New Year’s resolutions are about setting both short- and long-term goals. As another year approaches, many women will assess the various aspects of their lives. For working moms, this means looking at their role as mothers, as wives, as workers and as women in general.
Being a Mother
This is often the first goal on the list because many working moms feel guilty about not spending enough time with their children. If a working mom’s New Year’s resolution is to spend more time with family, she should write specific goals for making this happen. If the goal is to be more involved in the child’s school, she should fill her appointment book with various school activities.
What a working mom should not do is beat herself up with guilt or attempt to be “supermom.” She needs to be realistic and remember that she is already the best mom her children could ask for.
Personal Goals
It’s important for a working mom to remember herself in the goal-setting process. If a mom does not feel fulfilled as a woman, she will not be the best mom, wife or worker she can be. She should consider what kinds of enjoyable social activities she’d like to do in the coming year such as an exercise group, a book club or an art class.
Taking time for oneself is not selfish; it is an essential part of a balanced life.
Relationship Goals
Whether a working mom is married or single, personal relationships should not be neglected in the coming year. All mothers need support, whether it’s from a spouse, a friend or a family member. Moms should set specific goals that will encourage their partners in life to be involved and help maintain balance.
Career Goals
Whether a working mother has a career by choice or by necessity, it’s important for her to set goals that will help her family achieve or maintain financial stability. Work goals should also focus on work/life balance and the flexibility to be there for her children. She should also consider career goals that will bring some overall fulfillment in the long run.
Other important rules to follow when setting New Year’s goals include:
- Write the goals down.
- Be specific.
- Be realistic.
- Set deadlines.
- Remember they are only guidelines.
Working mothers have a lot to consider when setting goals for the New Year. They should not use these goals as a source of stress, however. Use them as inspiration for success.
Kari Lomanno - Kari Lomanno is a high school English teacher and mother of two children ages 9 and 7. She lives in Chesapeake, Virginia with her husband ...
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