Many young mothers are unsure whether it is possible to pursue a professional career and still be an active and loving mother. The answer is that you can successfully combine career and motherhood as long as you clearly define what you expect from both and accept where your limits are.

 

You can't attend your child's school play at the same time as working 60 hours a week in the office, you have to compromise. The trick is to compromise equally on both sides.

Start each day with a list of things you want to achieve and prioritise your time. The list will teach you what is really important to you and what you can do without if necessary.

For each item on the list, think about how much time you need to invest. Keep your list up to date as your priorities will shift. For example, if you realise that your family needs you more, find out where you can cut back on working hours to spend more time with your family. If possible, try to keep the weekends free for the family so that you can compress your professional tasks during the week. Once you have decided which goals you can give up in favour of other successes, let them go and don't regret them. Make the most of what's on your list, but don't take on too much.