How Families Can Be More Productive During Summer

Summers are meant to be a time to slow down and relax. For parents, though, summer can be a master challenge in time management. Juggling childcare, household chores, sports activities, and family vacation (if possible) can add up to a lot of stress – and slowing down and relaxing sounds like a daydream.

“The more proactive parents are about planning, the better able they will be to fit in all the work and fun activities this summer,” says Sara Perry, assistant professor of management in Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business. “Parents shall set realistic, specific, measurable goals and what work they want to accomplish.”

Finding the right balance will look different to each person and family, says Deb LaMere, vice president of employee engagement at the talent management software company Ceridian. “It changes as children grow and as the demands and opportunities at work evolve,” she says. “Finding a comfortable balance is something parents may find themselves working on and fine-tuning for the rest of their life.”

You can make the most of this season without slacking off at work by creating some rules for you and your family:

1. Determine your priorities. Do what has to be done and eliminate or postpone the rest, says productivity consultant Suzy Wilkoff. For example, if you’re continuing your education, you may want to take the summer off, or put your weekly date night with your partner on hold in favor of more family time.

“Save the items that are not as important until the kids are back in school and you have less ‘overseeing’ and parenting responsibilities,” she says.

2. Establish boundaries. When the kids were in school, your days naturally had more structure; during the summer it’s up to you to set boundaries, says Samantha Ettus, author of “The Pie Life: A Guilt-Free Recipe for Success and Satisfaction.” “Picture yourself putting police tape around your time,” she says. “Decide what hours you need to do your work effectively and protect them.”

If you are working, then focus on work, and if you are spending time with your family, let work wait, says child behavior expert Richard Daniel Curtis of the United Kingdom. “Leave the stresses of work behind you, it can be hard to do, but if you spend your time stressing about work while you are with your children then you are not giving them the quality time they deserve,” he says.

3. Rethink your work hours. If your job allows, redesign your day to maximize work and family time. LaMere suggests looking into options such as flexible work hours, alternative schedules, reduced work hours, and working from home.

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