Let’s make no bones about this; working in any capacity when looking after our kids is difficult. Very difficult. And yes, we hear so much about important it is to get a work-life balance. But when you’re running your own house or your own business, or you are freelancing, there are so many times when the scales are tipped in the favor of work. Nobody likes this, but it has to be done. But can we make a work-life balance actually work for us in other ways than just scheduling our time?
Focusing On Quality
Quality, not quantity! This applies to work and parenting. If you have a couple of hours spare to hang out with your children, if you are checking your phone every 30 or 40 seconds, exactly how are you bonding with your children? That email will still be there when you pick up your phone in a couple of hours’ time!
Being In The Now
Logically following on from spending quality time with your children, if you are constantly thinking ahead of yourself, and you’re not focused on what’s going on in front of you, this is going to cause more issues than you realize. While we’ve got an abundance of duties, from the housework, to tidying up some work, and in between all of this, we’ve got to pick up the children from school; we’ve got to focus on one thing at a time. Studies have shown that if you attempt to multitask, you’re not being any more productive. And yes, you may feel like you’re wasting time in the car when it’s just you, so the temptation to look at your phone quickly arises. But if we learned anything from the abundance of car accident lawyers out there, it’s that distracted driving is the primary culprit when it comes to accidents! If you really want to make the most of your time in the car on the way to school, practice being calm.
The Power Of Preparation
There are going to be times when things come up that we can’t put off. But if we are ill prepared for any eventuality, we’re not going to be able to come up with the goods. Structure is everything when getting kids ready for school, ensuring that you are eating healthily and getting your work done, as well as everything else that needs doing. Your preparation starts the night before. Prepare lunches, lay your clothes out, and look at the work you have to do tomorrow and make a few notes. But the real challenge is, once you’ve done this, let it all go. Switch your phone off! Remember that your subconscious can do a lot of work for you. By preparing some things the night before, work-wise, you may save yourself a lot of head work. And remember, if sleep is a rarity, it’s got to be a priority.
Work-life balance is a concept not many of us have a grip on. But by focusing on quality, preparing yourself, and embracing a few simple hacks, you can get ahead of the game in work and in life.
