Take Time Out

These strategies can help parents create a better work-life balance

Many people struggle to balance their professional and personal lives. This can be especially challenging for parents who have responsibilities at work and at home because the two sets of obligations often conflict.

Surveys have indicated that working professionals who work less are more likely to be happy with their worklife balance than those who burn the midnight oil at work, but for many adults, working less is not always an option.

Creating a better work-life balance is an ongoing commitment, and even working parents who employ the following strategies may find they need to periodically tweak their routines so they can fulfill their obligations at home and at the office.

Schedule family time. Working professionals who are unhappy with their work-life balance often cite lack of family time as the reason for that dissatisfaction. Finding time for family may be the key to changing that outlook. Schedule time for family, just as you schedule the rest of your daily commitments. Noting family dinners or activities on your daily schedule will ensure that you don’t mistakenly schedule other activities during family time.

Employ technology when possible. Some working parents may feel as though technology has made it harder than ever to leave work at the office. But while smartphones, tablets and other devices may mean you’re never too far away from work, technology can also be used to create more time with loved ones.

For example, you can use an app such as FaceTime to visit with your spouse at lunch or chat with your children after school. Such interactions may not be as enjoyable as face-to-face ones, but they can help you stay in touch with family and provide a welcome respite on busy workdays.

Use your vacation days.

A recent study from Project: Time Off, a national movement aimed at highlighting the important role that time off from work plays in the lives of professionals, showed that 55 percent of Americans did not use their full allotment of vacation days in 2015. That translates to 658 million unused vacation days, 222 million of which could not be carried over into 2016.

Professionals who want to create a better work-life balance can examine their vacation-day usage and resolve to use all of their days off if they are not already doing so. Parents can use vacation days on national holidays when schools are closed so they can squeeze in family time, even when they are not going on trips.

Photo by iStock Making time for family dinner during the week is a simple but effective way for parents to achieve a better work-life balance.