Shortly after welcoming my second child into the world, I returned to my professional career. I was thankful for a new position, excited to be back in a fast-paced work environment, and committed to proving that having young children wouldn’t impede my ambitions. However, not long after my return, I received an unexpected call from my caregiver, informing me that she was unwell and unable to care for my children that day.
Faced with the dilemma of having to leave work, I contacted my partner for assistance. As I hung up the phone, a familiar thought crossed my mind, one that has disrupted many careers: Can I really manage this?
For those women pondering the feasibility of blending work, family, and personal life, the insights from Laura Vanderkam’s book, I Know How She Does It: How Successful Women Make the Most of Their Time, provide clarity. Vanderkam surveyed 143 successful working mothers, asking them to meticulously document how they utilized their time over the span of one week. She asserts, “Everyone has opinions on having it all. I want to show, moment by moment, how it’s really done.”
While the study focused on a limited number of participants, the findings are significant. These women, over the course of a week, manage to secure adequate rest, engage meaningfully with their families, pursue leisure activities, and excel in their careers. They achieve this by prioritizing what truly matters and strategically scheduling their activities.
A crucial takeaway from Vanderkam’s work is that there will be days—or even weeks—when achieving balance feels unattainable. However, this does not imply that our lives cannot encompass the work, family, and leisure we desire. It simply suggests that daily balance may fluctuate, yet overall, it can be achieved.
Vanderkam encourages women to abandon the pursuit of a perfectly organized home or life. She suggests relinquishing the belief that one must handle everything independently and to actively seek and accept help. Furthermore, she emphasizes dismissing the internal narrative that insists time is scarce, as it often obstructs innovative solutions.
Perhaps the most vital insight is that women can indeed harmonize a thriving career with family life and personal time. Many of us possess more time than we realize. Initially, I resisted this notion, but personal experience has shown me its validity.
For instance, I once mistakenly believed a manuscript was due to my editor on November 1, only to discover it was actually due September 1. After a family trip to England and returning home in a state of jet lag, I found myself asleep by 8:30 p.m. and awake at 3 a.m. In the quiet of my home, I noticed my productivity at 3 a.m. was significantly higher than during the day.
Throughout the summer, I adjusted my schedule, waking at 3 a.m., working until 7 a.m., and then engaging in family activities before returning to my writing. I managed to submit my book on time and realized, as Vanderkam illustrates, that time is flexible, and with proper management, it can yield hours previously unseen.
Women need to understand that balancing family, career, and personal time is possible. If you’ve ever questioned your ability to achieve this balance, rest assured, you can.
For those exploring family planning options, consider checking out resources like this excellent guide on infertility. Additionally, if you’re interested in home insemination, our blog post on the at-home insemination kit offers valuable insights. For a more specific approach, you may also want to explore the intracervical insemination syringe kit as a fertility boost.
In summary, mastering the balance between work and family life is achievable through strategic planning, prioritization, and acceptance of support. Women possess more time than they often realize, and with effective management, they can truly have it all.
Keyphrase: Work-family balance
Tags: [“home insemination kit”, “home insemination syringe”, “self insemination”]