As we get older, our schedules become filled with work responsibilities. There are also certain commitments in our lives that we give time to. Over time, it becomes challenging to manage your time with lots of duties.
Balanced time for work and family is a common issue in most families. A lot of couples are facing breakups because of the lack of quality time. That’s why it’s essential to know how to manage your time properly despite having a busy schedule.
In this article, we will give you tips on making time for your family, no matter how hectic your life is.
Making Time for the Family
1. Set your priorities
It isn’t easy to be what everyone needs when you have many goals and roles in your life. Of course, you want to succeed in your career, have a happy marriage, and be a good parent.
You’re probably planning on improving your education, having a home, helping your community, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, or saving for early retirement. You might be coping with other family concerns, such as caring for a family member with a disease or aged parents. These things eat up most of your time and energy, and they are usually colliding.
You should understand that there are only 24 hours in a day, and you must consider your beliefs and establish specific priorities based on them. If “being an involved parent” is a goal for you, for example, setting aside time each night to play with your children must be your priority than working those extra hours to pay for a larger home.
2. Plan ahead of time and complete tasks
Weekdays are where we are the busiest. You can make next week a calm week when you can relax with your family. Post a family calendar on the refrigerator.
Choose a rest day a week and plan how you will spend it with your family. Plan a picnic at the park at Peppercorn Hill or watch a movie together.
Plan a meal for the weekend if possible and store them in the fridge or freezer for easy reheat on a busy evening. By doing this, you can assign jobs for your elder children. Buy all the grocery items you will need for an entire week to reduce market visits.
3. If possible, ask for flexible or part-time hours.
Flexibility in the workplace can relieve a lot of stress in a household. Part-time work might be a possibility if it is financially feasible. It could mean less financial independence, but it could also mean more daily benefits and a higher quality of life. You must always analyze your beliefs and establish your priorities. Ask your employer if you can have flex hours or job-sharing to balance your family time more efficiently.
4. Share with your families or friends
Share your problems with your friends and relatives about your struggles with balancing your time with family and work. They might have the same experience, or they have tips for you on handling the same situation. You might find a solution based on what they shared with you and apply it to your current schedule or situation.
5. Minimize your involvement in After-work and after-school activities
Students can have hectic schedules because they often participate in after-school activities. It’s also the same for working parents.
So, the best thing to do is limit your involvement in after-work activities like meetings or unnecessary hang out with office mates. It’s also the same for your children. Limit their participation in after-school activities to 1 – 2 activities per day. And use that time to hang out with the whole family. Go for a bike ride or skating, or walk your pets outdoors.
Learn to say no when unnecessary office activities are targeting your free time for your family. Don’t be guilty about it. If it is not that important, then family first.
6. Set a family time
An hour or 2 with your family before ending the day is essential. It could be a movie night with snacks or game night. Have dinner together with your family. It is an important activity to know what’s going on with their lives and share each other’s daily experiences.
You can also pray together before going to bed to strengthen the spiritual bond of your family.
7. Do not forget to give time for romance
When you are over-focused at work, it is easy to drift away with your partner. So, make sure to have time for your spouse. It is as important as having time with your kids. Keeping romance is vital to strengthen your relationship too. Set a surprise date with your partner at a fancy restaurant, or a simple date would do. Buy gifts for her that you know she would like.
Working is important, mainly because it is also for the sake of your family. But we must remember that it is all for nothing if you lose your bond and drift apart with your family. So make sure you spend quality time with them.
