Working from home while juggling family and work responsibilities can feel like walking a tightrope. The boundaries often blur, and it’s natural to feel overwhelmed.
We’ve handpicked ten insightful books that offer honest, practical advice to help you strike a balance and find harmony between your family life and work commitments.
1.“I Know How She Does It” by Laura Vanderkam
- What it’s about: Vanderkam debunks the myth that you can’t have it all by analysing the schedules of successful women who manage to balance work and family. Through detailed time logs and real-life examples, she demonstrates how these women allocate their time effectively to excel in both their professional and personal lives.
- Perfect for: Working parents looking for practical time management tips and inspiration from real-life examples of women who successfully balance career and family responsibilities.
- Might not be your thing if: You prefer more scientific or data-driven approaches, as this book focuses more on anecdotal evidence and personal stories rather than rigorous scientific analysis.
2. “Overwhelmed” by Brigid Schulte
- What it’s about: Schulte examines the cultural and societal pressures that lead to feeling overwhelmed, specifically focusing on balancing work and family responsibilities while working from home. She offers practical tips and insights to help you manage your time more effectively and reduce stress in a home-based work environment.
- Perfect for: Anyone working from home who feels the pressure of balancing professional duties with family responsibilities and is looking for strategies to create a more manageable and less stressful routine.
- Might not be your thing if: You prefer less analytical, more straightforward action-oriented advice, as this book delves into societal and cultural contexts along with providing practical tips.
3. “Drop the Ball” by Tiffany Dufu
- What it’s about: Dufu encourages readers to let go of perfectionism and delegate more responsibilities, focusing on what truly matters in their personal and professional lives. She shares her journey of learning to prioritise effectively and to achieve more by doing less, providing practical advice and strategies for those feeling overwhelmed.
- Perfect for: Those who struggle with trying to do it all and need help prioritising and letting go of less important tasks, and anyone looking for guidance on how to delegate effectively to achieve a better work-life balance.
- Might not be your thing if: You’re looking for a more traditional productivity guide that focuses on efficiency and time management without addressing the emotional and psychological aspects of letting go and delegation.
4. “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families” by Stephen R. Covey
- What it’s about: Covey applies his classic principles of effectiveness to family life, providing a framework to balance family and work. He offers practical advice and strategies for building strong, resilient family relationships through effective habits, communication, and mutual respect.
- Perfect for: Families looking to build strong, effective habits together and seeking a structured approach to improve their family dynamics and relationships.
- Might not be your thing if: You’re not a fan of Covey’s structured approach and prefer more flexible, less formal methods for managing family and work-life balance.
5. “The Working Mom Survival Guide” by Suzanne Riss and Teresa Palagano
- What it’s about: This book offers down-to-earth tips and real-life advice for working mums juggling career and family. It’s packed with relatable stories and practical strategies to help you feel more supported and less alone in your daily struggles. The authors focus on creating a sense of community and understanding, making sure you know you’re not the only one dealing with the chaos of work and parenting.
- Perfect for: Working mums looking for uplifting, empathetic advice from people who really get what you’re going through.
- Might not be your thing if: You’re looking for advice aimed at both parents, as this book is specifically focused on the challenges faced by working moms.
6. “Balance is B.S.” by Tamara Loehr
- What it’s about: Loehr challenges the conventional idea of achieving a perfect work-life balance. Instead, she offers a fresh perspective on integrating work and family life in a way that feels harmonious and sustainable. Loehr’s approach is about finding what works for you personally, rather than striving for an unrealistic ideal.
- Perfect for: Those tired of traditional balance advice and looking for a new, more realistic approach to managing work and family life.
- Might not be your thing if: You prefer more conventional self-help books that focus on traditional methods of achieving work-life balance.
7. “The New Corner Office” by Laura Vanderkam
- What it’s about: Vanderkam provides strategies for thriving in a remote work environment while balancing other commitments. She offers practical advice on creating productive home workspaces, managing time effectively, and setting boundaries between work and personal life to ensure both professional success and family harmony.
- Perfect for: Remote workers looking for actionable tips on managing work and home life more effectively, especially those new to working from home or struggling to adapt to this mode of work.
- Might not be your thing if: You’re looking for more general parenting advice, as the book focuses specifically on strategies for remote work rather than broader parenting issues
8. “Work. Pump. Repeat.” by Jessica Shortall
- What it’s about: This book is a practical guide for new mums navigating the challenges of breastfeeding while working. Jessica Shortall offers real-life advice, tips, and encouragement to help working mothers manage breastfeeding, pumping, and returning to work. The book covers various aspects of this journey, including preparing for maternity leave, creating a pumping schedule, and dealing with common breastfeeding issues in a work environment.
- Perfect for: New moms balancing work and breastfeeding, looking for supportive, practical advice to manage both successfully.
- Might not be your thing if: You’re not dealing with newborn-related issues or if you’re seeking advice on broader parenting topics beyond breastfeeding and work.
9. “Parenting in the Age of Attention Snatchers” by Lucy Jo Palladino
- What it’s about: Palladino offers strategies to help parents and children manage screen time and distractions in today’s digital age. She provides practical advice on how to create a balanced environment that supports healthy attention spans and reduces the impact of digital distractions on family life.
- Perfect for: Parents concerned about digital distractions affecting their children’s attention and overall family dynamics, and who are looking for actionable tips to manage screen time effectively.
- Might not be your thing if: You’re looking for broader work-life balance tips that encompass more than just managing screen time and digital distractions.
10. “Mompowerment” by Suzanne Brown
- What it’s about: Brown shares stories and strategies from working mums who have successfully balanced their careers and family lives. Through personal anecdotes and practical advice, Brown provides insights and tips to help other working mothers navigate the challenges of balancing work and home responsibilities.
- Perfect for: Moms seeking inspiration and practical tips from other working mothers who have found ways to manage their dual roles effectively.
- Might not be your thing if: You prefer a more research-based approach with statistical analysis and data-driven insights.
11. “The Family Manager Takes Charge” by Kathy Peel
- What it’s about: Peel provides a comprehensive guide to managing a household like a business, ensuring that everything runs smoothly. Her book offers structured, actionable advice on various aspects of family management, including organising schedules, budgeting, meal planning, and maintaining a clean and efficient home environment.
- Perfect for: Parents looking for structured, actionable advice on managing family life efficiently and effectively, using principles similar to those applied in business management.
- Might not be your thing if: You dislike highly structured approaches to family management and prefer a more flexible, less formal method.
Enjoyed our recommendations? Don’t stop here! Check out this handpicked list of books on:
- How to improve your productivity
- How to handle burnout
- How to avoid distractions
- How to manage your time
- How to boost your creativity
- How to maintain a work-life balance
- How to keep your mental health in check
- How to develop essential skills for WFH
- How to deal with loneliness when working remotely
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