Whether you work from home, away from home, or own your own business, balancing work and family can be a difficult endeavor.
The bottom line is that depending on what’s happening in your “now,” one aspect of life often takes priority over the other. When bills are due, meetings are scheduled, and deadlines are looming, you may find yourself working late into the night. On the other hand, when the kids are sick or you have multiple places to be in a single day, such as softball games, band concerts, and award ceremonies, family commitments often demand most of your time.
The real question is how to balance the two so that you’re not spending all your free time catching up on work and all your family time worrying about meeting professional responsibilities.
Sadly, many people believe that raising a family requires sacrificing their career. However, this is not the case. Many successful entrepreneurs and professionals manage to have vibrant family lives while excelling in their careers. Margaret Newhouse, the Assistant Director of Career Services at Harvard University, advises professionals of all ages to approach this balance with the same common sense, creativity, and flexibility that they apply to any other aspect of life. A significant part of career and life success is learning how to stay fulfilled both personally and professionally—and realizing that this success requires delicate balance.
For hardworking professionals with families, here are a few tips on balancing work and family!
- Set boundaries! Today, professionals are so connected that they are virtually available 24/7. If you use a Blackberry, laptop, iPad, or any other device for work-related communication, find the OFF button! Set your email to auto-respond to clients or superiors to prevent appearing neglectful. Without clear boundaries, your family life will suffer. Too many children and spouses feel they must compete with ringing phones, text messages, and constant email checking. This is no way to spend time with family. If you work from home, make sure your family understands that when you’re working, you’re truly working. If you have young children, consider hiring a neighborhood teen to help entertain them for a few hours so you can focus. Just 3-4 hours of concentrated work is far more productive than 24 hours of on-again, off-again efforts. With boundaries in place, both your professional contacts and family will appreciate your schedule.
- Don’t be a yes-person. Many professionals feel that saying yes to everything their employer requests is essential to advancing in their careers. This mentality has become more prevalent in today’s economy. However, agreeing to every demand can lead to burnout. Instead, offer creative alternatives to meet expectations without overwhelming yourself. If you’re worried that saying “NO” will jeopardize your job, try negotiating deadlines. Remember, you can’t be everything to everyone or be everywhere at once. Saying yes to both personal and professional commitments will diminish the quality of your work and relationships.
- Be organized. This means keeping calendars handy and staying on top of both personal and professional commitments. Use your phone to track to-do lists and ensure you stay on top of your responsibilities. One helpful idea is to use different colors to distinguish between work and family obligations. Organization can make you up to 50% more efficient—essential for busy professionals with families—and is key to staying calm and present for both sides of your life.
- Think about your trade-offs. It’s essential to consider what you’re willing to give up in exchange for the gains you hope to achieve. For example, if you’re offered a new position that demands more of your time, be clear about what you’re willing to trade. More importantly, know what you won’t trade. If you coach your child’s football team and the new job makes that impossible, decide if the trade-off is worth it. Don’t be swayed by financial gains alone; be honest with yourself about what’s truly important in your life.
- Imagine yourself in 25 years. What will you wish you had done differently? What sacrifices are you making now that you may regret? The choices you make to balance work and family should be ones that you will feel good about when looking back on your life.
- Schedule your social commitments. In the rush to balance work and family, many people forget to nurture their social lives and personal activities. If you love playing tennis, make sure your weekly match with a friend is a permanent part of your schedule. Taking care of yourself is crucial to being a better parent, spouse, and employee. When you’re happy and regularly relieve stress, you’ll be better able to show up for the important people in your life.
- Listen! If the balance between work and family feels off, the signs are often everywhere. Pay attention to what others—especially your children—are telling you. Listen to your boss and to your inner thoughts. Then, make the necessary changes.
Finding the right balance between work and home life takes time. It requires trial and error, and there will be plenty of give and take along the way. However, once you find it, life will flow more smoothly, and you’ll feel like you’re giving your best to your family, friends, employer, and yourself.
