Some practical things you can do to boost your motivation as a working mom
Are you a working mom wondering how to keep your motivation up? Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed? Have you thought of quitting your job because it doesn’t make you happy? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then know that you are in good company.
Lots of working moms have experienced one or more of this emotion at one point or the other, and there’s nothing to be ashamed about. Because if we are being honest, we can admit that being a working mom is challenging and sometimes it really sucks.
So, what can you do to stay motivated as a working mom?
Well, I have got some good news for you. There are actually quite a few ways to boost your motivation as a working mom. And, what makes this even better, is that lots of them are pretty simple or easy to do.
So, if you have been feeling a little or a lot uninspired lately, let’s take a look at how you can get your motivation back up.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy anything using my links, I may receive a small commission.
1. GET A JOB YOU LOVE TO BOOST WORKING MOM MOTIVATION
Have you noticed you don’t have a problem with motivation when you are doing something you love? Working mom motivation is easy when you love your job.
When you have a job or career that you like, your motivation is sky-high. You look forward to going to work. You feel appreciated, and you feel a sense of purpose.
Now, this doesn’t mean you will never get tired or a little overwhelmed (because you still have to juggle other responsibilities), but working won’t feel like an albatross around your neck. Instead of dreading Mondays (or any other workday), you look forward to it. For you, work feels like you are having fun or living your dream.
Unfortunately, there are far too many working moms who are unhappy with their jobs. Moms are working jobs they hate because they have no other option. While this makes financial sense, it’s not always the best option for your emotional health.
Now, I am not asking you to just up and quit your job, but if you can find a way to get a job you love or move into a career you love, that’s the best-case scenario for you as a busy working mom.
Motivation won’t be much of a problem when you love your job. So, think about how you feel about your job. Does it make you unhappy or despondent? Do you feel motivated or inspired at your current job? If not, what can you do about it?
One thing you can do is to create a career plan or a plan to help you find a job you love. Life is too short to be miserable or demotivated because of a job.
2. A GOOD PAYING JOB CAN DO WONDERS FOR WORKING MOM MOTIVATION
Along the same lines as above, a good-paying job can help working moms stay motivated. Being paid what you are worth is a great motivator.
Just like some moms take a pay cut to do the job they love, some other moms accept jobs because the pay is pretty good and eases financial stress.
Personally, I belong to the school that thinks you can do a job you don’t love as long as the pay is worth it. Of course, the worst scenario is doing a job you don’t like for low pay.
One thing I have learned is that I can’t always have everything I want. Life is all about tradeoffs. For example, taking a job you love for reduced pay or a job you don’t love for higher pay. That’s a decision many of you have to make at one point or the other.
For me, I believe that a good paycheck is a great incentive for working moms. So, if you are struggling with a lack of motivation, one of the reasons could be your wages. If you are not being fairly compensated, it is hard to feel excited about your job.
If your job doesn’t offer some nice benefits or other perks, it is hard to feel excited about it. So, if you feel demotivated because you are not earning enough, then you have got to do something to change that.
Like I said earlier, create a plan for finding a job that pays you what you are worth. Watch your motivation skyrocket when you start earning some good income.
Related: Personal Development for Moms: 5 Key Areas to Focus on
3. FOCUS ON YOUR WHY AND THE POSITIVES
While it is true that the main reason for working is to earn a paycheck, it is possible to go beyond that and see your job as something more than just a paycheck.
Instead of seeing your job as something you have to do to earn an income, you can put a little spin on it and start focusing on your why and all the benefits you enjoy from working.
Here is what I mean.
I work because I want to provide for my kids. I want my family to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle, and I prefer not to keep stressing about money all the time (especially as a single mom). My goal is to achieve financial freedom and my job is an important tool for achieving my goals.
When you put it like that, then working doesn’t seem so bad. Instead, your work becomes something you do so you can have the life that you want. I know this might sound simplistic but it is a mindset shift.
When you start thinking of your job as a tool for achieving your goals, you stop focusing on the negatives. Instead, you start to strategize how you can use your job to better meet your needs. Focus on how your job contributes to something bigger or how it is making a difference in your life.
If you don’t have goals, you will end up stressed and angry. One of the best ways to stay motivated is to know what your goals are and how your job will help you to get there.
You are still going to have bad days no matter what, however, the difference is you won’t lose your motivation because working serves a particular purpose in your life.
Motivation for working moms comes from looking at the big picture and focusing on the positives.
4. DON’T COMPARE YOURSELF WITH OTHERS
It’s easy to think that other moms have it much better than you do. But, the truth is what we see on the outside is hardly ever the true picture.
There are lots of working moms like you who feel overwhelmed and burned out. Many working moms are still trying to find the right balance. Many feel like they are not doing enough, and practically all working moms have to deal with guilt on top of everything else. It is easy to see how one can lose motivation if one is not careful.
