The balancing act: How to manage motherhood and a busy career

We talk to Zainab Imichi Alhassan, co-founder of POP Communications and mother-of-two. We dive into the challenges of balancing motherhood and a busy work life, while minding your wellbeing.

Zainab is the mother of two young boys and has spent several years managing the reputations of local, regional, and international clients. With her strategic insight, creative ideas, and quick-thinking, she has successfully crafted eye-catching PR and marketing solutions for both homegrown and multinational brands. Her passion for PR and digital media is evident in her work. She has a particular interest in tech startups and beauty brands. A confident speaker, Zainab is known for empowering others with her hard work, deliberate thinking and ambition.

A respected figure in the industry, she continues to lead the team at POP Communications in providing innovative and effective solutions for their clients, all the while juggling the demands of motherhood. With March including Mother’s Day and International Women’s Day, we were delighted to speak with her about the importance of mental wellbeing for mothers and how to find the balance between a busy career and motherhood.

How do you juggle parenting with a busy career?

I’ve always been able to multitask, so when we started growing our family, I thought it would be a walk in the park, but reality quickly hit me.  Being able to successfully juggle a career and family is still something I haven’t figured out fully, but I must admit that having a partner and team both at work and at home makes life easier.

These are some of the things that have helped me cope and I would suggest the same to others who are trying to find that balance and have the capability to do so.

Find and invest in your village

Raising kids isn’t just for the nuclear family. Get all hands on deck, whether that’s family, friends, hired help, or sending your child to nursery. I must add that my husband is my partner in this parenting journey and we are equally supportive of and check in on each other continuously.

We live in an era where both parents need to work, either for financial security, or emotional well being and a life outside of our children. It may be a different experience from our parents’ generation but it does not mean that one is superior to the other. It’s simply a different way of living as a result of changing times.

Enlist help and outsource to experts

You can’t do it all and that’s okay. There is no reward for burnout. Always make sure that you prioritise your own wellbeing and happiness too. It’s easy to care for everyone else around you but your kids need a healthy, happy mum first and foremost. This is where getting help and seeking expert insight can be really useful.

Build a dependable and professional team

If you run your own business, which many UAE moms do, then enterprise is very much a part of your life and can’t be put on hold, especially when you are also an employer. Investing in a dependable team that is part of your village will help you with the personal and professional juggle immensely.

What do you think are the main challenges as a new mother?

I have two boys, Zayd (21 months) and Hamza (10 months), so my motherhood journeys were very close. Zayd, my first, was born three months premature, so naturally with that comes a set of unique challenges for any mother, even more so for a first-time mom. Ensuring his development and welfare was and still is a predominant focus. As with the majority of premature babies, in addition to extensive medical care, supportive aid such as physical, speech and occupational therapy are also tremendously helpful. Managing these appointments and dedicating time can be overwhelming and both physically and emotionally draining. I’ve definitely had my moments, but I’ve  been able to take a step back, assess and remind myself that I am fortunate and thankful to be able to access and provide the support Zayd needs.

It was definitely easier the second time around, but also different given my first experience. It was fascinating to see Hamza develop in line with his age, but at the same time, I was not prepared for it.

Although Zayd and Hamza are close in age, they have two different bedtimes and sleeping habits. For now, they sleep in different rooms so they don’t wake each other up but this will need to be re-evaluated. Lastly, managing two different personalities and trying to make sure one doesn’t overwhelm the other, and juggling unique needs at different developmental stages is also difficult at times.

How important is it for mothers to get mental health support?

Many women go through a lot of psychological issues that often aren’t spoken during pregnancy and afterwards. It’s crucial that all new mothers get support – ignore any mum that says otherwise. There are many aspects of a postpartum journey that can affect a mother’s mental state, such as birth trauma, an unsupportive partner, unsolicited advice and much more.  Often, new mums are so wrapped up in their new-born’s wellbeing, they don’t even realise or check in with their personal psychological state. So, if you know a new mother, be a friend and touch base with her. A simple, yet genuine ‘how are you doing?’ can be tremendously supportive.

The power of social media

Adding to this, social media’s depiction of new mothers with their clean and tidy homes, flawless make-up, chic style, and more can be damaging to a lot of women during their postpartum stage. However, there are just as many mothers or communities on social media that address postpartum mental health head-on, supporting women who are not in a position to obtain personalised support. Seek help, don’t be embarrassed and champion your own needs.

How would you tackle feeling under pressure about work and family?

Tune out the noise. It’s easy to give in to all the cumulative unsolicited parenting advice, where you then find yourself performing motherhood for an audience that isn’t attuned to your realities. So, look inward, which brings me next to my next tip. Trust your instincts. No one knows your postpartum experience and baby’s needs better than you, and it’s easy to feel insecure or unsure of yourself in your new role as a mother, but always remember that you do know your unique situation best.

What advice would you give to working mothers about time management?

I have two pieces of advice on this. Firstly, you can do it all, in due course, but it’s not all going to happen at the same time – and that’s okay. Take each day as it comes and plan your time according to priority. Eventually, life will pan out.

Secondly, I want to highlight the place of saying ‘no’ – it’s a word that should be used more often. Prioritise what is important to you and choose how you spend your time wisely. Contrary to the messages we are all given, it is okay to say no to attending a friend’s birthday, a business dinner, or passing on prospective new business. If it will cause you stress, it’s not worth it. Simply say ‘no’, and follow up with a ‘thank you’ for the sake of politeness.

There is no perfect one-size-fits-all answer to how best to juggle motherhood with a busy career, but I hope my answers can help guide some mums out there towards finding their own unique balance. The experience of becoming a mother is different for every woman, and their priorities with work will vary according to what they personally value. However, one thing is certain – motherhood is challenging and the wellbeing of mums is very important! So seek help where you need it, express your needs and make sure to champion your own welfare as well.

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