Are you a working parent? Then you’re stuck in an impossible balancing act from morning until night. With everything from work, to the household, to the kids, when do you have time to carve out for yourself? The more and more people asking things from you, the more overwhelming it becomes.
But the good news is, if you make a few minor changes, life can be a million times better. Whether you’re employed by someone else or have built your empire, this guide is for you.
What It’s Like to be a Working Parent
For many parents who’ve made the choice to work, every day is one big balancing act. They’re texting on the way to the bus while trying to catch up on emails, they take a call during lunch to discuss a doctor’s appointment with a teacher, they’re wrapping up a quarterly budget while helping with the math homework project due next week.
It’s enough to make anyone lose their mind. But statistically, working parents are more stressed than any other demographic. They’re chronically fatigued. They’re stressed too much about what is coming next and for whom.
The Struggles Of Self-Employment
The downfall that a self-employed parent finds is that they feel like they need to do it all.
And while this may seem to be the most cost-efficient thing to do when you’re getting off the ground as a self-employed parent, it will cost you your time and well-being. Learn how to delegate. Don’t do everything yourself.
For example, many working parents have so much administrative work, it takes them away from their clients. Calls must be scheduled, notes must be dictated, paperwork must be filled out, and compliance documents must be completed. Either they allocate separate billable hours for this work or it eats up precious time in their single productivity day.
Stop relying on yourself to do this work when you’d be better suited with your next client or spending time with your family. For parents running a telehealth service, using a virtual medical receptionist to assist with scheduling and patient communication allows you to focus on your duties when necessary.
This applies to any entrepreneurial venture. If your social media presence is taking over your hours, you’re better off getting a virtual assistant to buffer that time for maximum success. Bookkeepers can step in for any money-related needs.
Accommodations By Employers
If you’re employed by someone else, it’s easy to assume there are not many accommodations your employer can make for you to balance yourself. But you’d be surprised by what’s out there.
For example, have a sit-down with HR and your boss to see if you can implement a flexible schedule. Many businesses now offer remote days, strange starting times, and compressed workweeks. Some forward-thinking companies are even hosting virtual parties on holiday to help remote teams stay connected and celebrate together despite distance. Sometimes a thirty-minute difference can make for a more manageable lifestyle.
Also, implement time blocking. Many parents try to multitask at all times, and then are overwhelmed by the number of emails due while also trying to assist their children. Instead, carve out specific times you’re going to check your email. This way, you’re not stressed about responding to someone while your child is begging for your attention.
Creating a Better Routine
Routine brings everyone comfort, but it’s too easily thrown off by stress. Therefore, making minor changes throughout your day can impact how you feel significantly.
For example, if mornings are easier to rise than chaotic wake ups, then take control of the night before: lay out clothing, pre-pack lunches, and make sure backpacks are by the door.
Establish a schedule within the home so repetitive tasks are scheduled—laundry on Mondays, grocery shopping on Wednesdays, bathrooms on Fridays. These are easier to manage than assuming everything needs to be done simultaneously.
Meal Planning Made Easy
Meal planning eliminates time and energy stress during busy weeknights—and it doesn’t take a lot of effort. Spend a half hour during the weekend preparing meals for the week ahead.
Not every meal has to be exciting or new. The best meals are repeatable and quick to prepare: slow cooker meals and sheet pan meals are best when all you want is health and ease.
Get the kids involved as best they can. Young kids can wash veggies and set the table. They love feeling needed and you save time as well.
Get Your Kids Involved
Encourage your children to get involved around the house in age-appropriate manners. Even toddlers can pick up their toys, school age children can separate laundry, tweens can feed pets and assist with scrambled eggs on the stove.
Even small contributions take responsibilities off your plate as they gain lifelong learning experience.
Make chore charts age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate. Kids thrive on structure. If they know what they’re supposed to do, they’ll appreciate the situation instead of floundering because they don’t know what to do.
And at times saying no helps. It’s not necessary to volunteer for every bake sale. It’s important to recognize that every yes is a trade-off. Maybe you can say yes but what will you need to subtract from the equation for it to balance out?
Taking Time For Yourself
Self-care is not selfish—it’s a necessity for being a good parent and employee. When you’re constantly drained, everyone around you suffers. So schedule time as you would for an important appointment for yourself to hang out with friends or get coffee or just enjoy a quiet hour without being distracted.
You don’t have to spend more money or carve out other busy hours. A nice long bubble bath, an early bedtime, or even ten minutes of solitude go a long way.
Moving Forward With Realistic Expectations
It’s not about perfection or achieving equilibrium every single second. It’s about determining how you’d like it to be so it feels comfortable moving forward. Every little effort accumulates so ultimately good feelings about how things should become second nature.
Working parents have enough stress going on with their lives without feeling guilty about how they’re merging complementary life endeavors. The sooner practical solutions can be put in place from good intentions, the sooner the family will adjust to what should have been seamlessly done all along.