The list of responsibilities that come with being a working parent can seem pretty much never-ending.
Both roles require ample time, dedication and commitment. So it’s no wonder that people struggle to balance the two.
In fact, research by HR firm CIPD found that one in four UK workers overwork by ten hours a week or more.
Once your work priorities start to outweigh your family ones in this way, it can be difficult to regain the balance.
With that in mind, here are four top tips for working parents.
- Talk to your manager
If you’re struggling with your workload or feel that your work is impinging on your family life, consider arranging a meeting with your manager where you review your priorities together.
A good manager will be as accommodating as possible because they’ll know that you’ll perform best when you have a good work-life balance. So don’t be afraid to ask for things such as flexible working hours or changing your hours.
If your manager is completely inflexible, it’s probably time to start looking for a new job at a firm that values work-life balance.
- Take time for self-care
As a working parent, you shouldn’t view ‘you time’ as an added extra – it’s the key to helping you maintain the balance.
So make sure you factor in some time for self-care each week. This could be something as basic as taking a lunchtime stroll or heading to the gym after work to destress.
It’s also worth downloading a mindfulness app such as Headspace – it has mini-meditations will help you clear your mind and unwind after a busy at the office.
- Support your child’s studies
Supporting your child’s studies is one of your most important responsibilities as a parent. But with your own hectic career and other parental tasks to manage, finding the time to do it can be difficult.
Try and factor in some time in the evening to catch up with your child. This can be something as brief as asking how their day at school was – it shows that you care and encourages them to be open with you.
If you feel like your child could do with some extra tuition, consider hiring a learning coach from a tutoring agency such as Teachers To Your Home so your child can work with a curriculum expert.
- Have some family time
When it comes to spending time together as a family, think quality over quantity and dedicate at least one evening a week to family time.
This could be something as simple as sitting down and eating your evening meal together or ordering a takeaway and watching Netflix. Alternatively, you could go out and do something fun like bowling or catching a film at the cinema – whatever you and yours fancy.
With a weekly event on the calendar, you’ll have something nice to look forward to after work, which will help motivate you throughout the day.
Follow these four fantastic tips and you’ll soon become a pro at managing the demands of parenthood and work.
That’s our list! Share your tips in the comments section.