Have you heard about the gig economy? The new flexible, on-demand workforce through tools and platforms like Airbnb, Postmates, or Instacart. One of the biggest advantages of this new economic model, embraced by working moms all over the world, is in fact it’s flexibility.
On top of that, it’s a great way for all the stay-at-home moms to keep busy while working towards their future career goals. Throughout the gig economy there are tons of opportunities to work from home and add some extra money for your family. As Parents.com reports, more moms than ever are in the workforce. According to the Center for American Progress, “women now make up half of all workers in the United States, with nearly 4 in 10 homes having a mom that is also a working mother.” That being said, being a mother is a challenge itself. Being a working mother is quite similar to being a superhero. Some days are great but some days can be really hard. In reality, what can you do when you’re little one refuses to take a nap and you have a deadline to finish your project? With all of that going on in a working mom’s life, we have a few tips to help.
1. Pick the right opportunities for you
Being a new mom usually means that you can’t or do not want to work full time. If you’ve made the decision to spend more time at home with your kids – that is wonderful news! You just need to make sure to pick the right gigs for you. Luckily, this is the most important thing about working in the gig-economy (and the reason why you’ll love it) – you can set your own schedule! As an example, if your adorable twins are in daycare every day between 9am-1pm, you already have 4 hours a day that you can spend doing quick tasks for people in your area. However, if you have a newborn baby and their sleeping hours are quite unpredictable so you’re not sure when you would be able to leave the house – working remotely with Freelancer might be the way to go. It’s all about knowing what works for you best!
2. Develop a family calendar
Organization is key when balancing work and family life. You can even turn this into a fun art project and create a big colorful calendar that you can hang somewhere visible for everyone. Make sure to include not only your working shifts or deadlines but also other important dates. Do you need to bring the kids to the dentist on the 7th? Is there a parent-teacher conference next Wednesday? Do you need a reminder of when the bills are due and when your husband will be away for business? Having all these events in one place will keep you organized and will save you some stress for sure! Try to spend 10 minutes every Sunday to review the calendar for the upcoming week to make sure there are no surprises.
3. Make the mornings easier
Try to avoid the morning madness by preparing as much as you can the day or the night before. So, today is your partner’s turn to give the kids a bath? Perfect! Use those extra hours to prepare lunch boxes for the next day or iron your clothes for the next day at work. If you’re dropping your kids at their grandparents for the next day, prepare all their diaper bags and everything that is needed. The more you can do the evening before, the less stress you’ll have in the morning!
4. Make your home office a command center
This is essential if you’re a freelancer working mainly from home. Make sure that you have a quiet space dedicated just to work. Even if it’s just a little corner in your living room or a small desk – be creative and turn it into a cool office space! It’s best if you can find a place to store all your working materials and your laptop for example – you will probably want to keep that out of your children’s reach. Make sure your working space is also free from distractions. Clear the area of any toys and piles of laundry that will divert your attention from work.
5. Find time to relax and unwind
Naturally, some time dedicated to yourself should also be marked in that family calendar! Finding time to relax is just as important as your other tasks. We know that this can be really tricky when you’re a working mom but we all need some time to unwind and recharge our batteries for the upcoming week.
