This article is written by Adel, who is a lawyer by training, and was a litigation lawyer in her previous life. She's now an over-indulgent mum to two little girls, aged eight years and three months. She currently works part time at Caregiverasia as General Counsel. Aside from entertaining her kids, Adel spends her spare time scouring for good eats in Singapore and beyond. She especially enjoys documenting her obsession for good food in the form of photos on Instagram. Always thinking of what and where to eat next...
As a mum of two little girls, it is doubtless more challenging than ever to juggle the demands of a part time job and the daily demands of the home and family. This is a time where work-life strategies are crucial. Simply because it allows me to plan and manage my work responsibilities as legal counsel alongside personal needs.
- Managing Time
Managing daily lists of tasks makes all the difference. I have had to delegate certain tasks to the helper and family. This allows you to have a better view of time that has been freed up for work commitments.
- Making a List
Putting events on a calendar, and keeping a daily to-do list at home and at work. Having a plan helps maintain balance.
- Making Good Use of My Options
The more control I have over my hours, the less stressed I become. Hence, choosing the type of work that fits my plan and schedule is the key. Having made a conscious decision to separate work time from personal time, I am now able to decide how much income-generating time I can spare. In the advent of on-demand health care services, companies like CaregiverAsia, which is a platform for freelance health care professionals and workers, it is so easy to match available work time to the needs of clients, with the use of technology which connects to an immediate base of clients. This to me is the most efficient strategy for freelance individuals.
- Learning to Work Smarter, Not Harder
Productivity – to get the most out of my time. This is a matter of prioritization – allowing myself a certain amount of time per day for work tasks, and dedicating enough time to the family. Being a quasi-freelancer allows me to set my own rules: my time is in my control and being able to commit to a schedule which does not interfere with time with my children is truly liberating.
Freelancing with a family definitely requires an additional set of rules and skills. Let's have a look at the strategies that other freelance stay-home parents have engaged to achieve that work-life balance.
"With such a full-load on our plate, it is essential to have stress relieving strategies to help you stay sane. Sign up for meditation, yoga, or exercises classes. Maintain a healthy relationship with your family and friends. Time-saving means like cooking delicious meals with slow cookers or having groceries delivered to your home will also help to reduce stress." – Meiling Wong from Careermums.
"Outline your schedule. Block off family time like any other project. If a client asks for that time, the answer is always no. It’s non-negotiable." – Zach Everson, a father of two-under-four who writes for AOL Travel and Gadling.
"Let go of the idea of doing it all. There’s this misguided idea out there that parents must be perfect. Square meals. Proper bedtimes. Only educational activities. Oh, and please keep the house immaculate while writing impeccable prose. If the house gets messy, if you end up wearing dirty clothes, if you order in — it’s ok." – Leigh Shulman juggles between motherhood and running Creative Revolution Retreats.
Every person has different family demands, so one really need to find your own work-life balance; ask for help when you need it, and set your own boundaries whether as a part time employee or as a freelancer.
And with this, we hope to continue to spread the word on the help that is available for Careseekers as well as an open invitation for experienced Caregivers to join the CaregiverAsia community. Caregivers who post services on the CaregiverAsia website practice 100% on their own terms, right down to their availability, and service costing. There are no subscription fees or posting fees for Caregivers. There are many people looking for care services now, so do sign up online on our website, or call +65 6258 6683 to talk to us.
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