Editorial TeamAs a working mom, you might often feel like you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. Maybe you feel like you have to do it all to earn that “Super Mom” title, but that’s not realistic. You can’t do everything and be everywhere for your children while taking on project after project at the office.
So, what can you do? How can you strike a better balance between work life and home life?
Delegating tasks at work and at home is essential for a working mom. Not only will it free up your time, but it will take a lot of stress and pressure away from you, making it easier to be more productive at work, spend more time with your kids, and focus on your own well-being.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the importance of delegation as a working mom, and how you can effectively use it to your advantage at work and at home.
Why Is Delegating Important?
Trying to “do it all” at work and home doesn’t prove anything. In fact, it can empty your proverbial cup pretty quickly, especially if you’re navigating a pregnancy or multiple children at home while trying to stay on top of your career. Delegation is important on a personal level because it can help you avoid burnout. That’s especially necessary for high-stress, high-demand careers, like nursing. When you work long hours and you’re assigned more responsibilities than you can deal with, you’re going to quickly become exhausted, and eventually burn out.
Some of the common symptoms of burnout include:
- Difficulty concentrating
- Impaired judgment
- Poor recall
- Drowsiness
Those symptoms can impact your ability to do your job, but they can also make it difficult to focus on your kids and family life when you get home. If you’re exhausted from work, you’re not going to be able to care for yourself or your children the way you really want to.
Beyond personal benefits, delegation can actually improve your workplace environment. Delegating tasks empowers your team, allows for more creativity, and lets the right people for each project really shine with their skills. It also opens communication and encourages everyone on your team to partake in healthy discussions.
At home, delegation can help to teach your children responsibility and give them the satisfaction of knowing they can tackle hard things.
What Should You Delegate at Work?
Successful delegation at work builds a confident, productive team. However, many women hold back on delegating tasks because they’re worried about “dumping” their work on someone else. Others might not want to give up control. Both of those ideas could end up holding your business back and creating a toxic company culture.
With that in mind, it’s important to know when and what to delegate in the workplace. If you find yourself wondering when delegation is appropriate, consider the following with each task:
- Is there someone with specific skills or experience with that task?
- Can delegating that task help another person grow?
- Do you have enough time to give that task your full attention?
- Is it a recurring task?
When you stop to think about who might be the best person for each task, you’re more likely to feel comfortable with delegating. Not only will it take some of the weight off of your shoulders, but it could give another employee the opportunity to grow and succeed while pushing your business forward and staying on the right track with productivity.
If you’re still not sure who to delegate things to, consider creating an organizational chart that allows you to see the overall structure of the company. Having an org chart will quickly and easily show you who is available for certain tasks and who is best suited for each particular job. It can make the delegation process easier and help you keep track of the projects everyone’s working on.
What Should You Delegate at Home?
Delegating at home will help you spend more quality time with your kids, and give everyone an important job to do. It’s normal to want to handle everything for your kids, but when they reach a certain age, delegating tasks and certain responsibilities will give you more free time and teach them essential life skills that will benefit them for years to come.
Obviously, the things you delegate need to be age-appropriate. Consider your child’s skills and interests. You might find that certain tasks and chores end up being something they really enjoy. Some of the best tasks they can get started with include things like folding laundry, helping you around the house, and meal-prepping. By delegating tasks and other things, you can even help your child discover new passions. Maybe they’ll end up loving to cook healthy meals. Or, they might choose to go into a trade and help other people fix things around their homes.
Delegating as a working mom is beneficial for just about everyone. You’ll be less stressed and less likely to burn out at work or at home. You’ll also benefit your workplace and employees, and end up teaching your children how to be responsible while creating a happier, healthier home. Don’t be afraid to give up the reins on some things, and you’ll have a better work-life balance that allows you to find more enjoyment in both places.