As work from home moms, one of the most common problems we usually face is to balance our workload and family time. It’s a known fact that our clients are just as demanding as our household which is why it is essential to know how to have a steady schedule between your workload and family time.
But the question is: HOW?
I’m going to give you my personal tips on how I personally balance my workload and family time.
Set priorities and plan things ahead
As a mom, we have tons of demands we need to meet every single day. It may be an involved partner, a hands-on mom, a productive homemaker, etc. You also have a responsibility to your employer, meeting every deadline, finishing reports, and the never-ending meetings.
I know this is all too much for a workload.
This is why it’s very important to plan things ahead so you won’t feel overwhelmed with your family and workload. In my case, I always plan things ahead after working hours so I have an advance start in the day- I already know the things I need to accomplish.
When doing household chores, I try to maximize my free time as much as I can, I do several household chores as much as I can such as loading the washing machine while cleaning the house. Cleaning the kitchen and cleaning at the same time. I also set a definite date for general cleaning so that my schedule will be structure. Hence, a more productive day for me.
Get a job that has flexible hours
Having a scheduled time at work will surely bring dilemmas. As we all know, there are uncertain events that may occur at home or some school activities of our kids. Having flexibility in your work hours is really feasible although this may result in less financial freedom this is a sure ball to the quality of your life: less stress, less workload.
Learn how to negotiate with your employer for flexible work hours. Although this may be a long shot this is an ideal set up to maintain a healthy balance between workload and family life.
Limit all distractions when working
Practice removing all distractions when working such as limiting phone checking, watching tv, or doing any other household chores. This will definitely make your laser-focused to your task and finish it immediately.
In my years of working from home, I developed the system to work in the morning while Toby’s asleep, I challenge myself to limit my workload as much as I can and as soon as my son is already awake, I can give him my time and focus. When my son is preoccupied with playing or when my husband is taking care of him, I immediately go back and finished my undone workload.
Give time to yourself
Although you are an employee and a homemaker, don’t forget your responsibility to yourself. Giving yourself the deserved ‘me-time’ is a very good practice and learning how to take a break will give you more opportunities to be refreshed and ready to go.
Just like what Jim Rohn would say “Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live”.
Learn to practice how to give yourself ample break time. It is essential for your physical and especially your mental health. In my case, I give myself a rest day every weekend and spend it to sleep as much as I can and spend time with my family. After all, they are the primary reason why I work hard, right?
When it’s family time, it’s family time
I always encounter moms who are guilty of this habit- checking their emails whenever they spend their ‘family time’ I used to do it before, but I realized that these small things will eventually pile up and lead to drifting the relationship of my family away from each other.
Remember this: no matter how much workload you have in a day, no matter how demanding your client may be, know that you should be responsive to your family.
You can find another job, you can find a better employer but your family will remain constant. Give them time.
My family loves family time, now that we are in a pandemic crisis, we learned how to enjoy at the comfort of our homes, we often do some arts and crafts or play in the garage or spend a movie night. I also don’t forget my loving husband so we spend date nights at home, it can be watching Netflix while eating nacho chips or cooking together.
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