Balancing Work & Family
Achieving a balance between work and family is a highly personal endeavor. There is no magic formula, and what works for one family may not work for another. It takes planning and resolve, and you’ll need to make choices along the way that align with what’s important to you. As you think about your own plan to balance work and family, here are some things you might consider.
1.Decide what you want. Whether you’re single or married, thinking about children or already have them, you need to know what’s important to you. What kind of parent do you want to be? Are you happy in your current job? Is it a job that’s compatible with raising a family?
2. Pick the right partner. In an oft-repeated message, Sheryl Sandberg, the chief operating officer of Facebook, remarked that one of the most important things you can do for your work/family balance is to pick the right partner. Are you both willing to embrace a 50-50 partnership and share household and child responsibilities to help support your partner’s ability to work? When both sides have similar ideas on work and family, there’s a better chance of balancing both successfully.
3.Think about your career. Along with your salary, consider the workplace flexibility and employee benefits that your job offers, including maternity and paternity leave. If you were to take a leave of absence from your job for a few months or years, would it be relatively easy or difficult to step back in where you left off?
Now, it’s time for the juggle… Let’s assume you’re in the trenches trying to balance work and family. The details are different for everyone, but there are a few common themes.
- Sync your work and child-care schedules.
- Stay organized and share the to-do list.
- Embrace flexibility and communication. Life doesn’t stand still. Children grow. Relationships evolve. Work expectations change. It’s important to stay flexible and make changes when necessary. Is your work schedule still manageable? Are your children thriving in the routine you’ve established?
- Minimize distractions. Pick and choose your activities carefully and be wary of overscheduling.
- Keep the big picture in mind. Working outside the home when you have children requires a significant amount of mental and physical stamina. Let go of the idea that you have to try to “do it all.” Remember, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Even so, be prepared for times when it’s hard to balance everything. In those moments, take comfort in the fact that you are providing for your family’s financial future and doing the best you can.
-Hal B. Holland, Jr., RFC® Vision Financial Group 
Investment Advisor Representative of Investment Advisors, a Registered Investment Advisor and a division of ProEquities, Inc. Securities offered through ProEquities, Inc., a Registered Broker-Dealer, Member FINRA & SIPC. Vision Financial Group, Inc. is Independent of ProEquities, Inc. Prepared by Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. Copyright 2016.
