5 helpful tips for working moms

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 70% of women with kids under 18 years old have a job in addition to their parental responsibilities. Balancing their family and career can be difficult for many working moms. You may be stressed out and feel like you're short on free time. Fortunately, you can do a great job at both working and parenting by making some changes and using smart strategies. Here are some tips for working moms who want to be outstanding parents and employees.

Create a schedule for yourself and your family

Create a schedule for yourself so that you can keep track of work and family responsibilities and make sure that they don't conflict. That way, you can avoid scheduling your child's next doctor's appointment or another activity on the same day as an important meeting at work.

"Working remotely can let you skip a long commute and make your schedule more flexible. Many employers allow remote workers to keep any schedule that works for them, as long as projects are finished by a certain deadline."

Time management tools like calendars, planners, automated reminders, and tracking sheets are often helpful. Keep track of how long the most common tasks take so that you can make an efficient schedule and avoid falling behind. For example, if your commute usually takes half an hour, it's a good idea to leave home at least 45 minutes before work starts. This gives you some extra time to deal with uncooperative kids or heavy traffic. On days when everything runs smoothly, you'll have time to stop for coffee or a quick breakfast before work.

You should also create a calendar for the family that shows everyone's schedule and activities. A calendar or bulletin board on the wall can keep family members from forgetting their duties for the day and disrupting the schedule. Even young kids can see when it's lunchtime, playtime, or cleanup time. When you need to focus on work or just take a break, you can update the calendar, say you're unavailable, and schedule childcare if needed.

When possible, wake up and go to sleep at around the same time every day, and encourage your kids to do the same. Everyone might be tempted to stay up late on weekends, but it will make getting ready for school and work on Monday morning much harder. Lack of sleep could also keep you from doing your best at your job.

Rehearse and plan ahead as much as possible

When kids go back to school, they may not be used to the family's new morning routine. A few days before school starts, you can practice by waking up your child and encouraging them to get dressed and ready on time. Tell them that if they meet this goal, you can finish the summer together by going swimming, visiting a museum, or enjoying another fun activity. If they need more time during this rehearsal, you can make changes to your routine for the first day of school.

Mornings for working moms are often stressful. Here are some things you can do the night before to make things go more smoothly when it's time for school:

Set the kids' alarm clocks ahead by 10 minutes.
Prepare lunches and pack them up.
Ensure that books and other school supplies are in backpacks before bedtime.
Check your calendar for after-school activities and pack sports equipment or other items.
Lay out shoes and clothing for kids.

Review your calendar for ways to save time and reduce the stress of being a working parent. For example, instead of cooking every day, you can make a couple of dishes at the same time and freeze them for easy preparation later. You can also divide up the grocery shopping; for example, one parent does the main grocery run once a week, and the other one is responsible for making any last-minute purchases on other days.

Have family members help with chores

You may be used to taking care of most tasks around the house, but there's usually no reason why spouses and children can't help out. Being a working parent is tough, and everyone needs some help now and then. You and your partner can take turns doing laundry, washing the dishes, and completing other routine tasks. You can add them to the family schedule to keep people from forgetting about them.

Teach children to put dirty clothes in laundry hampers, make their beds, clean up toys, and do other chores. Even preschoolers can help with various tasks, and many kids enjoy the praise they receive for being a good helper.

For lots of kids, doing chores quickly becomes part of daily routines. For example, children can learn that they should always set the table before dinner, and they do it every day without being asked. For chores that kids are more reluctant to finish, you can make a sticker chart or grant points as rewards to show how much you appreciate their help.

Ask for help from friends, relatives, and others

In addition to using a babysitter, daycare, or childcare, working parents may ask friends and relatives to care for children occasionally. For instance, if you need to stay at work late on certain days, you could ask your spouse to pick up the kids from after-school care. If these people also have little ones, you can take turns caring for each other's kids. Hiring a house cleaner is another great way for you to save time and avoid the distractions of dirty dishes, clothes on the floor, or a full garbage can. While the cleaning person works, you can check your email, take care of other tasks, or even relax for a while.

If your extended family lives nearby, consider asking your parents or in-laws if their grandkids can sleep over occasionally. This is a great way for kids to have fun and spend quality time with their grandparents. It also lets you relax with your spouse, visit a great restaurant, or see a show that kids wouldn't enjoy.

Consider working remotely or having a hybrid schedule

Working remotely can let you skip a long commute and make your schedule more flexible. Many employers allow remote workers to keep any schedule that works for them, as long as projects are finished by a certain deadline. This means you don't have to risk being late for work if you have trouble getting the kids ready for school.

When necessary, you can still take advantage of daycare or after-school care to focus on work. If possible, choose a secluded space that's designated for work, and let family members know that they should only disturb you in an emergency while you're working.

With these tips for working moms, you can make having kids and a job at the same time less stressful and more organized. Finding a good work-life balance can sometimes be tough, and you should remember that you're only human. If needed, perhaps you can reduce your work hours or work part-time for a while. You can also look for a job with a more flexible schedule by uploading your resume to CareerBuilder.