4 Ways To Achieve a Work-life Balance During the Pandemic

Two years of remote working has taken a toll on many families who have been struggling to keep a work-life balance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, as the crisis hits the third year, some major companies across the world are not only introducing flexible online work hours for their staff. In Japan and many European companies, workdays have been cut from five to three or four days a week so parents could avoid a burn-out.

Research in the U.S. showed that half of the American workers are considering a change of jobs to achieve a work-life balance. According to Dr. Lauren Pasquarella Daley of the Women and the Future of Work, expectations have changed and shifted as workers adapt to the new normal.

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But while a four or three-day workweek trend has yet to become popular in the U.S., here are some ways parents can make the most of their work-life balance during the pandemic:

Set a Daily Planner

Every digital device has a planner and options for installing a planner app to streamline schedules. If you haven't been using this feature, it's time to explore the basic calendar tool of your mobile phone and see how it will work. Or if you are old-fashioned and like to write everything down, a planner may be the best tool for you to use. Having a paper planner gives you the creative freedom to color-code tasks, add planner stickers, and highlight more important information. Schedule everything, especially meal times with families, self-care activities, and creative time with the kids.

According to Psychology Today, a planner is stress relief, especially for parents with a hectic schedule. As you follow a daily schedule, you avoid putting too much on your plate and still make time for work and the family.

Turn off gadget notifications when you're not working

If you use certain apps for work, you can schedule these to automatically turn off after-hours. This will force you to separate your work schedule from your personal schedule and eliminate any stress of dividing your time between the kids and your work chat. Commit to only checking your work accounts while you're on the clock and, of course, prioritize the children.

At the same time, reduce your penchant for scrolling through your social media feeds when you're with the kids. Save that for when the children are tucked in bed and sleeping soundly at night.

Involve Your Partner

When you have too much on your plate at work, involve your partner and divide the household chores between yourselves. Some husbands might feel that they can't help out because they might make the situation worse. This is especially true for first-time parents who have not been around kids too much. If this is the case, give the simpler tasks to your partner and then build on this when they have enough confidence and skills to handle the children.

Never feel guilty about balancing work and life

Be kind to yourself and never feel guilty about wishing you have a different job that pays more and offers a better work-life balance. Instead, focus on the bright side and prioritize the things that matter, as sulking in misery may be counterproductive.

Be thankful that you have a job during the worst time and that you could spend more time with the kids to watch them grow and develop into their own person.

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