ALT-2 Tips for Balancing your Boss and Kids
Balancing your boss and your kids is no small feat and at times it can seem nearly impossible to make everyone happy at the same time. Most people struggle to find a comfortable arrangement that allows them to feel like they are doing enough at home and at work. Take a look at the following tips for striking a balance between work and home so you can go to bed at night knowing that you are giving your best in both places.
Manage expectations both at work and at home
Half of the battle can be won by simply learning how to manage other people’s expectations of you. This goes for your work life and your home life. Have a talk with your boss to understand your responsibilities there and then communicate any problems that you may be able to foresee. This helps to show that you are serious about doing your best. You also need to have a chat with your significant other and your kids so they know what you can and cannot handle at home. This might mean you need to look to them for support in some areas but everyone will come away with a better understanding of what can be expected and where they need to pitch in.
Set boundaries for performance
At work there should be performance guidelines for you to follow so setting your own boundaries may just be a matter of sitting down with your supervisor to discuss targets that are still stretching but not overwhelming. At home it may not be that simple. Your children and spouse may want you to do things you are not able to do all the time while still fulfilling your other obligations. This simply means you need to communicate and come up with a solution that makes sense for your family.
Ask for help
When you feel overwhelmed at home or at work the best thing to do is to ask for help. You may be able to get some of your tasks temporarily or even permanently shifted for you to focus on things that are more important to your central job. At home you should delegate chores to older children or hire help so you are not drowning in the day-to-day maintenance while you miss out on special moments because you are too tired or too busy to be fully present.
Be organized
Finally, organization is the key to happiness and balance in your work and home life. The more you are able to use automatic reminders, scheduling gadgets and other nifty tools around the house and the office the more you are able to get done in both arenas.
There is no need to stretch yourself too thin so you can stay on top of things at work while also being available for your kids. You can balance them both with a few simple changes to your lifestyle.
