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Live by your own standards
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Striking a balance between work and family can be a real challenge as a full-time working mother with two active boys aged 7 and 9.
There is no single formula for attaining a balanced life. The key is to develop creative solutions as we approach the challenges of balancing the responsibilities and joys of our multiple roles. Some of the same skills and strategies we use at work such as planning, organizing, communicating, setting limits and delegating can be used effectively on the home-front to achieve a satisfying, fulfilling and well-balanced life both personally and professionally.
Here are a couple of personal experiences that I thought may be helpful to other working parents.
First and foremost, it is important to determine our own standards. Get rid of the notion of being a perfectionist. Live by your own standards rather than someone else’s. Forgive yourself when things don’t get done sometimes. Understand that with children, things change at a moment’s notice. Stay flexible at all times.
Between work and family, surprises are inevitable. Be prepared by creating backup and emergency plans; always have a contingency.
It is also critical to establish limits and clear boundaries in both work and family life. If we are able to keep our work stress at work and our home stress at home, we will find that both places are much more positive places to be. Regardless of whether we are at work or at home, do your best to stay fully invested in that place and that time. If you are at home with your family, set aside thoughts of work and enjoy it to the fullest. Try not to bring extra work home with you. If you absolutely have to, allot a particular time to do so and stick to the plan. If your children are made aware that you will only be doing work until a certain time before you can truly dedicate yourself to them, they will be much more willing to wait.
Try delegating manageable tasks to your children. It saves you time and builds their independence and confidence.
And finally, always keep things in perspective.
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