How To Balance Work With Fatherhood
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance is difficult enough these days but for working fathers, the stakes are even higher. You may need to work shifts with no consistent pattern, taking the hours as they come. Even a traditional 9-to-5 office job can intrude on time with your family due in part to the always-connected nature of today’s digitized workplace.
Between the demands of your job, completing household duties (even with a spouse or partner), and being there for your kids, there is a lot to juggle. Moreover, only one in five working parents say their employers offer childcare benefits such as daycare or preschool assistance.
With so much on their plates, it’s no wonder many dads today feel burnt out and anxious about whether or not they’re being the best parent they can be. Balancing all the responsibilities you have might seem like an impossible task, but there is hope. Some foresight and thoughtful planning can help you to be a great dad while also getting all of your tasks done.
You might feel as if you’re struggling to keep up with what you have to do, but taking the time to develop a strategy with your family leads to not only a better work-life balance but also stronger bonds within your household. Here are some ideas you can use to ensure you always have time to be a good father and keep your career on track.
Creating More Time for Family
It’s been proven time and again that kids are better off when their parents take an active role in their lives. As a father, you want to make sure that you’re getting time with your children, not just a handful of moments between shifts or when you’re not keeping an eye on your smartphone. On the other hand, you also want to be sure that the time you’re spending with your kids is meaningful, and that you’re not just dragging them along as you run errands.
One of the most important ways you can be there for your children is to start a bedtime routine. Set aside a specific block of time before bed for reading stories, giving baths, or anything else that helps your child wind down at the end of the day. This also creates an opportunity to talk about their day and engage with them. It’s also important to designate one day a week — preferably over the weekend — for family activities only.
When it comes to taking care of chores in your off-work hours, planning plays a big role in success. If possible, you could try setting a schedule with your spouse or partner to share these tasks so they are done faster. You can also try getting the kids involved if they’re old enough. Choosing to order groceries online and have them delivered could take some of the burden off your shoulders as well.
Keeping Work From Overwhelming You
We live in a culture that emphasizes giving 110% at all times, especially when it comes to our careers. However, it’s crucial that you set boundaries between your work and your home life if you want to be as successful at being a father as well as at your job.
For example, remote work and hybrid offices have become a much more popular option for employers. If there’s a possibility that you can take advantage of it, such an arrangement could mean less time spent commuting and more time spent with your family. You also should set a specific cut-off time for engaging with work, turning off your phone, laptop or any other devices you use to ensure you have no distractions. Finding a job that offers childcare amenities also may relieve some of the pressure and allow you to fully enjoy the moments you spend with your children.
At times, it may be difficult to balance all of your duties as a working father. The truth is, no matter if you are a teacher, sales representative, or job site superintendent, you can manage to find the balance needed to ensure you can be the presence in your kids’ lives they need to thrive and grow. For more tips, take a look at the accompanying resource.
This infographic was created by Michael Page, an agency for construction superintendent jobs
Author bio: Nicole Marie is Senior Content Executive at Michael Page, an international recruiting firm. Before joining the recruitment industry, she worked in media and journalism. She now covers employment trends and insights in a variety of industries such as construction, technology and marketing.