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If it’s not unrealistic work demands and urgent deadlines, it’s home duties and chores that need your uttermost attention. A parent, you have to cater for all and not neglect one party as either would suffer.
For your children, you have to be the pillar, and at work, you have to meet the requirements in order to keep your job. Maintaining the balance between work and life is no joke.
To help you keep afloat without losing your mind, here are some helpful tips on how to effectively balance your life and work.
1. Do not withhold guilt
As a working parent, most of the time you feel guilty for not spending enough time with your children as you would want to. You should learn to let go of the guilt and think of the benefits your family gains from your efforts at work. Your children get to feed, go to school and acquire other benefits from you. If the guilt is because you feel the motherly bond between you and the younger kids will reduce, arrange for them to come visit at work, even if it’s for a while. This should be done especially if you work for long hours, far away and you don’t get to see or talk to your kids as often.
2. Get professional childcare services
You must always ensure quality service if you are to leave your child or children in the care of a stranger. Seek recommendations from friends and family on where to obtain proficient services for babysitters, nannies and daycare centres. Before you settle on any, visit several daycare centres to see how they operate. Be sure to interview the possible childcare providers informing them of your childcare needs.
3. Plan for the day
Nothing ruins your day like a bad morning. Make your mornings easier by planning the night before. Sort out yours and your children’s clothes and have their backpacks positioned by the door. You also need to ensure that you know where your keys are. Leaving them in the same place every day will make it easier to find them in the morning rush. Plan your meals ahead of time. Make a to-do list for the day’s planning and divide the duties with your partner if the exercise requires an extra pair of hands. You can also train your children on a few duties they can take up such as clearing the table when they are done with their meals. Planning for the day allows you time to spend with your kids without rushing out because you are running late.
4. Communicate with your manager
A written statement of your requirements to your employer will come in handy when you go to talk to them. If you feel there is so much pressure due to increase in workload, take it for review with your bosses. Request for a flexible schedule that best suits your working capability. In such a situation make sure that you meet the company’s targets especially if you opt to work from home.
The secret to balancing your duties as a parent and as an employee is to plan. Strategize on your day’s activities and review how it benefits your family, your company and yourself. The aim is to manage your life. And if you fail to plan, you will plan to fail.
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