If you have a job and a family, you know how important it is to ensure that you have a healthy balance between the two. If you spend too much time at the office, you may start to feel like a stranger among your family, and your family may start to feel a bit of resentment towards you. If you spend too much time at home, your employer may use it as a sign that you’re not right for the job, and you may find yourself without one.
Unfortunately, sometimes your family is going to need you more than your job, and sometimes your job is going to need you more than your family. What’s important is trying to find a healthy balance between the two to ensure that you keep your job while still being able to spend quality time with your family, and the following tips can help you do so.
Create a schedule.
Make sure that you create a schedule for both work and home. This will allow you to be more organized, which can help you stay focused on the task at hand. Make a schedule for work so that you know what needs to get done that day, and then stick to it. This will help you avoid having to stay late, which can give you time with your family. You should also make sure that you have a schedule for home so that you don’t forget about family parties, outings or other events. This way, you will know what you have to attend.
Leave work at the office.
It’s possible that you may have to break this rule every now and then, but you should make it a point that once you’re home, you’re home spending time with your family. If you are still working even though you are at home, it is not providing you with quality time with your family. It’s better for you to stay a few extra minutes at the office to finish your work and then be able to come home and spend quality time with your family then to constantly bring work home and never spend time with your family.
Have a weekly family night.
Pick one night a week that you and your family are together doing something fun, whether it’s having a family movie night or even going out for dinner. Having this night together will allow your family to catch up with one another and enjoy quality time together.
Go into work early.
If you know that you are going to be slammed with a project at work, you should consider getting into work early instead of having to stay late. If you don’t spend too much time with your family in the mornings, then it’s a great way to get your work done without having to sacrifice time with your family.
Give your kids a “late night”.
Every week, allow your children to stay up 20 to 30 minutes later than normal to do something with the family, such as play a game or watch a TV show. Your kids will love being able to stay up a bit later (especially on school nights), and you’ll be able to enjoy some quality time together.
Have a meal together.
Depending on your schedule, make it a point to have at least one meal every day with your family, whether it be breakfast, lunch or dinner. Eating together allows you to communicate with one another about what is going on with each other and allows you to spend time together as a family.
Change your schedule.
This may not be an easy task, but it never hurts to ask. If you notice that your work schedule is interfering with your family time, talk to your boss and see if there is any way to make adjustments. Find out if you could come in earlier so that you can go home earlier. Or even ask if you could work an extra hour M-T so that you can take a half day on Fridays. There are plenty of options, and you’ll just need to talk with your boss to determine the best option.
Stella Brown writes for Engagement Health and other corporate wellness publications.