BALANCING WORK AND PERSONAL LIFE

People frequently put themselves last and think they are right in doing so. However, if you remember the safety instructions on board an aircraft, they tell you to put your safety mask on first before you attempt to help someone else. You cannot take care of others if you don’t take care of yourself.

Strategies for Managing Work/Family/Personal Life

• Calendar scheduling. Use one calendar for scheduling work, family and personal dates. Use this calendar to use your time efficiently. Block out time for annual leave first and work around it. Before scheduling an event ask yourself is it necessary, realistic, can it be delegated?
  
• Setting boundaries. Leave work at work. Don’t talk about work at home. Some employees use an answering machine to screen calls about work.
  
• Making Family First. Give plenty of positive attention to your family. Weekends are reserved for family members and friends.
  
• Eat meals at unusual times so that the family can be together.
  
• Encourage the help of other family members. Involve all family members with household tasks, making sure that the tasks are age appropriate. Share child care.
  
• Enlist outside support like extended family, friends and modern conveniences.
  
• Videotape missed children’s events, then watch the tape together as a family.
  
• Participate as a family in church/spiritual and other social, non-work organizations.
  
• Communicate, communicate, communicate.
  
• Keep a positive attitude, be organized but flexible, have a plan B, make lists, do
  
• things the night before, be kind and courteous.

Time Saving Ideas

• Take time to plan and organize your day.
  
• Incorporate tasks like planning the day while commuting, cooking while talking on the phone, exercising while watching TV, etc.
  
• Make a “to do” list.
  
• Solve problems one at a time
  
• Notice when you are at your peak and use this time wisely.
  
• Do not expect perfection. It may be necessary to adjust standards to have time to spend elsewhere.
  
• Accomplish parts of a large task rather than trying to finish it all at once.
  
• Start now to manage your time effectively.