Highly Effective Job Management Tips for Single Moms with Disabilities

By Claudia Jeffrey

Around 4.1 million to 9 million single parents in the US have some kind of physical disability. Making adjustments to the new normal is the toughest thing, especially if you are a single mommy. You have to work, cook, clean, and do household chores all by yourself, yet you have nobody to share their emotional burden you carry on your shoulders every day. The pressure is real.

All the single mothers juggle the demands of work and life and struggle to find a balance career fit, but there are few ways to help yourself cope with your disability without letting it come in the way of motherhood and professional life.

Single Mom Job Tips: mom and daughter at home

Planning is Important

To make most of the day, planning is essential for all single mothers with disabilities to run a happy family. You must plan because you don't have much time. Take out fifteen minutes every night before sleeping and prepare for the next day. Decide what needs to be done immediately and what can wait. But don't drown yourself in household chores. Create a realistic to-do list. For example, you may cook three dishes today for the upcoming days and do laundries the next day. You may set your alarm to wake you up one hour earlier for these activities because it is the best time to do chores without being distracted by kids. Don't forget to assign yourself some 'me time' to relax. Self-care is important.

Consider Working from Home

Most single moms with disabilities struggle to determine a career-fit, but trust me, it requires ample patience and research. Make a list of choices and choose the one that fits best for your situation. To find a perfect job opportunity, first, you need to consider your passion, your qualification and the type of disability. However, in the current knowledge-based economy, you'll find more jobs than before than can be done remotely. For single mothers, telecommuting (work from home) is a strong option because it will eliminate the hassle and cost of traveling, reduce absenteeism, and allows you to do more for your kids and employer.

Find Out Family-Friendly Companies & Flexible Working

Not all companies have the same policies when it comes to accommodating employees with disabilities and kids. To write a perfect resume for a job seeker with disabilities, one doesn't need to mention his or her disability. Do your complete research and seek out companies that have non-discriminatory policies and offer you a flexible work routine or the benefit of telecommuting. You can get knowledge about a company's culture and values through its website or Glassdoor. You might be able to get more accurate insights from social media sites like Facebook and LinkedIn. Reach out to people working at the company and ask for their take on the company's behavior toward single mothers with disabilities.

Accept Help & Support from Others

You have already accepted your disability, but also help from others. Even if you don't have a disability, you cannot handle everything alone. If you are lucky enough to have supportive friends and relatives to help out, accept their support. Delegating responsibilities to staff can also motivate people you supervise. By giving people additional tasks, you are telling them that you trust them.

Learn To Say 'No'

You don't have to be a 'Yes' employee to prove yourself. Before you make any commitment to your boss for extra office hours, or to your children for participating in career day, or to a friend who asked you to look after her pet for few days, carefully think about it and ask yourself whether it is practical to accept additional responsibility. If you become a 'yes' machine for everyone around you, everyone will increase their expectations and take you for granted, be it your boss, children, or friends. Refusing people occasionally with a 'no' will lift the pressure from you.

Know Your Time Wasters

You are already juggling the responsibilities of career and life. Set your boundaries and isolate yourself from things that hamper your productivity. The trick is to eliminate all the distractions around you. Firstly, switch off all the unnecessary devices and turn off the Facebook notifications while you are working. To stay on track, check your emails three times a day, in the morning, in the middle of the day, and before finishing the work. Additionally, plan your grocery shopping accordingly. If you are going to buy groceries twice a week, you aren't utilizing your time properly. Make a grocery list and do one big shop or switch to online grocery shopping. 

Single Mom Job Tips: mom and daughter at home

Learn to Navigate Through Judgmental People

For single mothers with disabilities, the challenge of raising a child in an inaccessible, judgmental world is no joke. You have to stay positive to grow personally and professionally. Be friends with people who say kind words, who don't judge, who offer help, and most importantly, who are kind. On the flip side, unfriend those who drain out your energy and blast you with negative thoughts. You don't need them

Outsource Without Guilt

If you are not lucky enough to have a support group and don't have time to do certain household tasks, don't shy of outsourcing help. The term outsourcing is not restricted for business purposes only. You can always consider outsourcing as an option to prevent yourself from exhaustion. Make a post on the Facebook group, and you will get hundreds of suggestions about the best babysitters in the town who can also help you in housework.

Similarly, if a school uniform needs mending, instead of sewing it on your own, look for professionals to do it.  For the food thing, you have delivery apps. All of these things may cost a little, but you will save time, which is worthwhile. If the idea of outsourcing sounds useful to you, consult with FreeEssayWriter and Australian Master, and get professional help for writing business documents.

Be a Good Employee

Even if you get employment in a pretty accommodating company, you still have to pay back to those who support you. When you're working, your work should be your topmost priority. Although you may get the benefit of working irregular hours, make sure you don't miss deadlines and avoid last-minute stress. As discussed earlier, allocate different times throughout the day to catch up with your manager and respond to their emails.

If the strategies discussed above don't suit you, figure out a new approach that works for you and your family. You should always prioritize your health, safety and peace of mind. Try different tricks to see what works best. It may take some time, but that's OK.


About the Author:

Claudia Jeffery is a Psychology Counselor at McEssay. She is on a mission to help and inform people about transforming the lives of current and future generations. Her honest opinions on work management make her writing exceptionally outstanding in the crowd.



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