ChicExecs Senior VP of PR and Digital Marketing, Kristen Wessel, shares her tips on how to balance parenting and work in the digital age on Forbes blog. Below is a highlight from the article.
Like it or not, we’re living in a “have it all” culture. You’re expected to not only crush your goals at work, but to be the perfect parent, spouse and friend. That sounds nice in our heads, but in practice, we just can’t have it all. We’re overworked, stressed and constantly feeling like we’re failing.
Follow these four tips to help you balance parenting with working in the digital age.
1. Set Boundaries
Boundaries set a firm line between your work life and your home life. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your work email while you’re at Olivia’s swim practice, you have to set healthy boundaries.
2. Have ‘No Phone’ Time
Do you really need to take work with you? If you’ve made a habit out of answering emails at dinnertime, it can be hard to break that cycle, but it’s possible. In fact, you should try designating “no phone” time in your schedule.
3. Work Smarter
You’re a parent, so you already have the toughest job in the world. If you work outside the home, you have to get smart about how you manage your time and workload. After all, you don’t want to be the parent who misses your kids’ school play because you’re working overtime.
Technology allows us to be productive from nearly anywhere. When you commit to dedicated blocks of time for work, you can get more done. Start separating your workday into chunks: one for meetings, one for breaks and another for focused work time.
4. Take Breaks
You might think, “A break? What’s that like?” I get it. Parents are busy and on the go. But the thing is, working yourself to death is counterproductive. If you burn through an assignment in four hours without stopping, you’re going to feel exhausted. Your work quality likely won’t be that good, anyway.
Take your lunch break, and go on a walk or do something fun with your kids. Take time away from work so you can recharge. It might feel like you’re wasting time, but breaks give your brain a chance to cool off, so you can come back to the office productive and motivated.
Read Kristen’s entire blog here.
