Have you ever tried to keep an egg on a spoon that is clenched between your teeth while running a three-legged race? Did I mention trying to balance the three dictionaries that are on your head? Or that you are holding hands with a gorilla at the same time? For working moms, there may be many days like these: too many tasks to complete at once and not enough resources to do them.

Balance. Now there’s a word that has seen a lot of ink in the last decade. Balancing family and career. Balancing needs. Balancing act. The word “balance” even has a tennis shoe named after it. “New Balance”.

The reality is we cannot always be balanced. It is the nature of life to get off kilter, to get slightly unhinged, and to walk a wavering path to the finish line. We can, however, strive for a little less chaos and a little more organization. It is the best we can do with what we have.

I don’t mean to sound defeatist. We are in charge, in large part, of our reactions to things. While being proactive is a desirable position, everyone is caught off guard at some point in their lives. No risk, no fun, as the Germans like to say.

Time Management

It isn’t rocket science, but most people feel they don’t have enough time. If you were to unplug your TV and lock it in a closet, you might find three extra hours in your day that magically appear. Setting priorities can be made easy if you focus on the task at hand.

Write down all the things you would like to do. Then set “due dates” for each item. Self-imposed deadlines such as “Make eye doctor appointment by mid-month” will give you the kick to get things done.

Acknowledge your efforts. Cross off your to-dos as you achieve them. If you complete all the items, congratulate yourself. If not, move the items to a new list and start again. Add any other pending items to the list as needed.

Build in down time. It may sound counterproductive, but working fifteen hours non-stop is actually less productive than taking a few short breaks in a shorter period of time.

Categorize your priorities into “have-tos”and “want-tos”. Do the hardest task first (call your child’s school and discuss the math test result with your child’s teacher; then make the appointment to get your nails done).

Date night doesn’t have to cost a lot of money or time, if either are in short supply. Set aside three hours with your partner and rent a movie without the kids dangling at your feet. Pop some popcorn in your hot-air popcorn machine and enjoy a low-calorie, high-fiber snack. Splurge on a nicer bottle of Chardonnay and chill it for the occasion. Wear your pearls and your sweats. Who said being chic has to be uncomfortable?

Money Management

Do you know how much money you spend on that gourmet coffee as you hustle to work every morning? Or how much buying that last-minute gallon of milk at the convenience store around the corner might have been had it been on your shopping list earlier in the week? The way to save money is to plan ahead.

Buy a coffee machine. It may sound uncool, but if you invest in a $20 machine, you’ll make that money back within one month by filling your commuter mug with java before hitting the road instead of standing in line for a paper cup of the same stuff elsewhere.

Keep a magnetized grocery list on your fridge with a pencil taped to a string next to it. Whenever you see something is missing, write it down. Get your school-age kids to do the same. Stick to the list when you go shopping. Remember to shop with a full stomach if possible. Impulse purchases can make your food bill skyrocket.

Invest in yourself first. Instead of budgeting for a depreciating item such as a new car or sailboat, consider putting away $50 per month in a systematic investment plan. Whether it goes directly from your paycheck or bank account into a mutual fund or other investment vehicle, set it up now and forget about it. You will accumulate cash like a black coat attracts lint. You’ll be happy you did come retirement time.

Cut up your extra credit cards. Keep one for true emergencies, but use it sparingly. Bonus programs such as free airline miles may strengthen your argument that you are getting something for nothing, but that only holds true if you pay off your card each month.

Set financial goals. If you want to save a certain amount annually, implement a weekly savings program. Take the desired annual sum and divide it by 52 to give you a per week savings to achieve your goal. Adjust as needed to ensure you are meeting your other financial obligations first. Systematic investing is the easiest road to financial discipline.

Life can throw us curve balls, and we may not always be prepared. But having the right equipment will help us deal with those surprises when, and if, they come flying out of left field.

Article Source: http://www.thewahmshack.com/articledirectory/

About The Author:  Christine Louise Hohlbaum, author of DIARY OF A MOTHER and SAHM I Am: TALES OF A STAY-AT-HOME MOM IN EUROPE, is a parenting humorist, motivational speaker and overall curious person who can’t stop asking questions of other people and the Universe. Subscribe to her newsletter at www.diaryofamother.com

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