Being a working mom is not easy at all. It is one of the hardest things that women have to do. Work may be manageable, fun, and motivating before the kids arrive but the arrival of babies comes with new challenges that make women torn between motherhood and work.
Often the demands affect work and also the productivity of the moms at work , which may lead to self-doubt and make them feel not as worthy and valued like before. Working moms also tend to do more mistakes, have a low self-drive and motivation to work, and relate poor to other workers that aggravating the situation.
If this is your situation, realize that it can eventually affect your self-esteem and other related issues. As such it is important to rebuild your confidence now and map a clear way forward. Several things you can do include;
In this post…
Learn and Improve From Mistakes
Don’t Try Too Hard To Prove Your Worth
Identify Your Type Of Working Environment
Tips at Rebuilding Your Work Confidence as a Mom
Self-Affirmation Tips for Working Moms Doubting their Worth at Work
1. Learn and Improve From Mistakes
Everyone makes mistakes. Do not blame yourself too much. We are all human and man is to err. It is normal to make mistakes but you should not dwell on them. Instead fix the problem, learn from it and move on.
Dwelling on it only makes the situation deteriorate further. Remember, you will learn more from the things you got wrong than the ones you do right.
- People thrive on growth and feedback so be willing to learn
- Use the feedback constructively and avoid taking it personally
- Change the mindset and underlying assumptions you have about yourself, and be more open to learning.
- Calibrate your thoughts and separate extreme thought from rational thought.
Read: How to Get a Positive Performance Review
2. Don’t Try Too Hard To Prove Your Worth
When working women become moms, they are worried about keeping up with others. They worry if motherhood makes them less performing. As a result, they try too hard to prove that they can be good moms and outperform others at work as well.
Women tend to blame themselves and look for love and respect by doing more rather than drawing boundaries. You do need to address your thinking patterns because you are just as competent. You are as a valuable and a worth to your company the same way as before.
The truth is as a working mom you will have more work challenges than any other colleagues at your workplace . And you do not need to pressure yourself to outdo others to prove a point.
Do your best and know that it is enough. Also, stop comparing yourself especially to your male colleagues if you are working as hard as others since your situations are different.
Read: How to Set and Enforce Boundaries at Work
3. Rebuild your Work Confidence and Affirmation
Look at your strengths, capabilities, and inner potential. Look at what you have been able to achieve so far despite it all. Look at the changes that you have brought in your work and all that you have made happen.
Take stock of this and regain your confidence in your work. You are worth and capable and if you were a mess, your employer would not have kept you this long. You only need to believe in yourself and your capabilities and you only can make yourself confident at what you do.
It is okay to doubt yourself once in a while but remember the best kind of strength to press on comes from within. Look within you; what defines and drives you. Hang on it and sap it to rebuild your confidence in your work as a mom.
Read: How to Look Stunning at Work
4. Look for a Healthy Working Environment
The environment that we work in sometimes can be the major reason why working moms are having such an awful time at work. It could be the culture, the colleagues, or even the bosses who make it so hard for you and everyone else to work well and feel valued and worth their job.
For instance, there is a big difference between working for the public sector versus working in the private sector. As such it is important to identify if your workplace is toxic in which case it is better to leave. A toxic workplace will keep eating at you until you have no value for yourself.
It is how manipulation and control at the workplace are orchestrated. Switch employers or even start your own business whereby you can work in an environment you feel safe and appreciated.
Read: Top Mom Friendly Careers and Employers
5. Consider Therapy for Affirmation of your Worth and Value
Work can be too overwhelming, especially for a mom. Work pressures can push working moms to the wall until they cannot take it anymore. It can mess them emotionally and psychologically to a point one is unable to work or care for the family.
It can even lead to depression. Therefore if you feel too overwhelmed, it is wise to talk to a therapist. A therapist will help you sort out your feelings out and find a solution. Therapy is the best way to find ways to deal with self-doubt, perfectionism, and restructuring your thinking patterns personally and at work.
Life couches are also helpful to decide if your line of work is suited for you and if it makes you happy.
6. Find a Support System at Work
Sometimes having a group of supportive people around you makes a major difference. If you don’t have access to a therapist, surround yourself with people who care and love you instead. People who can help you reframe your mind and balance your work from the work-related pressure and demands.
It can be your partner, your close friends, or your family members. Take keen in sharing what is bothering you at work instead of bottling it all up within yourself.
Spend time with the people who make you feel better about yourself and cut out toxic people too. A support system will make work life easier and you will feel worthy and valued.
Read: How to have a Social Life as a Mom Working Full Time
7. Start and Maintain A Self-Care Routine to Enhance your Sense of Worth
When you neglect yourself, you will eventually suck at work and parenting. You need to take care of yourself to be able to take care of your family and also be productive at work. Neglecting yourself messes with your physical and mental health and everything else depending on you.
You need to ensure that you get adequate time and care for yourself on a daily basis amidst the demand of motherhood and work. Without it, you will be easily fatigued, tired, irritable, and poor at work.
To stick to a self-care routine, ensure you create a self-care plan that incorporates activities meant to nourish you mentally, physically, and emotionally. In addition eat well, exercise, and get enough sleep. Also, rediscover yourself by reading encouraging books.
Read: How to Create a Self-care Routine
Proven Secrets & Tips at Rebuilding Your Work Confidence as a Mom
1. Stop Worrying too Much to Help Build Confidence
Stop dwelling on what happened as it cannot be changed. Remember you are not the only one making mistakes and all employees are prone to making mistakes. Don’t spend any time beating yourself up.
2.Don’t Take Things Personally as it diminishes your self worth
Try to separate critiques on your work from critiques on yourself. It is a guaranteed way of keeping your confidence in work high.
3. Try Practicing Gratitude and in return you will feel confident and valued.
Gratitude promotes positive thinking and improves your outlook. Do the best you can and know that you are helping people in what way you can. Practice good deeds for others, accept, embrace, and remember the compliments people give you
4. Improve yourself to self affirm yourself.
Learn a new skill, art, hobby, etc. Accomplish small things that are outside your comfort zone. It will help you regain your confidence at work successfully.
5. Focus on Learning and growing yourself for more confidence.
The more you identify the damage the more you know what to fix. It is simple tested way of keeping your confidence in yourself high.
6. Be Optimistic at work and enhance your worth there.
Make a list of everything you are grateful for in life, no matter how big or small. By doing you, it is guaranteed you will feel good about yourself and regain your confidence.
7. Don’t Worry About Others Opinions
Whatever you see in yourself is not reflected in the eyes of others. Get comfortable being alone with you and be confident about the person you are at work.
8. Draw Boundaries at Work and focus on your strengths to build your confidence.
Draw firm boundaries around yourself. Separate work from self/home/family. Make the effort to not always apologize to others. Speak up a little more, and walk with your head up. You will feel you are more confident at work and in life than before.
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