Life as a working mom is a constant juggle. Spending enough time getting your work done and making sure to give your family their much needed attention can be tricky. For a long time I felt guilty spending time working, that “mom-guilt” was very real for me at work. But now I’ve been able to create boundaries for myself, feel proud of being a working mom, and find some things along the way that made life easier.
I find SO much joy in finding things that can better my life in some way and sharing it with other busy women. So let’s step into my working mom must-haves.
On-The-Go Mom Lifesavers
Mom life is a run from point A to point B with a lot of “don’t forget to bring this / do this before”. I can’t go anywhere without a computer bag or backpack (depending on how much I need to bring). Not only do these carry all of your mom and work needs, but having compartments is very necessary.
Running out of phone battery when out and about is my real life nightmare (haha). I keep this portable charger with me at all times, because I never know when I need to check in with my husband, my son’s school, or vice versa. It has saved me from so many exhausted nights of forgetting to charge my phone and gives me peace of mind.
The perfect car seat, it is life changing. There are hundreds of car seats out there, but finding one that has been easy to use when I’m in a rush, comfortable, functional, etc. is a huge mommy lifesaver. Here is the car seat we used for Diego and love.
A Working Mom’s Beauty Favorites
I try to wake up much earlier than Diego so I can get ready before he is awake. But sometimes I don’t get a good night’s sleep (or my alarm doesn’t go off) and I need to be quick so I can get him ready for school.
– Dry Shampoo: brings life to a second (or third) day hair situation
–Tinted Moisturizer: requires much less careful application than foundation but brings some coverage
–Eyelash Curler: nothing makes me look more awake (even though I got no sleep) than a good eyelash curler
–Glowy Blush: the quickest swipe of the perfect blush brings the perfect flushed lively color to a very tired face
–Natural Lipstick: there’s something about lipstick that makes everything look a bit more polished, and a nude you can rely on for an everyday color gives you time for more important things like lunch making
Feeding the Family Fast
To be honest, this is my least favorite thing. Only recently with my love of health & wellness, have I gotten into the kitchen and been excited about it. I don’t like to spend more than 15 minutes on anything, that’s kind of my motto and it wouldn’t be possible without these helpers.
- Pressure Cooker: The holy grail of an easy one pot family dinner. Whether it’s a something simple or complex, there are so many recipes that can be thrown in a pressure cooker ready.
- Dehydrator: This was a late night Amazon purchase that I love. I use it to turn my almond pulp (from homemade almond milk) into almond flour. I use it to create dry fruits, fruit roll-ups, and even a little jerky. Here is a blog post on my favorite recipes.
- Electric Griddle: makes breakfast SO much faster with only one thing to clean instead of a handfuls of pans.
Things to Keep Mom Sane
The stress will build and build if you let it. But it can not only really hurt your own health but your family’s. I am so passionate about taking the time to take care of myself, so I can be a better wife, mother and friend. These are some of the things that help me.
As much as I love my Google Calendar at work, I need a planner / physical calendar where I write down things like Diego’s crazy hair day at school and his swim class. There are so many little mom duties and dates to remember so I like to make sure I write it down.
This has made a huge impact on my ability to focus, get a full night’s rest, and de-stress. I wrote a blog post here, where I cover all the basic CBD questions as well as share my first week experiences. It helps me focus at work and helps me sleep at least 8 hours without waking up (huge for a mom) through the night.
We all know drinking lots of water is good for our skin, digestion, and overall health but without bringing around my Hydroflask I never remember. When I bring a water bottle with me everywhere I drink SO much more water, but the days I don’t I’m shocked that I can go through an entire day remembering to drink only one glass.
That’s all for my working mom essentials!
What are some of your busy mom must-haves? I would love to hear from you in the comments below!
