So many working Mom Tips focus on how to get ahead at the office without feeling guilty, or how to make sure the kids are alright when mama is at work. But what about those who want to have it all, and win in both worlds? They need productivity tips for moms that are designed to help women kill it at home and at the office. With that goal in mind, here’s how to balance work and Family in ways that give everyone success—without the stress.

These productivity tips for moms are designed to make work success attainable without sacrificing that well-deserved personal life.

One of the best ways for working moms to ensure job success is to clearly communicate at every career stage. People who work for others should make sure to connect—in writing—with direct supervisors or HR reps about their scheduling needs, whether that means work-from-home options or set end points to the day. In order to remain in favor with supervisors, be sure to include written guarantees that flexibility in scheduling will not come at the cost of personal productivity, and provide a written plan for how productivity won’t become a concern.

Supervise others at the office? Become an example for how other moms—and dads—can balance work and family. Share a personal plan with employees, making it clear that family work life balance is an attainable goal, and one that can co-exist with a highly productive work schedule.

It’s important to recognize that a balanced work and home life may not be possible at every point in a working mom’s career. When launching a new business, beginning a new job or wrapping up a major project, it’s ok to tilt that balance in favor of work life. In those moments, lean into the work and remember it won’t always be like this. There will be times when family life gets a bigger slice of the attention pie. So, instead of feeling bad about the present focus on work, drop the guilt and the worry, remembering this period is temporary. Then, get back to killing it at the office. This is the best way to bring a quicker—and happier—end to a period of imbalance.

Need to get work done and still make it home for dinner—or at least bed time? Discipline is key. Shorten those lunch breaks, and commit to checking email during two or three scheduled time blocks each day—one could even be at the end of the day, after returning home and addressing family needs, especially if working with a shortened office day. Also, vow to delay scrolling through that social newsfeed until the kids are fast asleep.

Not strong enough to resist the pull of that smart phone? Keep it in a closed drawer or on an out of reach table during working hours. Then, plan brief, scheduled breaks throughout the day when it can be checked for messages and notifications. Research suggests that focus and productivity are less challenged when attention isn’t being constantly pulled back and forth between the computer and phone screens.

Teamwork makes the dream work—even at the office. When the situation allows, find one or two supportive colleagues and vow to band together, encouraging each other to get the work done, but also promising to support one another if life hits hard and someone needs to pick up a bit more of that work slack.

It’s easy for working moms to get stuck in the moment, struggling to stay on top of current job tasks but not seeking new opportunities for growth and advancement. But with all the extra time that can come from streamlining the work day, it’s easier than ever to think about next career steps. Not sure where to begin?

Make sure to include professional development opportunities in your daily, weekly or even monthly schedule. Spend 30 minutes on LinkedIn, looking to connect with industry contacts for collaborative opportunities, or even for new job openings. Happy in that current position? Growth should still stay at the forefront of work life. To stay relevant in any field, sign up for important newsletters or platforms such as Monster that share career tips and important future insights. Even spending five minutes a day browsing relevant headlines could inspire the next great work idea or conversation that will lead to a promotion or other forms of job success and recognition.

The previous productivity tips for moms should make sure the work gets done, while helping mamas get enough time out of the office to enjoy family life. But how can home time be more enjoyable and less stressful? Just follow these tips to win at the second half of the balanced work and home life.

Do coworkers need to hear about every school play or homework assignment? Absolutely not! Should the kids be subjected to silence while taking work calls at home? Not too often. However, sometimes watching mom log onto a Zoom can be a valuable way for Children to appreciate how hard she’s working when away. It can also provide a powerful example of how much she loves and succeeds at what she does. In this way, the kids can see mom as a role model, and aspire to do what they love, too, when they’re grown up.

As delicious as it feels to sleep in, try setting that alarm for one hour before everyone else in the home has to rise. Use those extra 60 minutes for self-care and productivity. Shower, get dressed without distraction, make breakfast or even schedule that first daily email check. This will help start the day on the right foot for everyone, and allow some un-rushed moments of connection once the children get out of bed.

Of course, as soon as the children are up, things will get hectic—but some night-before planning can keep things under control. Before heading to bed, make sure the kids’—and parents’—bags are packed and sitting by the door. Lay out the next day’s outfits, as well. And, for older children, create an easily accessible checklist to get them through the morning routine without constant nagging.

On that note? Make the most of morning organization and pop a load of laundry in every single day. That way, the dryer transfer can happen right after work, and the small amount of folding can take place after the kids go to bed. Then, depending on their ages, putting away clean clothes can be a quick and easy chore for children to complete the following day…which feeds directly into the next of these important working mom tips.

Remember how it’s important to find supportive work partners? The same is true at home. From a young age, teach children to clean up their own messes, whether it’s toys, clothes or breakfast dishes. As children get older, add specific weekly chores to the list of expectations for the youngest members of the household. Children are more than capable of cleaning their own rooms, putting away their own clean laundry, clearing the table after meals, or even helping with light dusting or washing. Got children who need some encouragement to pitch in? Create a chore chart and offer reward stickers for little kids, or consider giving out an allowance that’s chore dependent for older children.

From after school activities to important work deadlines or homework assignments, make sure to log everything on a family calendar and give every family member access. For some families, that may mean hanging a physical calendar in a high-traffic area of the home. For others, an app may work better. There are so many options available out there, but the Cozi Family Organizer is a fabulous—and free—app that tracks and coordinates every family member’s schedule while also enabling shared family task lists, grocery shopping lists and even meal planning.

While working on the schedule, don’t forget to slot in more than just the necessities. Calendar family dinner nights and weekend outings. It’s also a good idea to slot in quiet time for everyone to spend a few minutes transitioning from the pace of out-of-home life to in-home routines.

Feeling pressured to attend every soccer game and book fair at the kids’ schools? Here’s a working mom tip to beat that guilt: ask children when parental presence matters, and when it doesn’t. Plan to be at the important activities, and be ok with missing the ones that aren’t as big a deal for the family. This will show children that their feelings—and activities—matter to their mom, making everyone feel better about moments when she can’t be in attendance.

Don’t waste time at the grocery store after a long day at the office. Instead, take a bit of time on the weekend and plan out dinners for the week. Populate a grocery list for the items each recipe requires, then schedule a grocery delivery using Instacart or a similar vendor, to save time and frustration.

Also use the weekends to get a lot of meal prep work out of the way. Chop veggies for recipes, cut up and individually package fruit or other healthy snacks to bring for lunches…basically, do as much as possible in advance to save time and transform the dinner-hour from a period of stress into an opportunity to catch up and connect as a family.

Working moms are notorious for putting everyone else’s needs ahead of their own. But this is the fastest way to burnout at work, at home—or in both realms. While self-care may feel indulgent, it’s actually critical to keeping working moms healthy and productive. So, when working on the family calendar, slot in times for spa visits, gym sessions or even an hour of uninterrupted reading time. 

Equally important? Scheduling alone time with important grownups. Whether that’s a romantic partner or simply that best friend who’s been waiting on a coffee date for months, don’t push off these outings until the kids are older, or those important people may quit waiting. Instead, look for open evenings and schedule a babysitter to enjoy a walk, a movie or a dinner out. Even a grown-ups-only errand run can feel luxurious if making the trip is part of a conscious decision to prioritize the adult relationships in the lives of working moms.

What are your biggest struggles at home and at the office? What working mom tips have helped make it easier for you to balance work and family? Comment Below!