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Being a mum while managing a career or business is no easy task. The pressure to “do it all” can feel overwhelming, but balance isn’t about perfection, it’s about making choices that work for you.

For this Mother’s Day, we asked our amazing Super Mums at Education Cubed how they navigate the challenges of work and family life. From setting boundaries and time-saving hacks to self-care and learning to let go of guilt, their answers were refreshingly honest (and often hilarious!).

A big thank you to our interviewees Jo, Lorna, Gaynor, Gosia, Ellie, Cassidy, Poppy, Maia and Emily for being invaluable to Education Cubed and rocks to your families.

Work-Life Balance and Priorities

What does work-life balance mean to you, and how do you know when you’ve got it right?

Jo: “When I don’t feel too overwhelmed by either work or home stuff!”

Poppy: “I find it’s tricky to feel like you are succeeding at both all the time, one always seems to dip in order for the other to be in a good place! But setting myself boundaries has really helped. Trying to turn work brain off at the weekends in order to be present with the kids.”

Gosia: “Work-life balance can be particularly challenging for working mums, we all juggle the demands of both professional careers and responsibilities at home. It’s about finding a way to prioritise different aspects of life – career, family, self-care, and sometimes social or personal aspirations – without feeling overwhelmed or neglecting any of these parts. During the week we are both busy, but at weekends we try and spend as much time as possible outdoors and not at the screens, by just simply being together.”

“I did think work-life balance was a myth! It takes time to work out what your version of work-life balance looks like.”

Lorna: “I find balancing work, having a toddler, and time for myself hard. It does feel like you never get a break. For me it’s just about accepting that you can’t have everything at once. Work, family and finding time to relax are a priority right now, and later down the line I’ll have more time to spend on friends, travel and adventures.”

“You can’t have it all. If someone has figured it out then let me know because all I know is that you have to sacrifice something. You either work really hard and give 100% to your work and you don’t get to spend much time with your children and family or you spend more time with your children and you don’t grow and develop quickly in your career.”

Emily: “When I’m still smiling at the end of the day! It is so hard to get this right, at our conference Helen Bower said ‘you are expected to work like you don’t have children and parent like you don’t have a job’ which really resonated with me. Fortunately, Cubed are very supportive.”

Ellie: “For me it means to feel challenged at work, spend quality time with my son, partner and as a family AND to have time for me as an individual for my friends and own interests… which feels impossible working full-time. So for me it’s more about understanding that, accepting that the balance will be ‘off’ for a while, but that’s OK. I just have to dial up and down the parts of my life that matter to me when I need to.”

What’s one small change you’ve made that’s helped you juggle work and family life?

Jo: “Invested in a cleaner and promoting Chris – haha.”

Poppy: “Working remotely is a godsend, I don’t know how I would do it otherwise. And moving 4 doors down from my parents 😊. That support system is vital for me.”

Gosia: “What helps me loads, is working remotely. I do not have family here, and I can rely only on myself, so being able to do the job close to my daughter’s school is great. But the danger of remote working is that, at times, you might feel like you are always “at work”, with laptop at close reach, so I’ve started turning off work notifications when I’m finished for the day. It made a huge difference in helping me be more present with my daughter without feeling like I was always on the clock. Although I am still guilty of checking emails when my daughter is asleep.”

Lorna: “Investing in a Dyson, a dishwasher and a fortnightly cleaner. WFH Thursday and Friday helps a lot. Plus bribing my toddler to sleep in his own bed, using gummy vitamins he thinks are sweets.”

“Emptying the dishwasher at night before bed rather than in the morning rush. Makes such a difference to be able to put dirty dishes straight in an empty dishwasher.”

Emily: “Waking up half an hour earlier than everyone else to get myself ready first and enjoy the brief moment of calm.”

Ellie: “Adjusted my mindset so that I understand and accept that I can’t always do it all. Something has to give. Work-wise, when I switch off the laptop at 5pm on a Friday, I have trained my brain to switch work off in my mind, until I re-open my laptop on Monday morning. The weekend is for the other parts of my life that matter to me.”

Time-Saving and Productivity Hacks

What’s your best time-saving hack for managing a busy schedule?

Jo: “Getting everything (appointments, World Book Day, etc) on a shared calendar as soon as I get the info – so I can plan ahead.”

Poppy: “I second this, we love our shared calendar.”

Gosia: “I do all the shopping and washing on the weekends, batch cook fresh meals and freeze them. I also rely on my calendar schedules.”

“Yep, shared calendar so we can work out who’s available for all the events and appointments.”

Lorna: “Supermarket delivery, meal planning and batch cooking are game changers. Plus getting a tumble dryer. I never fold-up and put away the clean washing (much to my partner’s annoyance) which also saves time!”

“Put the washing in the washing machine the night before so you can turn it on in the morning.”

Emily: “Meal planning is the absolute key! Nothing worse than staring at an empty fridge with hungry kids around your ankles wondering what you’re going to magic up that day. Also….you can Deliveroo milk…just saying. When you become a Mum your brain physically changes to enable you to be more efficient – this stays with you. You become more aware of the value of your time; no time is ever wasted! When I’m working, I’m 100% in so I can truly focus on my kids when I’m with them.”

