By: Natasha Archary
There comes a point where most adults start to question whether there’s more to life than a regular 9 to 5. With the pressure to thrive in all areas of their lives, many parents struggle to find a work-life balance.
Like worker bees in a hive, we tend to focus all our energy into surviving our workdays, leaving little to nothing for our personal lives and family.
Loosen the concrete jungle’s grip on your time and prioritise your passions, and loved ones more with these tips for parents.
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Flexi-working schedules
If we can take one positive thing away from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that most companies can survive with employees working remotely or with a hybrid model.
With everything being so digitally driven today, do you really NEED to be at the office every day? Chances are you don’t.
Arrange to have a more flexible work schedule which leaves more time to find your equilibrium. Flexible working conditions, gives parents the liberty to pick up their little ones from school, to go home and have a meal together or to just catch a movie before bedtime.
With most South African parents waking up earlier and going to sleep later, many do not have the time to spend with their families.
2. Say ‘NO’, more
Being a team-player does not mean you should pick up the slack all the time. Nor does it mean that you have to be accessible after hours. With the exception of emergencies, you need to be able to set boundaries with anyone from work.
As it stands, South Africa has not yet expressly adopted a ‘right to disconnect’ but does have some laws in place.
South African employers should be more mindful that if the nature of a job requires availability after hours, such expectations should be stated formally as a part of an employee’s contractual obligations.
Use your ‘Out Of Office’ replies when you clock out of work in the evenings. Unless there’s a fire at Parliament, it’s not a matter of national security and you can respond in the morning.
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Take your lunch break
It’s your hour to do with as you will. You do not have to take your lunch break at the office. Head home to have lunch with the kids if they get out from school by 13h00.
Or take a later lunch to go pick them up from school, especially if you’re pulling a late night at the office. Plan your days so you can find that work-life balance.
