Work Life Balance

Happy New Year!
It has been over a year since I have blogged. As a matter of fact, my last post, VISION: LIVING IN PURPOSE EVERYDAY was on January 21, 2021. Since that time I have been doing just that, living a purposeful life. In June of 2021 we welcomed a new edition to our family, our grandson Cree, and he has been a joy in the midst of so much uncertainty. Babies bring such a fresh energy for life and joy into families. They are also cultivators of patience. Can you say growth!

When my daughter decided to return to work, I committed to supporting her and our son-in-love with childcare for the first year because of the state of the world right now, and the uncertainty they had with placing him in childcare in the middle of a pandemic. As a business owner, I primarily work from home, so I thought it would be easy. Well, it has not been. It has been challenging, as well as fruitful.

I'm grateful to have had this shared experience with so many other parents around the world. Since 2020, many parents have had to juggle working from home, while homeschooling their children at the same time during the pandemic. It's hard ya'll!
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However, during this time I have grown so much and I have learned even more. Here are a few tips to maintaining work life balance while working from home with an infant that I have been journaling over the last 5 months. I'd love to hear your feed back and experiences.

• Plan ahead. I use the weekends to plan my week and shop for the things I will need through the day. I also plan out my days and week. Scheduling when you will wake up and what you will do each day ensures that you have a plan. Create a list of tasks that will help you focus on the most critical items in the face of distractions. There will be many. Be flexible.

• Start earlier. Overnights and full days became a norm because of work schedules and distance. By the sixth month not only was baby Cree active but very vocal. Starting my day before he woke up ensured that I was able spend quiet mornings praying, reading my daily devotionals, journaling, and planning my day. This earlier wake up time also ensures that I get dressed for work for the day. ​
• Prioritize. Get the bulk of your work done in short bursts, so you’ll need to prioritize with this in mind.
• Work while they sleep. I use nap time to tackle the most pressing tasks and make calls because it’s quiet.
• Set reasonable goals. To be efficient and productive is always the goal, however, be reasonable and patient with yourself. It can’t all be done in a day.
• Take time for yourself. This may be more difficult if you are a full time parent. Taking time for yourself at the beginning, middle or end of your day, even if for 30 minutes, is non-negotiable. When I have a window I grab my guitar, listen to a podcast, sit in silence, or take a power nap! To do something that fills you is necessary for maintaining balance and mental well-being.

It’s been twenty one years since I’ve had to care for an infant. Back then life was very different and so were my priorities. As a grandparent, I have defiantly gained a greater level of patience, flexibility, and overall well-being through this experience. As you can see from these tips, I have gained not only parenting strategies to maintain a work life balance, but also useful business skills to add to my toolbox.

Let's keep the conversation going.

​~ Stay At Home Grandparent & Business Owner
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