When you’re just starting a business or when you’re truly passionate about what you do, it’s quite easy to forget that there’s more to life than work.
Most new parents actually struggle with this problem as they are looking for creative ways to help them divide their time between work and family.
The problem gets even more complicated when you work from home (as a freelancer or entrepreneur). In this case, you don’t have the possibility to put a physical barrier between work and home.
However, it’s important to realize that you can’t be productive without getting some downtime and your life won’t have meaning if you only focus on work. Not to mention that this balance is crucial for your mental state and overall physical health and wellbeing.
3 Key Ways to Find Balance Between Work and Family
So, if you’re looking for a way to strike that sensitive balance in your current life, have a look at the tips listed below. They helped me stay sane through some of the most stressful times of my life and I hope they’ll have the same effect on you.
Don’t Skip Family Time
I know you want to make money to support your family. Still, this doesn’t mean you have to eat your breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the desk or over the keyboard. Take the proper time to serve each of the main meals of the day and enjoy them.
Also, make them family time. There’s a saying that goes “Families that eat together stay together” and it couldn’t be truer. The very act of sharing a meal as a family strengthens the bonds between members encourages the conversation and makes everyone happier.
Not to mention that a meal eaten in the family will be a lot healthier than what you can get from the food cart or vending machine!
Learn To be Organized
If you feel you’re busy all the time, then you don’t know how to organize your time! This means you’re wasting valuable time that could be spent with your family or being productive.
Think about the best CEOs in the world. You know they always have something on their mind, but you also see them involved in various projects, enjoying time with the family, or simply relaxing. They can do this because they learned how to dedicate their entire focus to one task at a time. When you master this, you master time and things start to look different.
Still, before you get to this level, you need to start small. Use your time to learn about organization, time, business, and task management. The good news is that you can learn everything from a well-designed Project Management Course that is available online.
Also, there are specific tools (which you can use for free) that help you organize your time throughout the day. You just need to choose the ones that work for you.
Don’t Ignore your Finances
Even though it doesn’t sound like time spent with your family when your finances are in order, you’re less stressed and it’s easier to focus on the matters at hand.
So, regardless of the fact that you are an entrepreneur, freelancer, or employee with a side project, make sure to use all the tools at your disposal to keep the finances in order.
This way, you will be prepared for any new opportunity that comes your way. And you can enjoy the time you set aside for the family and relaxation.
Wrap Up: Find the Balance Between Work and Family
There are many other tips I could list here, but as long as you understand the importance of family time vs. work you will find your path. The idea is to look for ways that fit your lifestyle and your unique situation; not to implement rigid ideas and techniques.
Guest Author and Resources:
Oli Kang is a working mum with a passion for teaching and all things educational. With a background in marketing, Oli manages the digital channels and content at Courses.com.au.
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