1. Be mindful. Don't be a "feather in the wind" and
let life just carry you away. Be conscious and aware of your choices.
Make a list or a schedule of what your priorities are and set them as
goals. Discuss with your partner what should be the goals for your
family. As well, you will also have personal goals. Together they form a
map to guide you as you move forward day-by-day.
2. Share responsibility. Keeping your home
functioning well and raising your children requires much work. And this
work needs to be divided in a smart way. Make a list of everything
that needs to get done, and together with your partner, divide the
responsibilities. If one of you is better with the finances, let him
manage the money. If one of you is better with the decorum in the home,
let her be in charge of this. Nothing needs to be gender specific,
rather the selected and agreed-upon tasks should be done by the person
that is most comfortable and capable in doing it.
3. Have clear home and work boundaries. Nowadays,
many people are able to work from home. This causes a blurring of the
boundaries between home and work. Thus, it is necessary to carefully
monitor time at home and work to make sure they are being dedicated to
the tasks that actually reflect the goals as described in the 1st tip.
You need to be flexible, and sometimes modify your schedule. However, at
the same time you need to be disciplined and know when to switch one
activity off and another activity on.
4. Make a global reality check. Work is for the
benefit of your family. You work hard to improve your home and family
including each and every member, including yourself. Naturally, it is
easy for you to assess your own personal situation if something is
working or not. It is more difficult to know how your efforts are
impacting on others. It is necessary to occasionally check with each
family members, or at least spend some time thinking about them, and
considering whether or not your efforts are bearing dividends that
benefit everyone.
5. Plan. Plan. From time to time, it is important to
reassess your situation. In light of the goals you have set, has there
been progress? If no, how come, and what can be done to rectify the
problem. If yes, is it time for a new goal or do you want to continue
along the same path. Reflect on your personal goals as well as your
family goals. Discuss all of this with your partner. It is a good
opportunity to improve the functioning in your home as well is bring the
two of you closer together.
Spending a few minutes occasionally reflecting on your needs and the
needs of your family can reap profound benefits. It is similar to taking
a long journey. Spending a few moments to plan your route can avoid
mistakes and wasted resources. The same is planning how to harmoniously
balance your work and family life. When everything you do is dedicated
to creating a quality life for everyone in your family, including
yourself, happiness, peace and harmony will be the norm.