Working parents undergo the constant struggle of managing their work-life with their professional life. Their struggle is real, so is their responsibility- both at work and home. In a world full of commotion and a big array of parental responsibilities, time management is one prominent challenge that parents face. A working parent is mostly running around frantically, outperforming themselves at work and parenting. But, they loose out on one aspect- themselves.
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So, in an ideal world for working parents, they must have time for their work, themselves, their kids in the same day, with equal priorities. Is it possible? Yes. Below are 10 efficient tips for time management for a working parent:
10 Time Management Tips For Parents
1) Ask for Help
You are not a super mother/father and you must accept that fact. Just ask for your partner’s help. Its not okay to burn yourself out on all fronts. Seek the help of your partner, parents, nanny, or professional assistance if needed. This will help you sail through parenting smoothly.
2) Assess your time
Assess your time; you only have 24 hours in a day. Just analyze your division of time, the amount of time you need to give to your children, office, yourself. Just plan and organize your day better and you will automatically realize and rule out the time wasting activities in your day.
3) Organize
Don’t just go about your day as it comes to you. Organize your day and make sure that you have planned your activities based on their priorities, urgencies and the amount of wait time it should have.
4) Discipline your kids
When the kids see you unorganized and unplanned, they tend to adapt this habit. Just organize their day in a way that they have time for TV, meal, home work, puzzles, playing, etc. They would have their routine, and you could plan your day in accordance. When back from work, you can ask them about their day and how successfully they stuck to their routine.
5) Don’t Bring Work to office and vice versa
It’s our tendency to bring work to home and do work related to home at work. Keep a clear demarcation between work life and private life. Your time at home should be dedicated to you and your family and your work hours should only be work hours.
6) Notes
Use sticky notes as a way to communicate to and with your children. It will give them a sense of feeling that you are around. Write sticky notes to your kids and stick them on their tiffin box, the refrigerator, etc. It is also a way to tell them that you are thinking about them.
7) Delegate
Delegation of work to your kids is important, also to teach them a sense of responsibility. Give them a couple of chores, tell them their importance. They will feel responsible. After they do their tasks successfully, thank them for their contribution.
8) Flexible Jobs
A lot of employers provide multiple benefits like work flexibility. You can filter your job search seeking such flexibility. Work from home, freelancing, etc. there are many areas of employment you can explore. This can be an added benefit for you to manage your work-life balance.
9) Self Care
Parent life can be extremely frenzied because you multiple tasks and many responsibilities. It is in times like this that you must take out some time for yourself in the form of some self care time. Indulge in meditation, yoga and fitness regimes. You need to be fit and healthy to ace at your schedule. You also need to not forget to live life for yourself.
10) Use Planners
Planners can be good ways of setting priorities and realistic goals, it can help you great deal on your work and home front. The kids get planners too for their month ahead; you can plan their schedule with yours. One can lead to optimal use of 24 hours if one plan things efficiently.
Working parents are busy people, but being busy in a productive way is the most satisfactory feeling. While you burn yourself out, you also deserve me and self time in form of mini couple vacations or solo travels. You can plan, organize and make the most of your life if you prioritize your goals- as a working individual, as a parent and as an individual.