Ellie: “I don’t think I have any! I’m actually not very organised outside of work. I need all the tips!”

Are there any routines or tools that help you stay organised?

Jo: “I am a very list-orientated person. I have two on the go – work and non-work.”

Gosia: “I heavily rely on my phone calendar and reminders, I like knowing what needs to be done and when, I check these the evening before. I also try not to procrastinate, if something needs to be done, I do is ASAP, so it is gone from my list of things to do.“

Lorna: “Me and my partner split everything 50/50, and stick to the same basic timetable. Having a regular routine means there’s less to think about.”

“I write to-do lists for the week and tick it off as I go through each day. That keeps me on track to what needs to be done and what is coming later in the week.”

Emily: “My to-do list (and ta-dah list! For those moments when you need to remember just how much you do) saves me!” Ellie: “Everything goes into my phone calendar. If it’s not in there, it’s not happening!”

Boundaries and Avoiding Burnout

How do you set boundaries between work and home life without feeling guilty?

Jo: “I found it difficult to not feel guilty but instead found ways to manage it. I couldn’t go to all of my girls events but i made sure that I could go to some. And I told her that early on. I always get her dad or a grandparent/uncle/aunt to attend if I couldn’t.”

Gosia: “Setting boundaries and taking proactive steps to maintain a healthy work-life balance is key. I just make sure that my work notifications are off outside of working hours.”

“That’s really hard. I spent a long time thinking I was doing a half  job of everything because I had to split my time so much. I am very good at ‘being on holiday’ though – I make a point of switching off.”

Lorna: “I’ve just accepted that something’s got to give, and for me it’s the housework and garden. Whilst I’d love to have a perfect house, it’s not worth the extra stress. I don’t try to be a perfect mum/wife, and I’m lucky to have a partner and dad who contribute a lot with childcare also. Big-up the male feminists!”

“I find it really difficult to not feel guilty. I set things at work and home that I want to get done that week and feel less guilty if I manage to complete those tasks. Thats the only way I can deal with it.”

Poppy: “Not setting too high expectations of myself and making sure I lean on my husband and family as much as I can.”

Emily: “It’s impossible to not feel guilty…I’m new to this, perhaps it will become easier…”

Ellie: “I find it hard not to feel guilty. At work on the days when my internal monologue is going: “If I’m at work that means I’m not looking after my son and therefore I should be doing amazingly at work to justify it” (so much unnecessary pressure?!). At home when the house is a mess or it’s chicken nuggets or Weetabix for tea or the TV is on for a little bit too long… When I’m having these thoughts I just try to remind myself I’m doing my best. That’s good enough.”

What’s one thing you’ve learnt to say “no” to, and how has it helped?

Jo: “I am terrible at that.”

Gosia: “One of the most valuable things I’ve learned to say “no” to is over-committing to social events. Saying “no” has helped me create more space for quality time with my daughter and focus on what truly matters – like being present with her. Children grow up very quicky and they need us mums the most in the first 10 years, there is plenty of time to career progress when children leave home.”

Lorna: “I used to be partial to late nights and debauchery. Whilst obviously very fun it did cause some highs and lows in the week. Having a healthier lifestyle makes everything a bit easier and helps me feel more mentally balanced. Just say no kids!”

“Not meeting up with people that waste your time and doing events that don’t bring you joy. Whether that is family or friends. If they take from your cup rather than fill it then they are not worth the time.”

Poppy: “I second this, since having kids my ‘circle’ has reduced massively but I am absolutely ok with that as my spare time is so limited and I choose to only invest my time in people that lift me up and add value to my life :)”

Ellie: “Saying ‘no’ to social things that, before I became a Mum, I would have gone along to. Sometimes that makes me feel anti-social, but my time now is so precious, I will only go to things I want to go to, rather than feel I ‘should’ go to. It’s quite empowering actually.”

Emily: “I absolutely agree, it’s about learning that you can’t do all things and see all people. You’ve got to think carefully about where to invest your time.”

Self-Care and Letting Go of Guilt

How do you make time for yourself, and what helps you do it without guilt?

Jo: “Erm. I’m not good at that. I never have been. Love a good shopping trip though.”

Gosia: “I go to the gym when my daughter is being looked after by her dad, and I know she is having fun. Also seeing my friends and their dog makes me very happy.”

Poppy: “Going to the gym, trying to see friends when possible and knowing I am better for it when I am then with my kids.”

“When the kids were little, a glass of wine in the bath was considered self-care! It’s easier now the kids are older as they aren’t reliant on me for everything, so gym, running and long walks with the dog are my chill out.”

Lorna: “Dinners and cocktails out with friends always helps! Making time to go on holidays and trips and remembering there’s a world beyond work and parenting. I don’t do it as much as I’d like, so I don’t feel guilty, just grateful.”

“Doing a workout on your own. Even if its in your house. 30 minutes out of your day for yourself and you feel so much better after. That way you can regulate yourself to deal with the rest of the day/night.”

