If there is any job in this world that has no specific working hours, it is motherhood. Its demands continue 24x7, which can make it seem that there is no time for anything else.
As of 2024, nearly 74% of mothers across the US with children below 18 years were working. That sums up to three-fourths of the maternal population!
Though women take up all kinds of professions, some that are common among the maternal group are nursing, teaching, and writing. In this article, we will focus on the latter group.
Writing is a job that requires a certain degree of focus and quiet time. As we know, children do not usually believe in offering their parents uninterrupted blocks of focused time. The two passions may not seem to line up, which means writing moms need to be a bit strategic.
If you’re new to motherhood and struggling to juggle your career as a writer, we’re here to help. Read this guide for three tips on finding that perfect work-life balance.
Create a Feeding Schedule
One of the first things a new mother needs to direct her attention towards is her baby’s feeding. If you’re working from home, you can begin your writing career as soon as you feel ready postpartum.
In some cases, as in a premature birth, you may have to wait several months before returning to work. The exact timeframe will depend on your baby’s health and personal situation.
The first thing you want to work on is an effective feeding schedule for your baby. Ideally, babies need to be fed whenever they seem hungry. This is known as on-demand feeding. The main factor here is whether or not your baby will be given breastmilk.
Breastfed babies indeed tend to demand milk sooner than those who are formula-fed. On that note, we would like to point out that babies do find it difficult to digest baby formula when compared to breast milk.
In cases of premature birth or low birth weight, this issue may escalate into a gastrointestinal condition called Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC). TorHoerman Law states that many infants have suffered from this disease due to baby formulas like Similac and Enfamil.
The problem can become serious or fatal, as evidenced by the 600+ pending lawsuits against formula manufacturers like Abbott Laboratories and Mead Johnson. The first trial date for the NEC baby formula lawsuit is less than seven months away.
Parents are being advised against misleading formula marketing claims. Particularly those with preemies should either breastfeed or procure donor milk from reliable milk banks. You need to monitor your baby’s feeding times and establish a schedule based on the following:
- Doctor consultation and recommendations
- Workflow assessment to ensure the feeding does not interrupt your most focused writing periods
- Enlisting your partner or a caregiver to handle some feedings, especially during peak writing hours
Break Down Work Into Manageable Chunks
Once your baby’s feeding needs are taken care of, you need to simultaneously manage work. We understand that long writing sessions may not work in your favor.
A lot of us are hardwired to equate being productive with clocking in more work. Even in general terms, this is counter-productive. The BBC published an article recently that listed 'doing nothing' as one of the keys to staying happier and more productive.
The logic behind this is to allow your body to recharge for greater productivity during your focused working periods. In other words, we all need to know when to refrain from working and take short breaks.
This is even more important for new mothers like yourself. You can prevent stagnancy and writer’s block by spreading out your work into manageable chunks. All writers will eventually observe a pattern in their daily schedule where they will be more productive during certain times.
Identify the pattern in your schedule and utilize short bursts of writing inspiration. Many things can be factored into this so you can make the most of the time you devote to your writing.
- Prioritizing tasks so you can complete the urgent ones first while effectively managing longer-term projects
- Setting realistic goals by aiming at achieving daily or weekly word counts
- Informing your loved ones of your work schedule so they can extend support whenever needed
- Having a designated work space or writing zone to facilitate maximum focus
- Establishing your daily writing periods around your baby’s nap hours, feeding periods, and grooming needs
Utilize Downtime
As discussed earlier, every writing mother needs to take short breaks to rejuvenate. When your day is divided into chunks of healthy work and rest, it's easier to gain inspiration and bring ideas to life.
Newborns are pretty stringent when it comes to their nap time. Johns Hopkins Medicine states that they need anywhere from 16 to 18 hours of sleep each day.
The ironic part is parents are often sleep-deprived. This is because many newborns have plenty of sleep during the day and become fussy at night. Mothers are familiar with the feeling of walking up and down the hallway with a baby that just won’t let her have some shuteye.
If you don’t get enough sleep, it’s extremely difficult to excel at a career that depends on cognitive function. This is why it is so important to utilize your downtime to the fullest. You can catch some extra Zzs when your baby is asleep.
This may be challenging depending on other tasks or your internal clock. However, the least you can do is lie down to give your body much-needed rest. Also, share night-time duties with your spouse and skip some household chores depending on your writing /sleeping schedule.
For instance, you can catch up on some sleep in the evening and wash dishes the next morning. Similarly, you can postpone vacuuming until the day after and act upon a sudden burst of writing inspiration.
Now, downtime does not just indicate sleep. There are many ways to make the most of this time, including:
- Practice some mindfulness or relaxation techniques
- Work on hobbies like painting, gardening, or sewing
- Spend time with loved ones
- Take a warm bath while listening to calming music
- Create a plan for upcoming tasks
- Read a good book or favorite magazine
Last but not least, you need to build a strong support system. There’s a reason why it’s said—it takes a village to raise a child. In a serious context, your inner circle must include trusted friends and family members who can help.
Writing is an exciting but also a challenging career. As for motherhood, it is one of immeasurable worth. Balancing both is possible and may be the key to experiencing a fulfilling life.
