10 Tips for Parents to Achieve Work-Life Balance - Relationships | SmartParenting.com.ph
Let’s be honest here—there is no one magic formula for doing this right. Every parent must look at themselves, their family, and their circumstances, to see what works for them. But knowing what you should keep in mind when making those decisions will help you come to better conclusions and achieve greater results in love, in life, and in the success of your career. Here are 10 ways you to start:
1. If you have a 9-5 job, devote the weekends to home/family activities, and save work for weekdays when you really need to do it.
Your family, and especially your children, will sense what is important to you by how much time you spend on it. So if you are five days a week away at work, make sure that the other two are set aside for family matters, and try to not schedule work-related activities then.
2. Have some ‘Me Time’.
Treat yourself once in awhile to doing things just for you. Whether a foot spa or body-massage, shopping spree or night out with girlfriends, do what helps to de-stress and take your mind of other concerns. Being good to yourself will help you be better for others.
3. Keep fit.
Exercise, eat healthy, think healthy, live a healthy lifestyle. If you want to be there for your family, you need to be there in good shape.
4. Find out how you can maintain flexibility at work; know your boss’s expectations and leeway.
When you know what others expect of you, or if they know your boundaries from the start, this will aid you in achieving your home goals and making all expectations clear.
5. Build and maintain your own support network.
Find people who can give you sensible advice and counsel when you’re in a fix. Seek out others who have ‘been there, done that’ and can offer good advice or just lend a listening ear.6. Know that happiness is essential. All the material stuff isn’t.
When more work equals more material benefits, the tendency is to work harder or more days, all for the good of our family. But in the long run, what matters most is your time, your happiness, and theirs, too—on the day-to-day.
7. Determine your limits and then safeguard yourself from guilt.
What are your personal boundaries, and how far are you willing to go or sacrifice? Once you establish this personally and with your partner, it will enable you to make the right decisions daily. Know your own standards, and then determine to enjoy life without regrets.
8. Make the most of reliable child care.
We are blessed that living in the Philippines allows parents affordable nannies and household help. If you can, find dependable workers to help you care for your kids. It makes a world of difference in being able to maintain a household when you have good hands-on help.
9. Stay connected to your inner spirit.
Learning to be in tune with yourself, your emotions, and your needs will help you determine which parts of your life are imbalanced and which could use more attention.
10. Prioritize family—always.
In the recent successful rescue of the 33 miners in Chile, the resounding message to the world, voiced by the survivors, was to love, live, and appreciate your loved ones while you have them with you…and not when it’s too late. We would all do well to listen and learn.
And remember, life is all about being flexible. Maybe, after reading this, you get into a routine that works for you. Something will inevitably come up to throw that for a loop. Work around it, don’t get disheartened. Expect that you will make mistakes from time to time, and that’s okay. In fact, it’s all part of the learning process, which never ends.
Happy parenting!
About the author: Nyx Martinez is a multi-media artist, travel writer, and managing editor of Mabuhay magazine. She has a one-year-old son.
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