Mama Mia-mantras for working mothers!

THOSE WHO have chosen the uphill path away from home towards the workplace may soon enough realise that the climb is anything but simple.

Working mothers need to be efficient at home and at workplace too and both can be equally demanding. Apart from having to hear the refrain ``Mama don't go'' every morning, working moms are actually on double duty. If the spouse pitches in to help, it is a blessing, but what if he doesn't? What also is the fate of a single parent?

The art of juggling work and family is something that has to be mastered. It is a feat that becomes easier if you take the necessary precautions. If you find you are not able to get your act together then there may be a few things you will have to come to terms with:

*The fact that for whatever reasons you need to work, and for traditional reasons you are the homemaker.

*That you can only do your best. Setting unrealistic goals like trying to be the perfect professional, mother and wife all at the same time doesn't work.

*That you can reduce stress by working on areas that might be contributing to it.

Techniques to help soothe those frayed nerves.

Work wise

You walk into office huffing and puffing and leave that way too, and there seems to be no way out. To avoid stress at the end of the day, organise your work in such a way that you finish 15 minutes before closing time. This will also act as a buffer when you have to tackle unexpected work, and will keep you from working overtime. If you find yourself working late regularly, then you may have to put your foot down and let others know that you cannot oblige if they are not considerate.

Try to enjoy whatever you do. Learn to do it with your heart rather than with a merely 'get it over and done with' attitude. Never take work home and Never bring Home to the office!

Break-even

Lunch breaks are not enough. You need to have small breaks at regular intervals to get recharged. Don't rush through coffee breaks, and don't discuss work over coffee too! If you feel like taking off alone, take a break by yourself, especially if the regular breaks become too crowded.

Occasional breathers like this help you work better. Share a light moment with your colleagues, or visit the library.

Mind unwind

When you are all keyed-up at the end of a tiring day, it may be a good idea to sit back and let-go. Erase those fears and clear your mind of all anxiety. Take a few deep breaths and make up your mind not to lose your cool over petty things when you reach home. You may have loads of work waiting to be done at home, but being agitated does not help. Before you tackle those tasks, make sure you change into something comfortable, get some soothing music playing.

A time-tested remedy for fatigue is to take 10 minutes to stretch out and rest. Have a couple of glasses of water and a small snack- it can do wonders.

Try not to skip breakfast if you don't want to end up feeling exhausted at the end of the day.

Child's Play

Enjoy your kids for a while before you start reminding them about their studies, meals and so on. Remember that one day when they fly the coop, the silence will be deafening. Delegate some of the light work to them while you get started.

As a working mother you should be aware of the fact that you cannot be perfect, so forget being a perfectionist.

Home work

If you feel you cannot handle work and family for any reason, you can consider the option of working from home. This will give your own space and will help you work at your own pace too. While working from home you should learn to compartmentalise work and home-related activities, and maintain a healthy balance between the two.

Remember that if you don't take care of your home, no one else will.

To maintain peace on both fronts, learn to get yourself in equilibrium, and you will find everything else falling into place.

ARCHANA JAYAKAR

archana.hyd@careercommunity.co.in