Need somewhere to escape to on Mother’s Day? The Travelodge room review
Posted inEditor's word Reviews

Need somewhere to escape to on Mother’s Day? The Travelodge room review

When it comes to Mother’s Day, chocolates, flowers and perfume are a kind gesture, but we could all do with some me time away from the family just to recharge, rest and do whatever (or nothing) we want to do.

While going away for a spa break may not be feasible for everyone this weekend, when you need a night away, something simple, clean and relaxing I tried last weekend was a stay at the Travelodge in Convent Garden in one of their newly refurbished rooms.

5 ways to live (happily) on one income…
Posted inMoney - how to keep it and how to make it More than just a mum

5 ways to live (happily) on one income…

No one plans to be a single parent, but the reality is true for many mums (and dads) in the UK and the world over. And likewise no one plans for the one steady income coming home (we’re talking about couples in this instance) to get cut though redundancy, companies folding, or losing big contract.

In the UK, there are 1.8 million single parent households, and 650,000 of these homes bring in no money outside of benefits. It’s clear then that if you find yourself in this situation, you really aren’t alone.

But what can you do to stay afloat and not drawn in the cost of living? Getting a job seems the obvious option, but that can take a while…here are some immediate things you can do to survive on one income (even if it is just benefits).

Rubbish myths about women in business
Posted inEditor's word More than just a mum

Rubbish myths about women in business

We live in a world where people like to put other people into a box. Being a working mum comes high on that list…if I had a pound for every time someone told me (not asked me) how difficult it must be, I would have a nice little fund for my caramel lattes for the rest of my working life.

Being a mum in business is no different. Here are some of the ridiculous myths, and the real truth.

8 must-haves for every busy parent’s car boot
Posted inFamily life Get organised

8 must-haves for every busy parent’s car boot

Look into the back of the boots of a busy um’s car and there are usually two distinct types: the super tidy and the fashionably disorganised.

Whichever type you are, here are some tips on what should be in your car boot, so you don’t have to feel guilty if yours looks bare, and to give you the comfort to declutter if yours has one of everything in it.

Monotasking for busy working parents
Posted inChildren & Relationships Get organised

Monotasking for busy working parents

Yesterday, we touched on the need to strip back a little and ditch multitasking…if you missed it, you can read the article here.

I’ll go into a bit more detail today about exactly what monotasking is and how to start.

Looking for a diary that works with an app? You’ll love this one!
Posted inProduct reviews

Looking for a diary that works with an app? You’ll love this one!

There’s an app for just about everything today – whether you own an iPhone, Android or Windows phone, there is something to distract you at some point in the day. Serious working mums will know that using a diary system of some sort is very beneficial, but life happens, and sometimes things get lost, or your leave it at home because you’ve changed your bag…or an important page gets ripped out by your toddler.

5 habits of highly organised people…and how you can become one, too
Posted inChildren & Relationships Get organised Staying sane

5 habits of highly organised people…and how you can become one, too

We all know someone who seems to be on top of everything in their lives – the children are ferried to and fro without any issue, they get to work early (never mind on time), they always look immaculate and they never seem to break out in a sweat.

If that description sounds like you, then hats off to you – and please send your tips into us here at Mothers Who Work Towers; but if it doesn’t read on to see how you, too, can become an organisation machine.

Is your home dirty? Here are 7 tips to make sure you don’t
Posted inFamily life Staying sane

Is your home dirty? Here are 7 tips to make sure you don’t

Morning rush. Commute. Work. Commute again. Afternoon rush. Children. Housework…or just about. Little sleep.

This is the way that the day starts for many working mums – even those who are self employed. How we keep the many balls we juggle in the air is a mystery to many bystanders. But little do they know what gets left undone or pushed into a hiding cupboard of box away from prying visitor eyes.

Office workers can suffer workplace injuries, too
Posted inHow to cope with problems at work

Office workers can suffer workplace injuries, too

When most people think of on-the-job injuries, they think of those that take place in “dangerous” jobs, such as construction, law enforcement, factory work, and the like.  And while it’s true that severe or fatal injuries are more likely to occur in environments where workers have to use heavy equipment or deal with unpredictable circumstances, those who work in “sedentary” jobs, such as office workers, are just as much at risk for a workplace injury.

How to find the time to spend with your love this Valentine’s Day
Posted inRelationships tips and advice

How to find the time to spend with your love this Valentine’s Day

Between rushing to work and pandering to the needs of the children, catching a breathe is often a lot higher up on the list than spending time with your loved one.

But it can start to get very dull and mundane if everything revolves around other people and other priorities. So here are some simple tips to keep the fire alive this Valentine’s Day…and beyond.

Know your rights: Don’t get stuck in the maternity leave trap
Posted inMothers' rights at work

Know your rights: Don’t get stuck in the maternity leave trap

According to the Equal Opportunities Commission, around 30,000 UK mums-to-be lose their jobs every year because they are pregnant. For those who do return to work, many find that they are treated so badly that they have no option but to leave – or they’re demoted.

Hold your tongue – how to stay professional
Posted inCareers Coach Blog How to cope with problems at work

Hold your tongue – how to stay professional

Heard the saying, ‘We have two ears and one tongue so that we would listen more and talk less’?

Yes, you love your children and everything they do, and all the great things your family gets up to but sometimes too much information can come back to bite you on the proverbial. Especially in the workplace. Here’s how to make sure you don;t get stung.

6 ways to have a more meangingful maternity leave
Posted inMaternity leave

6 ways to have a more meangingful maternity leave

Maternity leave can be over and done before you know it. It’s one time in your baby’s life (and yours for that matter!) that you can’t buy back. Use it wisely, and you’ll get the rest and balance you need before going back to work. Here are some tips to make your maternity leave more meaningful.

10 tips to help you function better when you’re tired
Posted inChildren & Relationships Staying healthy Staying sane

10 tips to help you function better when you’re tired

Whether it’s a new baby, or just the demands of juggling your family’s commitments with working for someone else or yourself, it can get tiring after a while. Being exhausted with a newborn, and/or work can be unrelenting, and it can make even the most basic and simple of jobs seem impossible.

Four reasons why rejection is good for you…
Posted inBusiness building

Four reasons why rejection is good for you…

We all want to feel liked, and loved, but it’s just not feasible that everyone gets the job interview of business contract they ever apply for.

If you’re rejected for a job you apply for, or lose a bid for a business-related contract don’t take it personally. It doesn’t mean that prospective employers and clients think you’re a loser – it just means that one didn’t work out. There will be others.

How to interview when you have zero confidence
Posted inBusiness building Editor's word

How to interview when you have zero confidence

It’s amazing how taking any amount of time out of the workplace can have a serious knock on your confidence when it comes to looking for a job.