How Do You Balance Work And Family Life?

Are you at the point where you just need to be home and present with your family and still crush it at work? Do you want to know exactly how you can achieve a balance between your work and home life and what specific tools are available to support you in this endeavor? Would you like my seven recommendations for how to execute this flawlessly? If so, you’re going to love this blog post. So let’s go ahead and get started. 

Differences Between Balance vs. Blend

What does balance mean? When you look it up in the dictionary, it means an even distribution of something. But there’s also another word that I want to introduce here, which is blend, defined as a mixture of different things in quantities. Sometimes we’re really focused on balancing. But the fact of the matter is that work and home life require an intentional blend. So it’s not a fight of either-or; it’s about finding the right blend and balance.

The Key to Work & Family Life Balance and Blend

The key to balancing and blending your work and home life is to intentionally schedule both. Here’s how to approach it:

1. Schedule Family Time First: Determine the exact time you need for your family. This includes asking your spouse, partner, or kids what the most important times are for them and when they need you home. For example, maybe you need to be home for a weekly baseball game on Wednesdays at 4 PM, or ensure you’re available for date night on Fridays at 5 PM. Get detailed and specific about these key times.
2. Schedule Work Time Next: After identifying your family commitments, determine when you can work late if necessary. For instance, maybe your family is okay with you working late on Mondays and Thursdays. Communicate these times with your project team to ensure they can cover for you during your family commitments.

How to Schedule Time for Your Family and Work

Intentionally scheduling time for your family and work involves clear communication and setting boundaries. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

• Talk to Your Family: Have a discussion with your family about their key needs and commitments. Understand what times are non-negotiable for family activities.
• Talk to Your Work Team: Communicate with your project team about your family commitments and find ways to cover for each other during these times. For example, someone can cover the early morning tasks if you need to take your kids to school.

Prioritizing Tasks When Scheduling Your Time

Prioritizing tasks is crucial to balance your work and family life. Here’s the order to follow:

1. Family and Personal Time: Schedule your family and personal time first. This is your top priority.
2. Career Development: Next, schedule the tasks necessary for your career development.
3. Project Meetings: Schedule important meetings for your projects.
4. Handling Project Chaos: Finally, schedule time to handle any chaos or unexpected issues that arise in your projects.

Identifying Resources to Get Your Work Done on Time

To accomplish your tasks within the time you’ve allotted, you need to identify the necessary resources. Ask yourself:

• How many people do I need on my team?
• What technology and software will I need?
• What support will I need to accomplish these tasks?
• What training do I need to improve my efficiency?
• What does my work environment need to look like?

The same planning applies to your family time. Be intentional about how you spend this time and what you need to make the most of it.

Tips to Make the Most of Your Time with Your Family

1. Coordination Time: Spend at least 90 minutes each week with your partner or spouse coordinating family activities.
2. Date Nights: Have two date nights per week – one out of the house and one at home.
3. Proximity Time: Spend at least 15 hours per week in close proximity to your family.
4. Focused Time with Kids: Spend at least 15 minutes of focused time with each child per week.
5. Family Outings: Plan one fun family outing per week.
6. Dinner at Home: Ensure at least two nights per week where the whole family has dinner together at home.
7. No Weekend Work: Avoid working on weekends to rest and rejuvenate.

Achieving Work & Family Life Balance and Blend

Balancing and blending your work and family life is about being intentional and setting boundaries. Constrain your work schedule to fit within these boundaries, and you’ll find creative ways to achieve your goals. Breaking the habit of constantly prioritizing work over family is essential for maintaining a healthy balance.

In conclusion, a good work-life balance and blend come down to intentional planning and communication. By following these tips and recommendations, you can create a harmonious balance between your work and family life, ensuring success and happiness in both areas.

In the description below, I’m going to provide a formatted graphic that will help you manage your time, identify this focus, and maintain this balance so you can have a truly great experience balancing and blending your work and family life. On we go!