It’s no secret that being a working parent is difficult and challenging. However, that doesn’t mean it can’t be done successfully. All you need is a plan in place for how you’re going to approach your busy lifestyle. Avoid giving up trying before you even grant yourself an opportunity to succeed.
Don’t beat yourself up or get down when you make mistakes trying to do it all. What you want to do is learn from your past and then aim to create a brighter future for you and your children. Make lists and put them in priority order, so you’re getting done what’s most important first.
Take Advantage of your Nights & Weekends
What will help you achieve work-life balance is to come up with a schedule to follow even on your weekends and days off. There’s a lot of available time there if you’re smart about how you use it. For example, get up early and attend a few business-related tasks before taking the kids out to get some exercise as a family. When you arrive home at night use this as a chance to unplug and have dinner as a group and then wrap up any loose ends regarding your work after the kids go to bed.
Use Your Time & Money Wisely
Unfortunately, you’re likely going to experience a lot of obstacles and busy work when you’re running your own business. Use your time wisely by knowing when to hire assistance, how to delegate and being smart about how you spend your money. For example, don’t spend your limited time attempting to recover any lost corporate data. Look to find companies that can provide this service for you so that you spend your time on what is more pressing from your standing within the business.
Ask for Help
You have to speak up and be willing to ask for help when you need it if you’re going to be successful at running a business and household. Let your spouse know you want their assistance and specify in what areas they could be useful. Another idea is to ask the neighbors to watch the kids while you work or get involved in a local carpool for getting the kids to and from school. No one will know you’re struggling or need a hand until you make it clear.
Set Boundaries
Ultimately, you’re in charge when you own a company, so begin setting boundaries and stop making excuses as to why you can’t leave the office on time. You need to find more balance in your days and not get caught up in unnecessary and time-consuming tasks that are keeping you from seeing your children on a regular basis. Get a home office so you can sneak in and tackle some work in between activities. It will help if you always stay focused on what it is you’re doing in the present moment.
Conclusion
Running a business and household can be done with the right attitude and strategies in place. Remember to go slowly and make smart choices along the way. There’s enough time in each day to get done what’s most important if you plan right.
