Five easy, everyday tips to help balance your work, home life

MCG — Mother, wife, employee, cook, counselor, travel agent, nurse, accountant — the list of roles that women play is endless. It’s no surprise that many working mothers feel overwhelmed trying to juggle all their duties.

According to the Families and Work Institute, 60 percent of working parents feel considerable conflict between work demands and time spent at home. Achieving a balance of roles is work in itself. Here are some tips to attempt to bring some balance into your life:

Problem No. 1: “My mornings don’t go smoothly.”

Solution: Follow the same routine each morning. Lay out clothes, pack lunches and assemble backpacks the night before. Get up before the kids to give yourself time to exercise, shower, dress and eat. Let the kids do as much as they can by themselves, like make a bowl of cereal or brush their teeth. That way, they can feel independent while you get ready yourself.

Problem No. 2: “I don’t have time to stay involved in my child’s school or daytime care program.”

Solution: Fit it into your schedule. Volunteer for field trips, parties, crafts or other class activities that occur when you can take off the day, or pitch in after work hours. At the office, use e-mail or the phone to keep in touch with your child’s teacher or caregiver.

Problem No. 3: “My child is sick, but I really have to go into work.”

Solution: Decide in advance how you’ll handle this. You can split the day with your husband, work from home or recruit someone who can care for your child on short notice.

Problem No. 4: “I don’t have enough time alone with my husband.”

Solution: No matter how short it is, spend time together. Read, watch TV, eat lunch or dinner. Put the kids to bed early so the two of you can have more time as a couple.

Problem No. 5: “I need to be in two places at once.”

Solution: Let technology work for you. Use personal digital assistants, hand-held devices or e-mail, to keep connected with your office while at home, or vice versa.