Are we ready to work smarter rather than working harder?
Yesterday, I caught up with a friend over lunch, and it turns out we’re navigating motherhood in similar boats. We’re both recent moms, but we refuse to let that singular title define us. Balancing our careers while nurturing our personal and professional growth has been a rollercoaster of struggle and stress, yet I’m confident that we’re not alone in this journey.
Since the moment I discovered I was pregnant, I’ve observed a prevailing narrative around “real maternity.” The discourse emphasizes the need to avoid romanticizing motherhood, acknowledging it as a significant investment of time and self. Undoubtedly, being a mom is no walk in the park, but it’s also not the insurmountable challenge some portray it to be.
However, I’d like to shift the conversation away from this prevailing trend. The more I engage with fellow moms, the clearer it becomes that motherhood, while undeniably incredible, doesn’t solely define women today. While I still know some who choose to be full-time moms and dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to this remarkable but often unseen job, there’s an increasing acceptance for moms who pursue careers outside the home.
This need for outside jobs concerns me. The concern is not about having a career while being a mom, but about the pressure we put on ourselves to be high performers in everything. Today I saw the TED Talk from Azim Shariff called “Does working hard really make you a good person?”. Despite the prevailing wisdom of working smarter, not harder, there’s an enduring connection between the value placed on hard work and societal approval.
After becoming a mom I found out how much responsibility I added to my life. When I thought about maternity, my first picture was that amazing cute baby sleeping in my arms. Don’t get me wrong, this does happen and it is one of the best moments of my day, but it is not resumed to that. Alongside the joy of parenting comes a myriad of tasks — maintaining a strong relationship with my partner, managing household chores, ensuring a balanced and nutritious diet for the baby, and more. Tasks that, in the pre-mom era, were manageable with a quick online order if forgotten.
Returning to work and my career, I realize I’m not the same person who embarked on maternity leave. My responsibilities have expanded to include raising and educating my daughter. However, this doesn’t diminish my desire to be a top performer in my career. Rather, it signifies a shift towards working smarter, not harder, a change that I hope my colleagues perceive as an evolution rather than a compromise of dedication or morality, as suggested in the TED Talk I came across today.
In conclusion, the journey through motherhood is a multifaceted experience, and the evolving roles and responsibilities it brings should not overshadow the professional ambitions of women. Navigating the delicate balance between being a dedicated mom and a high-performing professional is a challenge, but it’s one that many mothers, including myself, willingly embrace. As we strive to work smarter and not just harder, let us hope for a cultural shift that values the holistic contributions of mothers, acknowledging that our worth extends beyond societal expectations. The narratives we share, the challenges we overcome, and the growth we achieve in both personal and professional realms contribute to a richer tapestry of modern motherhood — one where women can thrive in all aspects of their lives without compromising their identity or potential.
