I've just hoped off an online chat with a group of working mums at Connect2Mums (tautology, I know, all mums work their butts off!!!). Sooooooooo many WAHMs (Work-at-Home Mums) I speak to talk about the challenges of 'Work Life balance'.One of the hardest things - I find - is when you 'leave' your home office and walk around with a 'hangover' (work thoughts buzzing around your head while kids buzz around your feet reminding you of all the other things you need to do PLUS the fact you haven't yet decided what to feed the beasties for dinner!)
I recently wrote a simple meditation mantra and have been using this for myself - at my desk - several times a day. I've got loads of stuff going on at the moment (who hasn't!?) I'm using this technique when I feel OVERWHELMED by all there is to do OR when I need to CLOSE THE DOOR on work and get back to being mum.
Feel free to try the Work Life Balance 'Closing the Door' meditation here. Plus, here's...
4 simple steps to 'Close the Door' on your working day:
1. Be Timely - Towards the end of your work time/day, start winding down. To keep your eye on the time you could use http://ticktocktimer.com/
2. Wind down your thoughts - During your wind down time, jot down anything weighing on your mind that might 'hangover' into your family time.
3. Ritual ending - Perform some kind of ritual that closes down your work mind (turning off the computer, closing blinds, pushing in a chair).
4. Close the door - Physically and mentally close the office door. (If you don't have a designated office find a way to 'close down').
Try finishing off with the Work Life Balance 'Closing the Door' meditation before getting back to the family or heading off to bed.
Best of luck,
Lyndal
