In these tough economic times, when everyone has to work to make ends meet, how do you balance time at work and quality time with your family? Here are some tips to help you balance work time and family time:

♦Make Your Boss Your Ally: Talk with your boss honestly about your family. Let him/her know your family comes first, but demonstrate your serious commitment to work by showing progress.
♦Stay Busy and Focused: Get your job done during work hours so you do not have to work overtime and sacrifice your family time.
♦Show Your Family Commitment: Schedule family commitments like you do work ones, that way you will be less likely to sacrifice that time. Display family photos and your children’s artwork in your office so everyone can see how proud you are of your family.
♦Use Work Benefits that Help You Balance Work and Family: Inquire as to any benefits your employer might offer such as flextime, shift swapping, etc.
♦Make Career Decisions as a Family: If you are looking for a job, try to find one that limits stress in your life. Compare the benefits of the job to how it will affect your family time.
♦Limit Work on Weekends, Vacations, and Holidays: Do not get into the habit of working on your days off. Have a co-worker cover your shift while you are on vacation, that way you do not worry about work during your family time.
♦Be With Your Family Every Day: It is wonderful if you can occasionally plan special events just for your family. It is even better if you can turn off your phone, laptop, or pager during this time. If this is a busy time and such events are not possible, fine little ways to spend time with your family every day. Have dinner together, read a story before bedtime, or take a walk together. These moments bring you together as a family and although they are “little” things, they add up!

This article was adapted from “12 Ways to Balance Work and Family,” a resource published by the National Fatherhood Initiative.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 13th, 2009 at 1:11 pm and is filed under Community Outreach, Family, Membership, Wellness.