Ellie: “Me and my partner are pretty good at giving each other a break and swapping in/out so the other can do something for themselves. I try not to feel guilty as I know I am a better mum/partner/person if I’ve made some time to do something for me beyond work and home stuff. And it doesn’t have to be meaningful/productive. Sometimes (for me) it’s sitting on the sofa binge-watching Married at First Sight (don’t judge me!).”

Emily: “When I do get time for myself I don’t feel guilty, it makes me a nicer person to be around 😉 and a better Mum. I’m definitely still there with the glass of wine in the bath! But I also try to go swimming when I can.”

What’s a simple self-care practice that makes a big difference in your daily life?

Jo: “Jeez. I’m not good at that either. I like to spend a bit of quiet time putting make up on in the morning. That’s a peaceful and nice thing to do.”

Gosia: “It can be hard to find time for self-care, and honestly, it often feels like there’s no room for it in the day. Between juggling work, studies, household responsibilities, and taking care of my daughter, any attempts at self-care can feel like another thing on the never-ending to-do list. Even when I do try, it feels like I can’t fully disconnect or be present because there’s always something else that needs my attention. It’s easy to feel guilty about taking that time for myself, too. Sometimes, the idea of self-care just adds more pressure rather than providing relief.”

Poppy: “I literally have no time for self-care practice….unless drinking gin and tonics count.”

“I get up half an hour earlier than everyone else in the house so I can have time for a cuppa and properly think about the day before it all starts.”

Lorna: “Putting on a good podcast and cooking a decent meal. I find it relaxing and feel like I’ve achieved something, as well as having a healthy, delicious dinner.”

“Make sure I get ready on my own every morning. That gives me the time to think how I want to dress and feel happy in myself. My 5 minutes of peace.”

Ellie: “Small thing but I like to buy myself a nice coffee on the days I go to the office. I know it’s an expense, but it’s just a small treat/moment for me. And usually I am gagging for a caffeine hit if my toddler has been up since 5:30am…”

Emily: “Whatever the day brings, I always find/make/force the time to make a delicious dinner. Beans on toast days have their place, but it’s depressing too many days in a row.”

Overcoming Challenges and Finding Inspiration

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a working mum, and how did you overcome it?

Jo: “Launching a business at 47, being perimenopausal and having my husband leave – all within 2 months! I overcame it by working extremely hard, getting grandparents to help and becoming very good at communicating with my girl. It takes energy.”

Gosia: “Being a single parent whilst juggling a full-time job, studies, being a “taxi” driver in the late afternoons/evenings to take my daughter to different hobbies, being her and my own admin etc. Isn’t easy. I heavily rely on my phone calendar and reminders. Being super organised is the only way!”

Poppy: “Some intense imposter syndrome when returning back to work after two kids in pretty close succession. Regaining that confidence in myself and my abilities outside of being ‘mum’.”

“👆 I second this! Even though I went back to work quite soon after having kids, my confidence was quite low.”

Lorna: “The tiredness and lack of time for yourself really accentuates stressful and intense times at work. Managing my expectations and not expecting perfection has helped a lot, plus being strict with myself with not doing overtime. And recognising the small wins!”

Ellie: “Being made redundant while I was on mat leave, returning to work as a new mum in a new agency (Cubed) and new role. It was very daunting and I felt like I was faking it for a while. But to help overcome it I also told myself “if I can be a Mum, I can do anything”.”

Emily: “This, Ellie!! Totally agree. Having to give my first presentation in 6 years to a room full of 30 people, 6 weeks into the job – that was daunting!! I went above and beyond on prep to make sure I knew it, and could deliver it confidently. As Ellie says, once you’ve given birth you feel like you can do anything. Having children also puts things into perspective; at risk of being hugely cheesy, they are my inspiration.”

What’s the best piece of advice another mum has given you about balancing it all?

Jo: “Be nice to yourself. Set the bar low – don’t turn your kids into serial killers. Love and a bit of time with your kids is enough. Oh yes – and food. I watched a programme about some poor kids who had food phobias and one literally only ate chocolate for a year – nothing else. They measured her vitals and found that she was only slightly under nourished and vitamin deficient. So I stopped worrying about broccoli and tomatoes early on…or pasta and cheese three times a week.”

Gosia: “Be super organised, have schedules and routines. Do not be ashamed to ask for help.”

Poppy: “Be kind to yourself, give yourself grace and if the people on Jeremy Kyle can raise kids, then yours are likely to turn out ok 😊”

“Pick your battles – no point arguing about whether it’s ok to have fishfingers and chips twice in one week.”

Lorna: “That everything gets easier when all kids are over 4! Whether or not it’s true it helps to remember that everything is just a phase, and that I’ll have more time to focus on myself in the future.”

Ellie: “”If it feels hard, it’s because it IS hard”. Bit of a cliche but good one to remind yourself in the more challenging moments (…toddler lying tummy-down on the pavement because they don’t want to walk home from nursery, you’ve not got anything in for dinner and remembering it’s your turn to do the bedtime routine…we’ve all been there?!)”

Emily: “All they really need is love. Don’t try to make everything perfect, because it isn’t, for anyone! We’re all just muddling through.”