Just because working a job, in or outside the home, while caring for a family might look easy doesn’t mean that it is. Yet, each year millions of mothers work part time or full-time jobs. In fact, the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that as many as 75 percent of mothers worked a job in 2010. So, how do these women find time for their children, significant others, work and themselves? What’s their secret?

Make the most of your leadership skills

Besides securing quality childcare services and delegating household responsibilities to other members of the family, to make time for themselves, working mothers are getting creative. When it comes to transferring motherhood skills to the boardroom, working mothers understand the parallels between skills required to work a job versus skills required to raise children; in short, working mothers are recognizing their leadership abilities.

As Stephanie Williams, a working mother and author of Mommy Leadership noted, women perfect certain “leadership skills, behaviors and best practices” during motherhood. Williams encourages mothers to celebrate their role as mothers, whether they work outside the home or not, and, if they do choose to work a job to adapt abilities they gain during motherhood to professional environments so they can improve their leadership performance.

Get creative to make time for yourself

Secrets other working mothers share explore the roles of organization and “personal time.” Suzanne Meyer, president and founder of The Welcome Committee and mother to three children, encourages working mothers to, “Write down your short term and long-term goals and be sure that your personal goals align with your business goals. Prioritize ALL your daily activities.  (I plan my business appointments around my kids’ schedules because family is my No. 1 priority).”

Additional tips Meyer shares with mothers, particularly women who work jobs from home, are, “Be disciplined, set a schedule (i.e. mornings for sales presentations, afternoons for returning emails, phone calls, scheduling appointments). Develop a routine and follow your business plan; it’s your roadmap to success. Seek out mentors for advice and lastly, take time for yourself (volunteer, workout, go for walks with friends, laugh a lot). It keeps the creative juices flowing!”

Use exercise to ramp up energy and decision-making abilities

Dayton, Ohio elementary school teacher and mom to two growing daughters, Adrienne Daniels, said she achieves balance through prayer and exercise. “I try to pray daily,” she said. “This helps me to begin my day with positive thoughts. It also helps me to make good choices throughout the day.” Daniels could be onto something. In its March 29, 2011 “Three Power Moves for Decision Making” article, Psychology Today reported that a first step in decision-making is to get in a calm, relaxed state.

In regards to exercise, Daniels said, “I use exercise as a tool to give me energy and ‘me time.’ I truly believe that every mom needs time for herself. I get this time through exercise. I usually walk 30 minutes to an hour a day, and this allows me to relax and clear my head of daily concerns.”

For women balancing work and non-traditional households, Valarie Coleman, author of Blended Families, offered this advice, “Involve children in the planning and preparing of meals.” She also said that, “Communication is critical to the success of your stepfamily,” and akin to Meyer, she advises that you create a schedule.

Daniels, Meyer, Coleman, Williams and other working moms successfully balance work and family by setting goals, making time for themselves, using schedules to get organized, seeking guidance and recognizing and leveraging their motherhood leadership skills at work. If you incorporate one or more of these secrets in your daily routine, you might discover that you don’t have to try to be “super mom” in order to thrive at home and at work.

How do you balance home life and work?

For a show about women making a difference, watch “Women On Top” Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30am ET.