Valuable Professional Coaching Tips For Proper Budgeting As A Mother

Posted by admin 20 Feb, 2010

As a working mom, it’s often incredibly difficult to find the time to reach any semblance of balance while being stretched all directions throughout each and every day. It seems that unless you have an advanced degree in time management you just cannot find the available time to attend to the needs of the kids, your job, housekeeping and the other myriad tasks that seem so necessary today.

When we choose to put things off until tomorrow – or the next day, we usually end up feeling guilty about it, and unfortunately this course of action only serves to magnify our daily problems. Budgeting can be quite a challenge and if you only have a limited source of income you will always feel pressured to spend it on the kids and other household items, relegating yourself to last place in the pecking order.

As a working mother, you have to keep in mind one crucial point – you represent the “engine” that keeps the whole family going, and without you being at your best, other aspects of the family machine simply won’t work as well. Therefore, you should place any feelings of guilt in the back of your thoughts and remember that when you decide to invest in yourself it’s actually a well-spent investment in the family “machine,” your children and your overall existence. It’s essential that you feel good about yourself or, with the passage of time, you’ll feel increasingly burdened, and put yourself in a situation where depression could take hold and create a never-ending downward spiral.

One of the more important goals for you should be to create a strong support network around you. It’s a good idea to remember to lean on your close friends for support – you know who they are, they’re the true friends you can always turn to in situations like these at any time. Don’t forget though, that this kind of support is a two-way street. It’s entirely possible that you might already have some family members who look out for you, but you should never be afraid to ask for help from a professional coaching expert, specifically coaching for women like you, who are in a similar situation.

If you’re lucky, maybe you’ve got a really good friend who is willing to babysit for you, so you can have some precious “me time” all to yourself. There is always a way around and a way to find time to make you feel “yummy” rather than slummy! Remember that whatever chaos seems to exist around you on a daily basis, you have to take control over the elements that you can control.

Feeling and looking fantastic on a tight budget really isn’t all that difficult. Your biggest challenge will be to allocate the time necessary to pamper yourself in the first place. Once you actually accept this as a fundamental priority in your life, you need to make this happen regularly.

The best thing you can do for yourself on a daily basis is to commit to an exercise routine, and we don’t mean carrying around big bags of groceries or tidying up your home! A dedicated period of cardiovascular exercise is ideal, or you could even get started by working with a small set of free weights while walking through the streets of your own neighbourhood.

See how this will make you feel better mentally and physically and how it will make you look better – your skin tone will shine. You can pick up supplies to do a really great home manicure and pedicure, schedule a visit to a beautician or hairstylist and just focus on your personal time in the bathroom more often.

Always remember that feeling great is simply a state of mind. This process usually begins with a renewed focus on setting aside time for you, and then giving this time an equal priority.

For more hints and tips on how to feel great as a low-budget mum, check out the numerous online life coaching resources available!

Amanda Alexander is the Founder and Inspiration behind Coaching Mums. She’s a distinguished ICF accredited coach, who for almost seven years now, has been bringing a new feeling of hope into the lives of working mums from around the world, showing them how to discard their guilt, rediscover their passions and to have a lot more fun! For amazing articles and truly effective professional coaching tips, sign up to get “Inspire” right away, our absolutely outstanding free newsletter!

Share and Enjoy: