Achieving work-life balance isn’t easy, especially when the workforce is still mostly working from home without their usual routines.
Now that employees have been working remotely for a long period of time, it is important to make sure healthy habits are set. There are helpful lifestyle choices you can make as a remote employee to improve your quality of life.
For parents struggling with balancing family and work demands, learning these kinds of best practices for a happy, productive life is crucial.
Although it may feel impossible at times, successfully juggling an impactful career and a joyful, fulfilling family life is 100 percent feasible. With the right mindset, structure to your schedule, and a sense of humor, you can conquer even the most hectic work-from-home week.
The five keys to maintaining your sanity and loving both your job and family are:
1. Master efficient multitasking
When you work smarter, not harder, you’ll have more time for the people and activities that matter the most in life. Plus, maximizing your personal productivity tactics can make you an overall more motivated and optimistic person.
When you feel like you are accomplishing everything you set out to achieve, it has a positive ripple effect on other areas of your life.
2. Embrace a flexible schedule for work-life balance
Being flexible when you had a specific plan in mind (whether it is work or family-related) can feel frustrating, but it is necessary.
When you learn to roll with the punches and make the best of last-minute changes, you’ll feel a lot less stressed. When you can be more flexible and resilient, you can become more efficient, too.
3. Accept help when you needed
Learning that it is okay to accept help is a powerful life skill itself. Some people are so reluctant to reach out when they need advice or a helping hand because they don’t want to seem incompetent or “weak” but that is simply not the case.
Everyone needs some guidance navigating the uncharted waters of this year. Understand that asking for help is acceptable.
4. Prioritize health and self-care
When you prioritize self-care, you are investing in your mental well-being and work productivity. Self-care can take many forms.
Simply spending some time meditating or planning your day makes a difference. After all, the more time you spend mapping out your day, the more accomplished you’ll feel in both your personal and professional life.
It is natural for a busy schedule to weigh down on you when you rush into your day and don’t take care of yourself.
5. Plan date nights and family gatherings
Set aside time for family and stick to your commitments. Sometimes it is hard to create boundaries by setting clear working hours and family time, but it is crucial.
Plan a date night in your own home with your partner. Taking this time to strengthen bonds with the most important people in your lives is important.
For parents who struggle with the balancing act of parenting and having a successful career, it is helpful to look at inspiring examples of work-life balance in action. Famous figures like Barack Obama and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson are great dads who make the most of family time while excelling professionally.
Sometimes it is helpful to follow the tips of business leaders and celebrities who have mastered work-life balance. Take a look at some of their tips below:
i). Barack Obama work-life balance secret
Obama commits to dinner with family at the same time each day. Try to schedule daily family meals in your calendar and treat them as a meeting you can’t miss as he does.
ii). Dwayne Johnson work-life balance secret
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson wakes up before dawn every day to accomplish his personal goals, allowing more time for his family later in the day. Try to exercise and work on personal goals before the family is awake as he does.
iii). John Legend work-life balance secret
Legend allows time for his kids to participate when he plays music. Make an effort to share your passions with your kids to help them feel included and valued as he does.
iv). Jimmy Fallon work-life balance secret
Fallon lets his family fuel his worth ethic and success. Remember to take short breaks during the workday to enjoy little moments with your kids as he does.
v). Matthew McConaughey work-life balance secret
McConaughey sets clear boundaries between work responsibilities and family bonding. Try to maximize productivity during scheduled work hours so you can solely focus on family later.
vi). Bill Gates work-life balance secret
Gates is committed to setting aside time for reading and self-education every night. Make your own learning and self-improvement goals a priority by reading books that foster personal growth as he does.
To be the best version of yourself for your family you have to remember it is the small habits that make the biggest difference. When it comes to working remotely, we rounded up a few stress-busting tips for both dads and moms to use:
1. Try a new productivity hack.
Adopt a better technique to knock out tasks so you have more family time. Instead of feeling like all your free time is spent bouncing from one thing to another, knock out housekeeping using task batching so you can fully enjoy blocks of time focused on family fun.
Try delegating tasks when possible, if you have too much on your plate. Delegating doesn’t mean you are lazy or can’t do something. It means you are keeping efficiency a priority.
2. Try creating a standing desk set-up.
Standing promotes higher energy levels, which can help you keep up with your kids. You spend so much time at your desk set-up—you deserve to be comfortable.
Plus, it can help you prevent injury down the line. If you don’t like standing desks, use trial and error to figure out the most natural-feeling system for you.
3. Connect with fellow working parents.
Talk with a cohort of like-minded moms and dads to exchange experiences. There is power in sharing stories and supporting each other with encouraging words.
It is normal for you all to feel conflicted when you are around your kids more often, yet you are still overwhelmed with constant work. It is a crucial reminder that you are not the only one going through certain challenges.
4. Use your lunch break to be with family.
Going for a walk with members of your household, or simply hugging your partner and kids, can make a positive difference in your mental state. Plus, just ten minutes of fresh air can help you increase focus.
5. Challenge yourself to stick to a structured schedule.
It can be tough to find a structured routine that works best for an unpredictable at-home work environment. Being flexible is great, but you need a solid baseline schedule.
Set boundaries between different tasks, and try not to waver. Parents often feel like they are always on-call for both work and family while working from home, and that is never ideal.
With remote work being the new norm, there is a whole new set of challenges to face. Although there are great benefits to working from home, it is tricky sometimes to be a star employee and actively contributing member of a family simultaneously.
Conflicts around work-family balance are bound to arise. We hope these tips from some inspiring dads can help. These actionable tips for improving your work-life balance and mental well-being while working remotely can be game-changers.
If you ever feel discouraged, remember that succeeding at the work-family balancing act will always have its challenges.
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