House work can always wait
When it comes to juggling family and work, there’s no secret formula, says life and wellness coach Gemma McCaw.
She is used to balancing family, and work, especially with the arrival in April of baby daughter Ella.
“There are times when you feel like you’re nailing it, and other times when the balance feels totally out of whack,” says the mother of three.
“Figuring out how to continue my health and wellness work alongside motherhood has been a work in progress.
“The children come first, that’s a given, but I love the work I do, too, and I am passionate about helping women with their health and wellbeing.
“When I’m working, I try to give it my all and ensure I have support around me to do so. When I’m at home with the kids, I want to be really present, and they will always be my priority”.
Accepting that there is no such thing as a perfect balance has helped Gemma accept some of the harder days.
“When life gets stressful, I will tell myself ‘It too shall pass’, and that really helps. Equally, on the days when everything falls into place, I try to really enjoy them.
“I know how lucky I am to be in a position where I can work part time, with a husband [All Black great Richie McCaw] who is incredibly supportive with my career and goals.
“My biggest advice for working mums is to prioritise sleep. Women have a huge amount on their plates, and it’s impossible to juggle it all when you’re running on nothing. Sleep can go such a long way to ensuring we’re at our best.
“It’s also important to remember that we don’t need to be perfect, and it’s okay not to have everything in order. This morning I chose to go for a run with the pram instead of cleaning up the house first. It was a mess, the beds were unmade, there were oats all over the bench, but I knew I’d feel so much better if I got a bit of exercise in. And I did, it set me up for the day and I feel good. Housework can always wait.”
Image: Eat Media
