Being a working parent is extremely stressful. Particularly if you have a high-pressure job. It feels like you never have a moment to yourself and you don’t get much time to recuperate. To strike a good work life balance takes discipline and a lot of hard work.

Here are 12 tips to help working parents strike a good work-life balance

1.Don’t stress too much

This is easier said than done. Having so much on your plate can cause you to worry and stress out. Stressing out is counterproductive. To be a great parent you have to do your best to eliminate as much stress from your life as possible. If you try your best, work hard and have time for your family then you are doing a good job.

There are thousands of free resources online on how to deal with stress. Get more exercise, sleep well and eat a good diet are some simple things that you can do to help you cope with stress. It is hard work but you need to do whatever it takes for you to be in the best state for your family.

2.Don’t expect perfection

Everybody has problems and imperfections. Do not expect to be perfect and learn to accept things the way they are. You can always strive to be better but never compare yourself to other people. It is not possible to achieve perfection in everything that you do. Chasing perfection will leave you feeling unfulfilled.

3.Make time For Yourself

As a working parent, it can fell that you have no time for yourself. You tell yourself that there is not enough time to do what you want to do. There is enough time you just need to manage your time better. One of the best things that you can do with your time is to make time for yourself. Take time to read, workout or catch up on some sleep. A simple hour to yourself every day will make all the difference to your well being.

4.Have a morning routine

If you win the morning, you win the day. Having a morning routine is one of the best ways of striking an amazing work-life balance. It takes discipline and early bedtimes but it’s worth it. Try to schedule an hour every morning to workout, meditate, read and look at your goals. A simple morning routine will help you achieve more balance in your life.

5.Have a bedtime routine

To have a good morning routine you need a good bedtime routine. Make sure that you get enough sleep and turn off your screens an hour before you go to bed. Read a good book instead of interrupting your brain with blue light from your phone. A recent Harvard Study explains how blue light can be detrimental to your overall health. A good nighttime routine will make getting up much easier.

6.Get enough sleep

Sleep could be the most important part of a good work-life balance. You need to get between 7.5 and 9 hours sleep per night. Everybody is different and occasionally we can get by on less sleep but a good deep sleep helps you perform better. Getting enough sleep is like therapy and it will make your whole life easier.

6.Eat well

When you become a parent it is easy to become lazy and fall into a trap of eating unhealthily. Being overweight and having an unhealthy diet negatively impacts your energy levels. If you want balance in your life you need a good level of energy. Nutrition plays a major role in energy levels so you need to eat well.

7.Excercise

Exercise combined with good sleep and a healthy diet is key to living a balanced life. If you are strong physically then you are strong mentally. Being physically and mentally sharp helps you to work hard and enjoy time with your family. A good exercise routine is hard to keep up but it will help you deal with the stress of trying to maintain a good work-life balance.

8.Practice gratitude

If you spend time actively being grateful for what you have your worries will disappear. When you wake up every morning and go to bed each evening write down three things that you are grateful for. This simple practice will help change your outlook on life. Focusing on gratitude is one of the keys to living in the moment and appreciating what you have. Try the five-minute journal to get your gratitude journey started.

9.Schedule your day

There are lots of things that you need to do to maintain a good work-life balance. To fit so much into your day you will need to strictly schedule what you need to do. A life of discipline means a life of freedom. Schedule each hour and don’t forget to schedule a time to relax and have fun.

10.Make time for your kids

Make sure that you are not working too much. Your kids are the most important thing in your life. Don’t work so much that you are not there for them. All that they need is your time. Make sure that you spend at least two hours of quality time with them every single weekday. On the weekend you need to spend as much time with them as possible.

11.Make time for your partner

You and your partner created your family. If you really want to have balanced life then you need to have a happy relationship. This means that you need to make time for the love of your life. Simple things like having a meal together every day or a monthly date night make all the difference

12.Have goals

To be happy you need to be working towards something. Write down a goal that you want to achieve and work towards it every day. This simple direction in life gives you something to wake up for every morning. If you wake up energised then you will find it easier to live a balanced life.

Thanks for taking the time to read these tips. It is not easy to attain a good work life balance but it is not impossible. It takes hard work and discipline. If you are willing to make sacrifices then you can live a happy and balanced life. Do you have any other tips on how to achieve a work-life balance? I would love to hear from you in the comments below

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