If you are a working mom, you have two full-time jobs – one of which is seven days a week, fifty-two weeks a year. To say this is the ultimate juggling act would be an understatement.

As a new working mom, learning how to navigate motherhood and a career is challenging. There isn’t a playbook to follow, and everyone’s situation is different. However, if you are a mom or mom-to-be balancing new motherhood and a career, I have some tips to make the adjustment easier pre-, during, and post-maternity leave.

Fill your cup first

When you’re on an aeroplane getting ready to take off, the flight attendants go through their safety presentation. They always say that you need to put your oxygen mask on first before helping anyone else. If you can’t breathe properly, there’s no way you’ll be strong enough to help those around you. Make “me-time” a non-negotiable. I was a queen of messing this up. I’m pretty sure for the first five years after my first child was born, I maybe had one hour per week to myself max. I was going nonstop from dusk until dawn, taking care of everything and everyone aside from myself. I’m sure if you’ve done this before, you know that does not end well.

Looking back, it saddens me to see all the heartache, drama, and heaviness it caused in our lives because I was exhausted, resentful and had nothing left in my cup to give. We can’t keep giving, let alone have the brainpower it takes to balance a whole life when we’re empty ourselves. Just like a car won’t run on empty, neither will our bodies. I now make a conscious effort to do something for myself every day – even if it’s just a short yoga session at home or 20 minutes of reading before bed. My days are so much happier (which means my kids and husband are too)!.

Spend your time wisely

Sometimes it seems there aren’t enough hours in the day. I make it a point to say no to activities or commitments that are not important and focus on the ones that are. Focus on activities that fill you up with energy rather than ones that drain you.

For example, I decided to let go of the gym. I was an avid gym-goer before kids, but once I had my second baby, I didn’t want them spending any more time away from me. Now I do at-home workouts while they are still sleeping in the morning or have them play in the same room as me while I work out in the evenings.