I’ve been feeling very reflective recently about how much pressure we have on us being working parents. We achieve so much in the space of 12 hours and yet we still beat ourselves up.

It definitely isn’t a smooth ride for our family, but over time I’ve found a few game-changing boosters that help me balance work and motherhood without (completely) losing my mind! Here are my top 5:

1️⃣ Set your non-negotiables – I made a promise to myself: I will be there for every nativity play, sports day, and important school event. Knowing this is non-negotiable makes it easier to move meetings around without guilt. Your non-negotiables may be completely different to mine, but saying those words out loud makes it seem more final…

2️⃣ Meal prep ahead – When life gets busy, past-me saves the day! I double portions while cooking and freeze half for those hectic weeks. It’s particularly helpful for school holidays and our busy work periods. Future-me is always grateful! 🙌🏽

3️⃣ Have a family routine – In our house, homework gets done first thing in the morning. It’s now a habit, which means fewer arguments and more structure for everyone. You might run on a completely different schedule to us, but we’re all about reducing conflict when we’re on a tight schedule.

4️⃣ Keep a secret stash of crafts/ colouring books. I keep a cupboard stocked with a few quick activities; colouring books, activity books and crafts. I always have my eyes peeled for bits in the sale whenever I go to the supermarket and hold on to them until the time is right.

5️⃣ Give yourself grace. You can’t do it all, all the time. Some days will feel like a win, and others will feel like complete chaos and that’s okay❤️

I would love to hear your best working family hack?👇