Written by Kara Heissman
Balancing work and family life is one of the most common sources of stress for working adults. In this productivity-driven society that we are living in, more and more people are finding it hard to adequately fulfill their roles both at home and at the workplace.
More often than not, people cannot find a point
of balance between their careers and their families, and one is given more
priority than the other. This behavior has been associated with several
dysfunctional outcomes—strained familial relationships, inefficiency at work,
and poor physical and mental health.
Hence, individuals need to learn and work on
balancing work and family life. [1] The idea may seem daunting, but it is
possible if you take the time and care to make it a priority.
10 Needed
Steps to Balancing Work and Family
1. Get
Rid of Stress
Clarity and peace of mind are essential in
balancing. Our minds get clogged with stress hormones with the constant hustle
and bustle of the day. Coming home and indulging yourself in activities to
lower stress will help you clear your mind and relax your body.
When you are relaxed and happy, you will be
refreshed to work and willing to give time to your loved ones at home.
2. Make
Balance a Priority
Achieving work life balance, whether you
work full-time or part-time, is a long and often difficult process. If you do
not make the conscious decision to achieve balance, you will likely fail along
the way. I have learned through my experience that it is very important to
provide yourself with the opportunity for balance.
For instance, you need to find a job that is
challenging but not overwhelming; also, carefully think about how big of a
family you can responsibly raise at the moment. By making wise decisions on the
most important matters in your life, attaining balance won’t be a difficult
thing.
If you are already settled into a career and
have a growing family, you can still make small changes to help you achieve
balance. This could include requesting more flexible work hours, reorganizing
the responsibilities you share at home, or bringing in trusted friends and
family to help pick up the slack.
3.
Strengthen Your Bond with Family
Building strong communication with your
family members is imperative in bringing a work-life balance. Having strong
familial bonds promotes trust, understanding, and support.
Sharing your work life with your family and
letting them know your work struggles can help them understand your
perspective. If they know your work problems, they will be less demanding and
more supportive of you.
When they feel heard, they will react better
when you have to stay late at work one evening or leave the dinner table early
to finish a big project. Make sure the communication flows constantly.
4. Add
Flexibility To Your Workspace
You can talk to your employer and add
flexibility to your workspace. Work from home has become common, thanks to the
recent pandemic outbreak.
Having workplace flexibility can make your life
a lot easier. You can work from home or any other remote location without compromising
your family time.
For example, if you have a family commitment but
cannot take off from work, you can finish your work from home and spend the
rest of the time with your family.
Studies have also shown that having a
comfortable workspace improves your productivity and increases job satisfaction
levels.
5. Allow
Others to Help You
There are times when balance is more
difficult to achieve. Maybe you’re vying for a promotion at work, or you have a
huge project for a client due before the weekend. Once you’ve communicated
those problems to your family, it may be time to get some help.
Most people have friends or family that are
willing to help out. Make sure these are people you trust to handle tasks like
bringing your children to sports practices or picking them up from school. In
most instances, they’ll be happy to pick up the slack for a week or two.
For example, if you have a family commitment but
cannot take off from work, you can finish your work from home and spend the
rest of the time with your family.
Studies have also shown that having a
comfortable workspace improves your productivity and increases job satisfaction
levels.
6. Allow
Others to Help You
There are times when balance is more
difficult to achieve. Maybe you’re vying for a promotion at work, or you have a
huge project for a client due before the weekend. Once you’ve communicated
those problems to your family, it may be time to get some help.
Most people have friends or family that are
willing to help out. Make sure these are people you trust to handle tasks like
bringing your children to sports practices or picking them up from school. In
most instances, they’ll be happy to pick up the slack for a week or two.
Developing a routine for yourself will help you
stay more consistent and focused on your work, and you will also be able to
spare time for your family. This will also help you that works for you and your
family.
If you’re an early bird, try to get some house
or work tasks done in the morning before the kids wake up. This allows for
quality breakfast time with the kids before they head off to school. If your
kids have after-school sports and activities, consider packing dinner and
having a picnic after their games.
Part of balancing family life means creating
memories with your loved ones, no matter where you are or what you’re doing.
7.
Prioritize Your Health
Health comes above all. It is impossible to
bring a work-life balance if you are in good shape. Without having a healthy
mind and body, you will not be able to focus on either.
Therefore, it is important to prioritize
yourself and add activities to your routine to help you stay healthy and fit.
It includes following a healthy diet, exercising daily, and getting adequate
sleep.
If you are sleepy throughout the day, you are
prone to make mistakes at your workplace and get annoyed by your family members
8. Take a
Break From Technology
Though it is not easy distancing yourself
from the internet and social media since they are prime modes of communication
and information, try taking a break from technology.
A technology break means setting specific
intervals during the day where you distance yourself from your phone and
instead; dedicate that time to yourself and your family.
Studies have also shown that taking a break from
technology helps your awareness, human connections, sleep patterns, and
emotions. [3]
Family game nights are perfect for bonding. Set
a rule to turn off all phones so everyone can focus fully on the game and
spending time with one another.
9.
Establish Boundaries Between Work and Family
It is important that we create boundaries
between work and family. This means determining which actions are acceptable
and unacceptable. Boundaries hold the line to protect your work from the
distraction of family, as well as to protect your family from the obligations
at work.
With clear boundaries, it is easier for you to
tell when your action is not in favor of one aspect of your life. For example,
you can rule with your family that no one is allowed to use a cell phone at the
table. Setting up this boundary will allow no external disruptions during your
dinner, and you can enjoy that time conversing with your family
Another example of setting work-life boundaries
is that you can turn notifications of your work-mail off and focus solely on
relaxing. These tasks are easy said than done. However, balancing work and
family life is impossible without setting priorities at a given moment.
10.
Accept That Imbalance Is Sometimes Unavoidable
It’s okay to struggle and fail in your
struggle to balance work-family life. Sometimes, it may feel impossible to
stick by your boundaries and not prioritize one aspect of your life over the
other. Family emergencies demand compromising work life and vice versa.
For example, you may need to skip a work event
when a family member is sick. Or when an important deadline must be met, you
might need to miss dinner at home and stay working late at the office.
However, the important thing is that you don’t
allow imbalance to become the norm. The scale may tip for a few days or weeks,
but the key is to bring it as close to the center as possible.
You will struggle in the process of balancing
work and family life and will fail a lot. But, instead of stressing yourself
with failures, you must keep trying and progressing.
4 SIMPLE
TIPS TO HELP BALANCE WORK AND FAMILY LIFE
-
Staying consistent and focusing on your goal is
the only way to achieve the desired balance.
-
Ground Your Body: De-stressing your body after
long work hours is essential. You can do that by having some private time,
enjoying a cozy dinner with family, and exercising.
-
Always Share: Always be sure to share your
work-related stress with your family and loved ones. Having insights into your
work life will make them more understanding of your busy schedules.
- Take Help: Relying on your loved ones for small favors is not bad. Share your chores with your family, and try not to overburden yourself.
Final
Thoughts
Learning how to balance work and family life
isn’t easy. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Every person and family
must find specific solutions to their issues depending on their own preferences
and needs.
Essentially, a balance between work and family
occurs when a person is able to sufficiently meet family commitments and
adequately perform responsibilities at work. There is nothing wrong with
working hard to get ahead, but don’t forget the worth of the things and people
that really matter most.