This week was the first full work week post-holidays for many employees throughout the Polk County area, and whenever you’ve enjoyed a break, some adjustment (and a few groans and complaints) are normal when trying to jump back into routine. However, for some employees today was the first day back to work after a much longer hiatus. Perhaps you’re going back to work after a 12-week maternity leave, or maybe you’re going back into a work environment for the first time in several months, or even years. Regardless of how long you’ve been away, it can take some time to adjust to the daily grind of balancing work and life outside the office, especially if you have a family to care for at home as well.
We understand the struggle, so we’ve compiled these tips to help you make life at home a little more manageable as you get into the swing of heading into work each day.
- Carpools will be your friend. If you have children who require a ride to/from school each day, and/or to various lessons or practices throughout the week, transportation can become a huge problem when you head back to work. Talk to neighbors, fellow parents at school, other families with children in the same classes/on the same teams, etc. and find out if any of them would like to organize a carpool schedule. It’s a great way to make sure each child gets where they need to go, without you having to take endless hours off work to get to pick up and drop off locations in time.
- Learn the art of preparing ahead. Prepping the night before is a huge part of making your mornings efficient and successful. Whether for your kids, or for yourself, make an effort to choose clothing for the next day, have backpacks/bags ready by the door, and lunches packed. If you really want an easy morning, try to do some breakfast prep ahead of time too! The more you get done at night, the less you have to worry about during the pre-work and before school rush.
- Have a plan in place for sick days. When you have kids at home, sickness is bound to happen. When it does, have a plan ready! If your job allows you to use your own sick time for family emergencies, you can judge whether or not your child’s illness warrants you staying home with him/her. If you don’t have that option, have a grandparent, babysitter, neighbor, or another trusted adult on call for these less-than-ideal circumstances. The peace of mind knowing you won’t be left scrambling when you kiddo wakes up with a cold or a stomach flu is invaluable.
- Invest in a family calendar. Whether you choose a large wall-calendar in paper and ink format, or a digital calendar that syncs to everyone’s phones/tablets/computers, having the various practices, games, work days, school activities, parties, etc. in one location where everyone can see what’s coming up in a week is a great way to stay organized and prevent double booking.
Good luck as you kick off this new season of balancing work and home life! If managing your household is going well, but managing your job hunt is proving difficult, PHR Staffing Solution is the answer. We provide recruiting and staffing services for companies throughout the greater Polk County area, and with offices in Lakeland, Winter Haven, and Lake Wales, we are conveniently located near YOU. We continually update our site with openings waiting for you to apply, and after you do, we’ll match you with positions that fit your qualifications and needs, and then assist you through the interview process and beyond. Give us a call and find out how we can help you, or apply for one of our current openings online to get started.