Winning with Work-Life Fusion
Top 5 Tips for Sanity
Happy Mother’s Day to all!
In the spirit of this day and all the families that are treading water out there trying to make it all work, I wanted to share some of my top tips that I have rediscovered to maintain sanity during this wild time in the world. As the mother of two tiny humans (a 5 year old and a 3 year old), as well as the Founder and CEO of a Startup with my husband (their father is also my co-founder and CTO), you can imagine we both have full plates.
In the last few months, we were simultaneously Learning to Succeed as a Startup as we finished the accelerator for Sputnik ATX and growing our company massively, all while taking up full-time kid wrangling and schooling. Our situation is unique, but we have learned a lot about how to leverage our strengths and weaknesses that can benefit others too. I have always believed that our family and work life feels more like work-life fusion than balance. This may be the case for many others now that our work lives and home lives have converged. This is a short list of the most helpful nuggets. On to the good stuff:
1. Acknowledge your feelings and accept them.
This is an unprecedented time, nothing is normal. We are all dealing with a wide variety of feelings. Whether you are feeling down or up at any given moment, the emotions are a little more intense and a little slower to fade these days. The key is to reframe them and use them to drive you forward. In our house we like to say three things we are grateful for, even on the hardest days. Talk it out with others that are in the same boat; from being at home with little kids to figuring out the switch to virtual work or even losing a job. Sharing the weight of the new expectations and how to cope has been a powerful tool.
2. Guard your productivity.
Finding opportunities to be productive during the day while juggling kids, pets, work, family, and other home obligations can be challenging. We tag-team and take turns being on parent duty or work duty to make sure that our work time is protected. In addition we also use flexible timing for uninterrupted work, often after the kids bedtime. Keeping metrics to see forward progress is a great way to track your movement toward your goals and the lengthening to-do list. Little things add up to be big milestones.
3. Take mental breaks.
In my opinion, mental health is the foundation for keeping it all in check. Between the emotional roller coaster and the need to get stuff done there is a lot of pressure. For some it is meditation, a long walk, or a bath though it could be anything that helps you clear your mind and reset. These moments are good times to reflect on what we have and what we need to be our best.
4. Take care of your body.
Our family has a regular time that we stop in the afternoon to get physical. On days where the weather is cooperative we do a HIIT workout in the driveway and a walk with our kids and dog in-tow. We also like to shake it up with dance parties, yoga, and chasing each other around with the water hose. Feed your body well too. Remember, even with all the shortages and concern over food that farmers markets and local grocers are still going strong. If you are into it meal prepping for the week takes a lot of effort out of all the snacks and meals needed in a typical week.
5. Tell people what you need.
No one can read your mind. Some things can get lost in translation as we are video chatting and removed from the physical day-to-day, clear communication is even more important. If you are struggling with work or with home life, ask for the help you need. Most people are navigating big changes in life now. All of these are taking a toll on one part or another, but with a little support and some adjustments things can get better.
Alexandria Porter is the CEO and Founder of Mod Tech Labs. She is a serial entrepreneur, designer, and mother. Her background includes nearly 20 years in Family and Child Services as a Nanny and a Doula. After earning a BS in Interior Design, she went on to co-found a company focused on impactful uses of XR technology. Alex has been recognized by Intel for her extraordinary commitment to leading-edge technology development as a Top Innovator for more the last three years. Reach out to her with any feedback at alex@modtechlabs.com.