As a single mom, there are lots of things I can’t do because time just doesn’t permit it. I have learned to make peace with that. Instead of beating myself up because I can’t be the perfect mom, I focus on being a better mom or the best mom I can be considering the circumstances.
That’s what you need to do.
Focus on how you can make the most of working mom life. Don’t compare yourself with other moms. Don’t try to recreate their homes or anything else unless you see value in it. Your home doesn’t have to be perfect to be a haven.
You don’t have to cook meals from scratch every single day to be a good mom. Do the best you can with what you have got and keep improving. As long as you are making progress, you shouldn’t have any problem staying motivated.
5. KEEP A HEALTHY SCHEDULE OR ROUTINE
When I am very tired or stressed, I find it harder to get excited about work or anything else.
The truth is you can only keep pushing yourself hard for so long. Sooner or later, you will burn out or hit a wall. And, when that happens, the first thing to go is your motivation. Keeping a healthy schedule or routine is a great way to stay motivated, and of course, stay healthy.
Yes, you can get by not following a regular schedule or routine, but your life would be much easier if you had a system you followed all the time.
I know when some of you hear the words “schedule” or “routine,” it sounds constraining. Like you have to follow a set of rules or something like that. A good routine is actually none of those things. It’s actually an effective way for you to manage your life, so everything can go as smoothly as possible.
So, what does keeping a healthy schedule or routine look like? Here are some examples for you.
- Going to bed and waking up at a decent time to ensure you get adequate rest.
- Scheduling breaks periodically, especially after a very busy period or season in your life.
- Making time to eat and drink well, and also time for exercising. For me, that means eating at least one healthy meal a day, drinking as much water as I can during the day (having a water bottle on your desk can help with this), and getting in some exercise 2-3 times a week. I also tend to walk a lot (where possible).
- Scheduling personal time with yourself weekly and making time for self-care.
- Having a cleaning or housework routine that’s realistic and not overwhelming.
- Finding a way to start the day on the right note.
As you can see, a healthy schedule is something any working mom can do if she puts her mind to it. While the things on this list are pretty simple, they are powerful and can change your life for the better.
Related: Important Things to Include in a Working Mom Daily Schedule
6. DO SOMETHING YOU LOVE EVERY DAY
One of the reasons some working moms get demotivated is that they never seem to have time to do anything for themselves, especially something they enjoy or love doing.
If you spend all your time working or taking care of your kids and family (and everything that entails), sooner or later you are going to start resenting that. Yes, this is true no matter how much you love your job or family. And, no, this doesn’t make you a bad mom!
When you are pressed for time, the first thing that goes is time for yourself or doing something you enjoy. Yes, there are times when you have to give priority to other things, however, if you want to stay motivated as a working mom, you have to take care of your needs too.
So, it is important that you spend time doing what you love or enjoy. It doesn’t matter what that thing is. If it makes you happy and keeps you fresh mentally and emotionally, it’s fair game. Needless to say, I am talking about good or wholesome things here.
Anyway, think about things you enjoy or love doing that you never seem to have the time for. Figure out how you can incorporate some of these things into your daily life. No matter how busy you are, it’s important to do something for yourself daily. Here are some ideas to get you thinking.
- A hobby like sewing, knitting, photography, sports, gardening, etc.
- Play your favorite board game.
- Read something. A book, article, or magazine.
- Watch a movie or your favorite TV show. Once upon a time, I used to watch Forensic Files and FBI files every night before falling asleep.
- Listen to a podcast.
- Call your mom or best friend.
- Take a shower. Some years ago, I couldn’t go to bed without taking a second shower. It was refreshing and something I loved doing.
- Listen to a podcast.
There are far too many ideas that it is impossible to list them all. As I said, pick one thing you love doing and try to fit it into your daily schedule (or at least every other day ).
Spending some time doing something just for you will help you stay fresh and motivated (especially after a busy day at work).
If you need more ideas for hobbies or things you can do, check out This List of 50 Low-Cost Hobbies Will Excite You.
Final thoughts on simple ways to boost your working mom motivation
Staying motivated when you are struggling or overwhelmed can be difficult. It requires a bit of time and effort.
As a working mom, it’s important to take care of yourself as much as you can, so you don’t become demotivated.
Lack of motivation makes it harder to achieve your goals or enjoy life. If you feel demotivated, use the tips in this post to help you recharge your batteries. And, remember, the key to staying motivated is to keep working on it. Motivation can wane, so you have to keep feeding it and looking for ways to boost it.
Finally, don’t forget to reward yourself, especially after you achieve a big goal. Rewarding yourself will help you stay motivated and stop you from falling into a rut.
Does your working mom motivation need a boost?
Related Working Mom Articles
Important Things to Include in a Working Mom Daily Routine
8 Working Mom Essentials for a Happy Life
Simple Ways to Boost Your Working Mom Motivation
