We live in a society where parents clock in 80+ hours of work every week, trying to make ends meet. These individuals fail to realize that stretching their bodies to such limits can easily lead to burnout and ruin their quality of life.
Sure, working hard to achieve professional goals is important. But so is spending time with family and taking care of your health. To help you achieve the perfect work-life balance, this post explains how to relax when you’re a workaholic.
Have a Schedule
As a working parent, you will always have many things to do at home and your workplace. The two areas can easily overlap if you don’t have a schedule, particularly if you work from home. You’ll find yourself doing work projects when you should be spending time with family, and vice versa.
To avoid this, consider creating and adhering to a realistic schedule. Better yet, share this schedule with family members. This way, your kids will know when it’s okay to play with mommy and when to mind their business.
I'd recommend a dedicated workspace for parents who work from home. This will allow you to focus on your work when you need to and completely unplug when it’s time to do so.
Switch off Work Notifications
One mistake that working parents make is continuing to work even when they get home.
Allowing your career to override family time is what throws off your work-life balance. Instead, you should be deliberate and switch off from work once you get home.
As soon as you walk through that door, turn off those work notifications. Similarly, avoid picking up work calls and checking work emails when you’re in the middle of an important activity with your kids. This is the only way you can offer your children undivided attention.
Get Home Relaxed
Did you know that kids can pick up on your mood, be it anger or anxiety? Your child can tell if you’re always stressed when you get home.
If this happens regularly enough, your little one will exhibit similar negative energy. This means that your work stress will be affecting their emotional development. For this reason, always pay attention to your state of mind when spending time with your kids.
If a work-related incident is causing you stress, deal with it before you get home. Play loud music in your car on your way home, pass by your favorite pizza joint, go for an evening gym session - do whatever it takes to de-stress.
This ensures that when you finally sit down for a family meal or help your kids with homework, you’re not projecting your stress on them.
Outsource Household Chores
The reason why a lot of working parents end up stressed is because they try to do everything by themselves.
But here’s the thing, juggling between work and raising children takes a toll on even the most organized person. You shouldn’t have to do laundry, wash dishes, clean, and make dinner after spending an entire day at work.
If your kids are too young to help with household chores, enlist the help of professionals. Hire a cleaning service, order takeout on some nights, and consider shopping online. This reduces the number of domestic chores you must do, allowing you to spend quality time with your family.
Prioritize Self-Care
Want to learn how to relax from work stress? Start by practicing self-care. You devote a lot of time to caring for your family and meeting your employers’ needs.
However, devoting some time to yourself is equally important. Be deliberate with your time and choose a day or a few hours where you do something you enjoy. This could be as simple as spending 30 minutes reading your favorite novel, taking a stroll, or meditating.
Wake Up Early and Retire Even Earlier
One of the best-kept secrets for de-stressing is resting. Getting no less than seven hours of sleep every night helps you wake up energized and ready to tackle the day’s activities.
When you get enough rest, you’re able to think clearly and come up with solutions to any challenges you encounter.
Besides, retiring to bed early helps you wake up early; preferably earlier than your little ones. This, in turn, gives you some much-needed “me-time” before you start caring for everyone else.
Learn to Set Boundaries
When was the last time you said ‘no’ to somebody? If you’re a people-pleaser, it’s probably been a long time since.
Learning to say no can go a long way in reducing the everyday stresses of life. Is your boss requesting you to work during the weekend when you are scheduled to have some time off? Turn down their request.
Do you have friends or family members who are always asking for unnecessary requests? Learn to say ‘no’. You’ll be surprised at how much relief you’ll get from this.
Rely on Your ‘Tribe’
You’ve probably heard the proverbial saying that “It takes a village to raise a kid.” And it’s true. Parenting is so much easier when you have a support system.
So strive to surround yourself with people who can support you mentally, physically, and even financially. Make friends with working parents going through similar situations.
Share your challenges and celebrate triumphant moments with them. Exchange recommendations and help solve one another’s problems. Draw from your ‘tribe’s’ experiences and rely on them for support. Remember, many hands make light work!
Have Fun
Juggling between parenting and working is no mean feat. But it doesn’t have to be grueling all the time. Try introducing some fun activities that you and your kids can engage in.
Do your kids love to read? Then spare some time to read a few chapters with them each night. Are your kids into art? Spare one Saturday afternoon and attend a painting workshop with them or schedule a visit to the museum.
Conclusion
Working and raising kids at the same time doesn’t have to be overwhelming. If you’re finding it stressful, it’s because you’re not approaching the situation correctly.
Start by creating a realistic schedule and stick to it. Next, set boundaries, delegate where necessary, and switch off your work notifications. Moreover, prioritize self-care, rely on your support system, and remember to have fun.