As a working professional, you have twin responsibilities upon your shoulders – for your profession; as well as for the special people for whom you work so hard – your family. Sometimes, you might get logged with work and may not even have time for a coffee. In these situations the stress would not only reflect on your work, but it will also affect your family.
But family is family. Even if you have had a bad day at the office, this special group of people will always admire you for your hard work and be there to back you up. All they ask is a fraction of your time and attention. Here’s how you can balance your work and family time even in grinding office hours.
1. A good morning equals a good day
This is the best time to engage your family. Involve your kids and spouse in meditation and exercise early in the morning, ask the kids about their school activities, make breakfast for them, or simply leave them a note or a pre-recorded message and they will be less worried about not spending time with you.
2. Maintain contact
Exhausted or stressed out at work? Take a few deep breaths and call your loved ones. Their voice would be enough to remind you the reason you are working so hard, will boost your energy and give you motivation to work harder. Ask them how they are doing and let them feel your care.
3. Eat out
Arrange for your spouse/partner to meet you at a nearby restaurant for lunch. Talking and sharing your problems with each other will make you lighter and strengthen the trust between you two. There has never been a bigger stress-buster than lunching out together with family.
4. Surprise, surprise !
Who doesn’t love a good surprise ? If you have any upcoming birthdays, anniversary in the week, fret not. You can send the gift through an online portal, to your family’s address and they will have your surprise right at the doorstep. Give them a call after they receive their gift and see your stresses melt away hearing their joyful voice. Try it!
5 . Delegate your job
Build a community of productive people around you who are good at things and help you reduce stress on yourself whenever you need to delegate work and get it done with. Make sure you are available for helping them at their hour of crisis. This collaborative approach sure gives you that extra free time you need, to spend with your family.
6. Pick a new hobby
Always have the perspective of learning something new. Involve your children in it. Pick up a hobby that they find interesting. This would be your chance to know them better and interact with them. Be it chess, any sport, claymaking, gardening, photography, collecting stamps or coins; anything that you can without putting too much stress on yourself.
7. Leave on time
Always leave on time for home. Love your job, but love your family even more, Coz they are the reason you spend so many hours working hard. Even if you have a bad day, they will be there for you to back you up. They deserve your time. Don’t deprive them of that.