Ten Ways to Balance Work & Family

Balance Work and Family

Written By:  Doreen Dilger, The Home Based Business Coach
www.doreendilger.com

Balancing between work and home especially while have a home based business can be difficult, but with a little planning, you can make it work for you.  Here are ten tips that will help you balance your work and home.

1.  Set realistic goals.  It's pretty much a given fact that if you want to achieve something big, you have to make some sacrifices.  While the select few can manage, most people have a difficult time balancing work and home.  When setting your goals, be realistic and don't stretch yourself too thin.

2.  Make schedules.  Keeping track of work and your family can be difficult to plan.  Try to keep a set schedule from day to day and week to week if you can.  Always remember to make a written schedule and give everyone a copy or have one place or central area where you keep this information.

3.  Take time for yourself.  It's a natural instinct of mothers to sacrifice themselves for the good of their family.  However, it's important to remember that if you don't take care of yourself, you can't take care of anyone else.  Try to schedule in at least a few minutes of "your time", whether it be going for a run, watching your favorite TV show, or just sitting in a room by yourself to relax for a few minutes.   

4.  Work in a private area.  If you can do your work in a private area where you can close your door this will give you private time to concentrate on a project.  If you can give yourself at least 20 minutes to an hour of private time this will help you get more done.

5.  Get some exercise.  Working out is not only a great way to stay healthy and gain energy, it's also a great way to spend time with your kids or dogs.  Instead of hitting the gym, go play ball in the park or take them for a walk.

6.  Delegate.  I can't say enough about delegating work that you can't get to or don't want to do.  There are many ways to delegate.  You can hire a part-time assistant or even a high school kid to come in and answer emails, file, make calls, do social media posts or even entertain your children (and dogs) for an hour at a time.   If you can't afford to hire someone then look into bartering with other professionals or Moms.

7.  Prioritize.  When making your to-do lists, figure out the things that are most important for you to do and get them done first. If there isn't enough time to do everything on your list, you won't feel as bad about what you can't accomplish that day.

8.  Find a network group.  Search for a networking group that is close to you.  Working from home can sometimes be lonely for some people.  If you go to a networking group at least once a month it will motivate and inspire you.  I attend American Business Women's Association and Litchfield County Business Women's networking groups.  These are dinner meetings are only once a month.  It is nice to make new contacts, share tips and get feedback on ideas.

9.  Watch for burn out.  Even if you schedule everything, take breaks, and do everything else above, what you're doing may just be too much for you.  Watch yourself for changes in mood or physical problems.  They could be a sign that you're burnt out and need to make some changes to your plans.  Remember, your health is important too.

10.  Learn to say no.  If you want to have a successful business and family life, you will have to learn to say no occasionally.  If you try to do everything, you're going to burn yourself out and not be able to take care of anyone. Having a home based business  doesn't mean you need to do everything you're asked.

If you would like more information about working from home please visit www.doreendilger.com

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