Balancing family and career

Balancing Family and Career

 

* Today's article was submitted by our online friend Elise Smith, who has been contributing articles once per month for some time now. Today she helps us understand how she balances her busy family life, being a newly wed and a mother - with also being an entrepreneur. She offers various writing genre services, manages a busy blog, and market her published books. Elise has this to say: "I hope you have found my working from home tips helpful and can use them to create your own work life balance. For more article and helpful resources please visit my website: https://www.mynzdreamblog.com "

A poor work life balance can negatively impact on your health and happiness.

If you have a good work life balance you are less stressed and happier, when you are happier you are more likely to be motivated, productive and do better in your work.

Finding work life balance is all about prioritization, planning and scheduling, time management and communication tools that help you manage your work day and complete the tasks on your to do list.

I have been working from home for the last six years, running a blog and writing books as well as coaching others in their writing.  Three of those years I had my teenage children living with me and in the last two years I got married.

Here are a few tips I have:

1. Set a schedule, and try to stick to it

Let people know exactly when they can and can not reach you, personal activities can be planned during the day outside of work.

2. Wake up and go to bed at the same time everyday.

Work a manageable number of hours. Use communication tools to indicate your online and offline hours. E.g set your notifications to come in on certain times of the day, indicate working hours on google calendar. Use your personal time to recharge.

3. Use personal errands and activities to take breaks in the day.

One of the perks to working from home is less commuting, walking around the office, office chit chat, one can spend more time getting work done. This can also mean the solidarity of working from home can get lonely and make you feel like you do not have any time for you.  Use personal errands to break up the day and take a couple of minutes away from desk top. 

 

4. Make plans for your after work hours.

If your living space and your work space are the same, it can be hard to step away from work at the end of the day.  If you have somewhere to be at the end of your workday you are more likely to actually sign off and finish working.

5. Plan ahead things such as meals and prepare the night before.  

Keep a shopping list, plan meals and shop once a week.

6. Get up and head outside, stand stretch, get a dose of vitamin D take a stroll around the block, visit a park for lunch.  

When you return you will be energized and ready to tackle the rest of your to do list.

7. Eat a proper lunch.  

In a office one may feel more compelled to take a lunch break, 30 mins in the middle of the day.  When working from home there are no co-workers or cafes to remind you to do so. Take a proper break to nourish yourself and recharge for the rest of the day’s work.

8. Get ready for your work day the same way you do when you go to work.

When you work from home you do not have to rush the same way you do when you go to work in the office. Instead of sleeping more and snoozing your alarm. Take a shower, make coffee and eat breakfast, get dressed. This will wake you up and mentally prepare you for being productive.

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