Working mothers are often seen as superheroes who are able to juggle the daunting responsibilities of their office work with those at home.
While the perception can be complimentary, to some mothers, it may feel as if they have been put on a pedestal.
And now with the pandemic keeping families at home, and forcing some mothers to work at home, the lines between work and home life have become blurry, further adding to the stress of being a working mother.
An online conference called ‘Digital Dialogue: Going Digital in Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family & Childhood Development’ was jointly held recently by the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA), the Ministry of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Sarawak (KWKPK), and SOCOE.
During the conference, business owner and mother Olivia Ling, as well as musician and mother Sharnaz Saberi who calls herself a ‘creativepreneur’, shared their pearls of wisdom in being a working mother in the 21st century and during a pandemic.
An entrepreneur who has dabbled in various business fields, such as food & beverage and retail, Olivia believes that achieving work-life balance starts by establishing priorities as it can help to clarify responsibilities which, in turn, allows for better decision-making.
(Photo credit: Harper’s Bazaar Malaysia)
Speaking in the online event, she shone a light on the importance of self-care and setting boundaries, stressing that those are not selfish acts, instead essential for personal wellbeing.
Sharing her personal experience, she said that her family understood her need for “me time”, thus not bothering her when she needed to recharge through activities like exercising or working on her hobbies.
She added that having friends, family and a hired help as her crucial support system also helps her manage her life.
Olivia’s final pearl of wisdom shared in the conference was to simply “take it easy”. She believes that accepting the possibility of failure can allow for practical solutions to be found.
On the same note, ‘creativepreneur’, musician, and mother, Sharnaz Saberi, stressed on the importance of being easy on oneself.
She encouraged celebrating personal victories, both big and small.
Sharnaz also stressed on self-confidence and self-esteem, giving emphasis on trusting instincts and having self-belief.
“You have the power to change the world. You are not just there to be a mum or a woman. Follow your dreams, follow your passion and go for it. The sky is the limit, manifest,” she said, ending her session on a high note.
