As a parent, one of the biggest challenges you will ever have is finding ways to balance work and family life. Even with the best intentions, it is not uncommon for one or both to fall short, particularly if you are a single parent. Truth be told, it can still happen if you are partnered up as well. Long hours, demanding bosses coupled your at-home responsibilities can make even the strongest of people feel like they are failing. The thing is, you are not. Life can be hectic, so you need to step back and find ways to create a harmonious balance. If you have been struggling to keep everyone happy, including yourself, here are five ways to perfect your work-life balance.
Set Boundaries And Priorities
Whether you are at home or at work, you need to set boundaries and priorities. Let everyone involved know exactly what you can accomplish without feeling stressed. At home, ask your partner or a family member to step in and help on days when you need to devote more attention to your job. At work, you can speak to your boss and let them know how you are feeling. Needing help on days when you have a lot of work is not a sign of weakness or that you are not cut out for the job. Most jobs are demanding, requiring you to multi-task frequently. Instead of running yourself ragged, you can ask for delegate some of the responsibility to a co-worker who has time to help.
In addition to setting boundaries, you also need to prioritize what is most important, especially if you are trying to micromanage, work, family life and find a way to go back to school. You already asked for external help, so the only thing you need to do is find the right scholarship and apply. There are Going Merry scholarships for college students available as the perfect place to do that. You can search for the site for scholarships that fit your needs and then apply. It simplifies the search process, making it to choose the right one.
Say No More Often
If you are usually a yes man or woman, it is time to make a change. People pleasers usually do a great job of making everyone happy but themselves. As a result, not saying no more often can make you feel burnt out and even resentful. Even if you have never felt like you could, let your loved ones or place of employment know there are times when you will have to say no. They will probably understand and might even wonder why it took so long for you to stand up for yourself.
Put Yourself First Sometimes
While might sound like saying no more often, this one is a bit different. Putting yourself first means doing things that prioritize your physical and mental health. In addition to scheduling date nights with your significant other, you also need to plan days where you do things for yourself. This could be a spa day with the girls, a golf day with your buddies, or just a nice lunch out by yourself.
Be More Flexible
If you are usually strict in the way you run things, being more flexible make a big difference in how you feel. Instead of getting angry if things do not go according to plan, look for alternative solutions. Being able to adapt to unexpected surprises do not lower your stress levels, but also makes it easier to come up with Plan B.
Do Not Be Afraid To Make Drastic Changes
If nothing you do seems to work, you may need to make drastic changes. If you work overtime but your boss still will not change your hours when requested, you might need to find another job.
Do Not Overextend Yourself
In a perfect world, you can do it all and everyone is happy. Unfortunately, that is usually not how things turn out when you overextend yourself. In fact, you probably end up making mistakes at home and at work and even forget about important things you needed to do. The best way to avoid this is by creating a schedule everyone can work with. If you have kids, ask them about all the important school functions they have coming up. Create a calendar where you get notifications a couple of days in advance. That way, you will not be rushing last minute to find a way to attend.
