Insight: Ozone API’s Katie Hayes on striving for balance over ‘having it all’

Having it all is expecting to do a personal best (PB) open water mile swim in choppy waters, navigating the current while juggling five balls and hoping to excel. It’s just not humanly possible.

I returned to work in November last year, feeling ambitious, eager and then accidentally, on-purpose took on a bit too much — a Mini MBA in Marketing, a last-minute house move to Surrey, and navigating childcare for twins with our family on the other side of the world (that can be a whole article in itself). Like a duck to water, I may have appeared to be cruising along, but underneath, I was floundering. That’s when reality sets in – Katie, you need to find a balance.

The juggling act: Career and twin Mum life

Returning to work after six months of maternity leave was both exciting and terrifying. My twin boys were just getting into their groove — learning to crawl, discovering new ways to turn everyday objects into hazards, and developing a strong preference for smearing food in their hair. And yet, I was eager to re-engage with my career, to flex my professional muscles again.

Balancing career ambitions with the whirlwind of parenting two almost-one-year-olds? It’s an extreme sport. And while ‘having it all’ might be a myth, finding a balance that works? That’s absolutely possible.

The magic of remote work (and strategic muting)

Thank goodness for remote working and flexible hours. One minute, I’m wrapping up a call with the US team; the next, I’m diving straight into dinner, bath, bottle, and bedtime like an Olympic relay.

I have mastered the art of strategic muting — turning off my mic just as one twin lets out an ear-piercing shriek or decides that now is the perfect time to test the acoustics of throwing a toy against the wall. Professionalism, meet parenthood.

The power of a lunchtime walk

In the chaos of it all, I’ve found one little ritual that keeps me sane: the lunchtime walk. Even if it’s just a quick walk to buy some bread and milk or stepping out into the garden, it gives me a moment to reset, breathe, and pretend I’m one of those people who ‘has it together.’

Fresh air and movement do wonders for productivity — and for mentally preparing myself for the next round of nappy changes and negotiations over who gets to hold the spoon.

Nursery days: A bittersweet transition

Now that the boys have started nursery five days a week, my home office is eerily quiet. After months of background baby babble and the occasional tug at my computer cords, the silence feels… unnatural.

It’s a huge transition, but I remind myself it’s good for all of us — giving them new experiences, while I reclaim some focus during work hours. Still, I am that parent hovering outside the nursery door, resisting the urge to check in just one more time.

Lessons in planning: The parenthood productivity hack

If there’s one skill I’ve honed to near perfection, it’s planning ahead. While they’re eating dinner, I’m running a bath, prepping pajamas and lining up bottles like a well-oiled military operation. My partner and I have this down to a fine art — parenting as a tag-team event.

The same skills that help me organise my workday — prioritising, efficiency, and the ability to answer a Slack message while holding a squirming child — apply to managing the nightly chaos.

Laundry = my email inbox

I’ve started to equate the endless loads of laundry to my email inbox. You deal with what’s urgent, you keep things moving, and sometimes, you just have to let a few things sit unread (or in the laundry basket) for another day.

The woollen items that require special drying? Those are the long-winded projects that need extra attention. They’ll get done… eventually. But for now, let’s just focus on the basics: clean clothes, clean babies, and a semi-functional household.

Comparing notes with fellow parents

One of the unexpected joys of being a working parent? Comparing notes with my Ozone API colleagues and like-minded twin mums who are also navigating this wild ride.

From those with newborns, to those dealing with teenagers (which, I’m told, comes with its own version of sleepless nights), there’s something reassuring about swapping stories, survival tips, and the occasional ‘my child did what?’ moment.

Finding joy in the chaos

Despite the exhaustion, the logistical gymnastics, and the occasional moments of parental defeat (like when I attempt to give them Calpol and end up with scratch marks as battle scars), I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I love my work. I love and adore my boys. They bring so much joy into our lives every single day — even when they’re rugby tackling me on the changing mat.

So, can you have it all? No. But just like that open-water swim, where you learn to read the waves and adjust your stroke, your expectations shift. You get sharper at prioritising, better at letting go of the unnecessary, and more attuned to what really matters. The juggling act never stops, but you do get better at knowing which balls are glass and which ones can bounce. And that, in itself, is a kind of balance worth striving for.

Katie Hayes is head of marketing at Ozone API