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Top Ways to Balance Life and Work
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    Career Planning Work Balance

    Top Ways to Balance Life and Work

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    By Wayne Parker
    Updated June 20, 2018

    Committed fathers love spending time with their children, but with today's pressures of work and other priorities, work-life balance can be difficult for fathers. Our smartphones alert us of work concerns all hours of the day and night.  Our family's interests and demands don't stop when our workday starts.  And finding time four our own self-care gets ever more challenging.  Here are some important resources for fathers to help make  Here are some important resources for fathers to help make work-life balance work for them and their families.

  • 01
    Pace Yourself

    Family greeting businessman as he arrives home
    Image Source/Image Source/Getty Images

    Four of my five children have been cross country runners in middle school and high school (the other one is into competitive ballroom dance). All of them have learned the importance of pacing to maximize their effectiveness. The same rules apply in life try to be successful in our efforts at work life balance.

  • 02
    Say No to the Unimportant

    Father and Son Playing Baseball
    Creative RF / Getty Images

    One of my favorite stories from management guru and mentor Stephen Covey is about the gracious way his wife has learned to say "no" to the mountain of requests she gets to help with worthy causes. Work life balance cannot be successful without effective priority setting. Learn ways to set priorities on the things that matter most and to say "no" to the things that matter least.

  • 03
    Take Care of Yourself: Health and Wellness Tips for Dads

    Men's Health - Jogger
    Getty Sports Images

    Sometimes, the things that suffer in our busy lives have to do with our own personal health. Fast food, while a convenient time saver, can lead to weight and health problems. Managing your personal health is essential to balancing work and life. Find out the keys to improving and maintaining your personal health and wellness.

  • 04
    Get a Checkup

    Getting a Checkup
    Getty Images

    Speaking of the importance of health and wellness to finding balance in your life, it's important to stay in touch with your physician as well. Review our checkups calendar to see if it is time for a physical, and what kinds of questions and tests you should anticipate and expect. Being informed about your health is an important part of work life balance.

  • 05
    Stop Being A Workaholic

    Workaholic Father
    Caiaimages / Getty Images

    If you have already found yourself in an addictive pattern with your job, it is time to get out of that habit and commit more time at home. Learn the warning signs of workaholism and the best ways to climb out of that rut so you can find yourself at home more and make more time for better work life balance.

  • 06
    Simplify Your Life

    Father and family outdoors
    Creative RF / Getty Images

    Life tends to get pretty complex, especially for fathers trying to balance so many demands. I was inspired recently by a friend and his wife who set about to simplify their lives and to make more time for the things that were really important to them. He felt that his life and work had never been more balanced than when he started to simplify. This article talks about the whys and hows of getting back to a simpler approach to daily living.

  • 07
    Find a Family Friendly Workplace

    Father in a Toxic Work Environment
    PeopleImages / Getty Images

    I am always inspired when I read about workplaces that recognize that their employees are real people with real needs - that they are "humans" not just "human resources." Find out how to identify and select an employer which will be friendly to your family commitments and support your work life balance priorities.

  • 08
    Eat Together

    Family Meal Together
    Getty Images

    We have always tried in our family to make sure we eat at least one meal a day together. It doesn't always work, but we try hard. Learn more about the work life balance benefits and methods for making a mealtime together work for your family.

  • 09
    Join a Fathers' Support Group

    Men's Support Group
    Caiaimage / Getty Images

    Feeling like you need a little emotional support or connection with other dads? Being a part of a fathers' group can help you find ideas for better work life balance and for reducing the stress of parenthood.

  • 10
    Start Having Family Night

    Family Night Together
    Hero Images / Getty Images

    For many years, our family has set aside one night a week to be together - no interruptions, no excuses. We have modified work schedules, set aside other demands and spent the evening together. Find out why the family night concept works and how to make it happen in your family.

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