answering work emails.
- Eliminate distractions. While this is easier said than done at home, it is something you can be strict about during working hours. For example, you could set your devices to ‘do not disturb’ settings for focus sessions. Or you could not answer those pesky late-night work emails until you’re back in the office.
Time management tools aren’t the only ones that can help make your life easier if you’re a mom returning to work – the other is a good support network.
Build a Support Network
There’s one often overlooked thing that all moms returning to work need – and that’s support. Surrounding yourself with the right people can ease your transition back to the office. After all, a support network can offer you emotional and practical help, as well as professional insights.
Your support network should be multi-faceted, with help in both the personal and professional spheres.
At home, the most important thing to consider is childcare. This could mean a stay-at-home partner, daycare, or hired help, depending on your situation. Or if you are still the primary caregiver, consider delegating or outsourcing tasks like cleaning and food preparation, wherever possible. Ask friends or in-laws to assist with this, to help ease the pressure. If you do have family or close friends helping you out, make sure you’re all clear on what’s expected from whom. This will prevent grey areas or miscommunications which could lead to stress or frustration down the line.
Don’t neglect professional networks
You’re not the first mom to have returned to the world of accounting after a break. So use this to your advantage. Try to connect with other working moms, who will understand your situation, and be able to share what they’ve learned along the way. There are several professional networks and social media groups that focus on supporting career mothers. These are a great way to share resources, network, and maybe even find a mentor.
Prioritize Self-Care to Avoid Burnout
For many moms returning to work, burnout is a very real risk, as a lot of people are depending on you. After all, you’re not just dealing with work stress, there’s also your family and kids to consider.
Not taking time to look after yourself properly isn’t an option. Remember that a good work-life balance improves your physical personal health, boosts your productivity and does wonders for your mental health.
The easiest way to ensure balance is through holistic self-care. You need some ‘me-time’ that you can use for exercise, mindfulness and relaxation.
To make the most of this, you’ll need to set boundaries and possibly delegate some of your tasks. Clearly communicate with your boss about workload limits and don’t overcommit. Do the same at home with your partner and family.
Remember that returning to the workplace is a major change. But it’s also a major achievement.
To explore fully remote part-time opportunities with Fusion CPA, check out our careers page here.
The information presented in this blog article is provided for informational purposes only. The information does not constitute legal, accounting, tax advice, or other professional services. We make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability, or availability of the information contained herein. Use the information at your own risk. We disclaim all liability for any actions taken or not taken based on the contents of this blog. The use or interpretation of this information is solely at your discretion. For full guidance, consult with qualified professionals in the relevant fields.