Work isn’t only taking its toll on mothers, but also on dads and their families according to a new study. This survery found that 22% of fathers say their work has negatively affected relationships with their children, while 26% believe that their job has hurt relationships with significant others.
The prolonged economic uncertainty seems to have affected more working fathers’ balance between professional and family life. The amount of work being brought home from the office is up 27% since 2008 at more than one third of working dads.
This doesn’t mean that working dads do not want to spend time with their family, in fact they are even willing to take a pay cut in order to do so!
Here are five ways to achieve a better work-life balance:
- Talk about it with your family. Let your family know whats going on in your office so they are more understanding when you are away from home or you have to take some work home.
- Organize your schedule. Have every family member add their schedule to a master calendar so you can eliminate any surprises. Also, save your vacation days for those important events, so you are able to attend.
- Have a no work time established. Don’t pick up your phone, don’t check your emails don’t do anything work related from the time you arrive home until after your children have gone to sleep.
- Arrange a flexible work schedule. With today’s technology, more companies are offering telecommuting options, flexible hours, condensed workweeks and other arrangements. Approach your boss with a game plan of how the arrangement would work and how it will benefit the organization.
- Learn to say no. Don’t always say yes. Determine which additional activities are necessary and which you can turn down so you can free up more of your time outside the office.
