Juggling the multiple responsibilities of the demands of a job and raising a family can be exhausting, overwhelming and well, just not much fun.  

So how do you ‘keep on keeping on’ but actually enjoy it at the same time? 

Because if you didn’t know, life is to be enjoyed and having FUN is crucial to this!  

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Be REALISTIC.  

Lower your expectations. Hell, lower your standards if you have to. Accept that you can’t do everything (and who’s judge and juror anyway?!). Being honest with yourself about what you can realistically achieve will alleviate any pressure.  

And celebrate what you DO do.  

Celebrate the effort not just the outcome. 

Balance is all about prioritising.  

Life can feel like it is on repeat. But this is all our own making.  

Inject enjoyment into your life. Whatever that might be: dancing, socialising, reading or like me, sitting in a quiet, dark room alone (!). 

Now, be honest, how often do you say “I don’t have time for that”?  The truth is, you do.  

You just don’t prioritise ‘yourself, or having fun, or getting back to YOU. (The real you that is… not you as a mum or as an employee, but authentic you*).  

Playtime isn’t just for kids you know.  

And whilst we are on the ‘true you’, make sure you Set Boundaries.  

Learn to say no to activities and commitments that don’t align with your priorities or that will take up too much of your time. This isn’t just at work and with your colleagues, it’s at home, with your family, children and friends too.  

When you’ve set these priorities and boundaries, you‘ll be at one with your inner Elsa and find you can  “Let it Go”.  

Learning to let go of things that don’t serve you is essential for finding balance.  

This doesn’t mean just eliminating activities that don’t bring you joy, but it may be by letting go of toxic relationships and even your own negative self-talk.  

By letting go of things that weigh you down, you can create space for the things that matter most. You will be lighter.  

Ultimately finding balance is a process. An individual one, but in my experience, it’s most easily achieved by forgetting perfection and finding ‘good enough’, by letting all the cr*p go and by letting loose when you can.  

Life is for living after all. 

Hannah Porteous-Butler is a neuroscience coach helping parents to rediscover their identity after parenthood and supporting them to reach their full potential. She specialises in life transitions, including career and relationship change and returning to work after children.   You can get in touch with her via her website https://www.thepeoplepracticegroup.co.uk/ or via her profile page.  

May 1, 2023