So much of what I read about balancing life and work focuses on job-based strategies. Yet, like your job, your family has its own sources of stress as well as satisfaction. If your family is like others, you’re probably overrun with things that need to get done and people to interact with. And if you’re a member of the sandwich generation, you face the additional demand of caring for your own parents as well as your children.
So, how do you find balance at home?
Clearly, time management is as important at home as it is at the office; so, it’s a great place to start. Creating a plan for your family life can help you set goals and priorities, and then using a calendar can help you better manage the routine while making room for the rewarding. It also helps reduce stress. In fact, with planning and managing, you can increase your chances of experiencing more achievement and enjoyment, which are two keys to balance described by work-life balance pioneer, Jim Bird.
Yet, even with great management at home, there is another key to creating a strong and balanced family life ...
...your social support network.
In a study done by the Abundant Assets Alliance, it was found that while 53% of families choose to “go it alone,” families that have and make use of social support networks experience positive benefits and build strong families. Certainly, cultivating a social network is an obvious source of help during rough times, but it can benefit you and your family in the good times as well.
Want to achieve more family life balance? Make time for achievement and enjoyment, and work on your network. Even better, find ways to put these together!
Contact me if you are at mid-life and want to assess your current state of life balance.
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