I have a split personality – I am a professional woman with a career in the tech industry, and I am also a mother to an 8-year-old. Balancing my responsibilities at home with the demands of my job gets challenging, but following some well-intentioned advice from some famous parents (Indra Nooyi, Michelle Obama, Gwyneth Paltrow) has helped me balance work and parenting while maintaining a strong emotional connection with my child and spouse. Here is some advice that I have tried and tested, and that has proven effective:

Set Clear Goals, Prioritize, Macro Plan, and Then Micro Plan

Every year during December holidays, my husband and I create a list of goals we want to achieve in the coming year. We ensure that these goals are S.M.A.R.T (Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Relevant, and Time-based). We then prioritize each goal in our plan, sometimes making difficult decisions about what takes precedence. We have learned to accept that we cannot be good at everything every day. Each day, we decide what takes precedence and commit to that. Once we identify our macro and micro goals, we focus on execution, creating a schedule that allows us to prioritize our commitments. We use tools like calendars, to-do lists, and reminders to stay organized and use weekends to plan for the busy weekdays. While this does not guarantee that you will meet every goal on your checklist, it does ensure that you are on the right path to achieving them.

While fulfilling important commitments, it is also important to say no to unnecessary tasks. If something is not a “Hell yeah!” then it should be a “Hell no!” This has been particularly difficult for me. But I am trying to practice saying “no” more often to the tasks that don’t align with my goals. And boy, has it freed up some serious time on my calendar!

DO NOT Do It All Alone

It truly takes a village! So enlist as much help as you can. Plan household chores with your partner and kids. Involving kids in household chores teaches them responsibility. Consider hiring help for cleaning, cooking, babysitting, etc. It is not a bad idea to buy your time back and spend money on hiring help for time-consuming household chores.

We are very fortunate to also have friends and family around, who have jumped at every occasion to help us out with kids activities.

Reaching out to other working mothers in your community or online can also provide valuable advice, support, and encouragement as you navigate balancing work and family.

Seeking support at work is equally important. Find mentors and sponsors who will guide you through your career journey and the balancing act between your career and personal life.

Be Present in the Moment

Set clear boundaries between personal and professional commitments, and be present for both. When at home, spend time with your family and children without thinking about work, and when at work, focus on work goals and avoid multitasking. I have managed to somewhat achieve this by using a couple tactics – having a separate work space at home and doing my office work only in that space and having time boundaries for work and personal commitments while also planning for the overflows.

Take Care of Yourself

Finally, prioritize self-care every day, whether that’s exercise, reading a book, or taking a relaxing bath. Taking care of yourself is essential for your well-being and helps you to be more productive and focused in your work and family responsibilities. I buy all my yearly spa credits in one go. Since they are “use it or lose it” credits, that forces me to use them throughout the year. We don’t just plan play dates for kids, but also make sure that my husband and I plan our date nights as well as our separate friends get togethers. If it is feasible, have a back up nanny who you can fall back to while planning for such events.

In conclusion, balancing career and parenting is a marathon, not a sprint. Be patient, understand and internalize the trade-offs, and do your best with intentionality of being present in the moment. Most importantly, be forgiving of yourself.