Balancing your work and personal life is always a struggle. On one hand, you want to devote necessary time to your career, but everyone needs little fun. And if you’re in a relationship or have kids, you need some time and energy for them too. It’s hard to even nurture a friendship if you’re working all the time. Here’s how you can balance work, family, and fun.
Adhere to your company’s policy
We all need a day at home here and there when we can reply to emails and field phone calls while nursing a sick kid, meeting a friend for brunch, or just catching up on chores. Find out about your company’s policies for flex scheduling and working for home. 
You might be able to negotiate a day of the week that’s part of your regular routine.
Minimize your stress
Use your commute time to stabilize your mood before you get home. Relax before you come in the door or meet with other family or friends, so you can be present to everyone else. If you’re stressed, anxious, or unhappy, your loved ones will pick up on that and being around you will become difficult.
Eat dinner as a family
This is a tough piece of advice to follow, especially as your kids start getting older and everyone’s headed out the door to practices, lessons, and events. But mealtime is a great time to check in, find out about everyone’s days, and even just schedule and plan for the weekend. Even if you have to come home late and dinner’s already been cleaned up, take time to have dessert or a quick snack with your kids. Listen to their joys, their worries, and any other dramas in their little lives. If family dinners aren’t an option, find another way to be part of your kids’ routine. Join them for their bedtime routine, make one night a week a special night, or do something fun or meaningful with them on the weekends—movie night, game night, Sunday brunch, or bowling—the possibilities are endless!
Schedule fun 
Honestly, yes, it sounds a little lame, but the truth is that we’re all busy, so use your calendar for fun and social events. Whether it’s a happy hour with friends, a weekend hike with your family, a date night with your spouse, or your daughter’s soccer game, program reminders into your phone so you won’t miss these special events.
Keep your time sacred
Force yourself to take a break from work. Even if it’s just a mental break while you lose yourself in a podcast or Instagram, those pockets of personal time are crucial so you don’t burn out and stop appreciating life.
For tips on balancing work and fun, check out our website at https://www.chiefofstaffkc.com.
Blog written by Erin Greenhalgh