5 Essential Tips for Working Parents

Struggling to strike a balance between work and parenting? You’re far from alone. 

In fact, many parents experience parental burnout as they grapple with the seemingly impossible task of navigating increasingly busy schedules and parental duties. 

Even at the best of times, parenting is a circus-level plate-spinning act as you attempt to strike a balance between work, household chores, helping with homework, and you know… actually enjoying quality time with your children. 

And while the rise in remote working has taken some of the pressure off, the work/home life juggling act is still a daily reality for millions of parents, posing genuine concerns for parental well-being. 

But while it isn’t possible to eliminate the balancing act, it is possible to take steps to make it a little more manageable, protecting your health and well-being. 

With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of handy tips for working parents, including:

• Embrace schedules
• Don’t overstretch yourself
• Build a support network
• Manage employer expectations 
• Make time for play

FYI: Balancing work and family commitments can be hugely challenging, especially if you have a demanding, time-consuming job. 

So, as you can imagine, you’ll likely need to experiment a little to figure out what works (or is possible) for you; everyone’s story is different. 

And so, with that in mind, let’s unpack our tips for working parents. 

1.Embrace Schedules

As a working parent, schedules are your friend. 

Whether it’s sketching out your weekly meal plan, tackling the dreaded laundry pile, or squeezing in some quality time as a family, establishing clear schedules can help you navigate the chaos of life as a working parent.

And while you may bristle at the prospect—who needs more routines?—sticking to a carefully planned schedule at home can streamline your day-to-day, lessening the likelihood of parent burnout. 

It doesn’t have to be complex. Just a simple, repeatable framework for your homelife. Something that you can rely on to keep things moving. 

The trick is to identify when your day is most hectic and draft up a plan to address that. Ask yourself: when am I most overwhelmed? 

If your mornings are a frantic blur of toast, teeth brushing, and tantrums, take a step back and put together a routine that allows ample time for your to-do list. 

For example:

• 06:00 – 06:30 – Breakfast
• 06:30 – 07:00 – Brush teeth, get dressed,
• 07:00 – 07:30 – Make lunches, pack bags
• 07:30 – 08:00 – Household task (e.g. starting dishwasher, sorting laundry)
• 08:00 – Set off for work/nursery

FYI: It may take some time and experimentation to strike the right balance, but once you’ve found a schedule that works, stick with it; you’ll be surprised how much lighter you feel. 

2.Don’t Overstretch Yourself

Repeat after us: “I can’t be in two places at once.” 

It’s an easy trap to fall into, isn’t it? As parents, we’re often guilty of defining ourselves by our ability to ‘get stuff done’, likely driven by harmful (and outdated) ‘super-parent’ rhetoric. 

But, like an athlete running on an injured foot, if you overstretch yourself, you’ll eventually burn out, likely at the worst possible time. 

Because the truth is, no matter how desperately you’d like to slay your to-do list, some days it just won’t be possible.

Often, this means making tough (read: frustrating) decisions about which tasks need your attention the most and filing the rest under ‘tomorrow’s problem.’

By keeping your task list more manageable, you’ll find that your patience for everyday frustrations will improve, and you’ll be more present for your little one. 

3.Build a Support Network

FYI: This list isn’t in order. Each entry is equal. Your mileage may vary.

That said, if there’s any piece of advice for working parents that shouldn’t be ignored, it’s building a strong, reliable support network. 

Whether you need to briefly lighten the childcare load so you can focus on demanding work tasks, seek advice from someone in a similar situation, or just vent frustrations over a cup of coffee, your support network is your life raft when the parental waters get choppy. 

And while there’s the in-built support network of your extended family, there’s a lot of emotional entanglement there, and lines can become blurred, so it’s wise to cultivate a support network beyond your friends and family.

That will, of course, look different for everyone. 

You might join a parenting group. You might attend community events hosted by schools and libraries. You might even seek professional help—such as talking therapies—if things are tough.

You could even look into joining online parenting communities, such as Gingerbread or netmums, or other similar sites where parents offer support, advice, and encouragement in forums. 

Some working parents seek to build community in the workplace, too, setting up social events designed to offer support and solidarity.

However you build your support network, doing so is crucial for working parents, and can help you feel seen, supported, and understood.  

4.Manage Your Employer’s Expectations 

Work eats up a lot of your time. And while that’s normal, it’s important to be frank and open with your employer if they’re asking too much.

For example, if there’s an expectation of constant overtime or out-of-hours working that conflicts with your childcare needs, gently raise this with your employer. 

That can be anxiety-inducing, but you’d be surprised how often a simple conversation can clear the air and improve the situation. (It doesn’t hurt to know your rights as a working parent, either.) 

Similarly, if you find yourself constantly pressed for time or headspace, you could discuss a change in your day-to-day responsibilities at work or even request flexible hours to better support your work/life balance. 

We’re by no means suggesting that employers deliberately ask too much or cross boundaries, but in demanding workplaces, the ‘pitching in’ mentality can create a real headache for parents. 

Remember: you’re well within your rights to request accommodations in the workplace as a parent, and while not every request is feasible, you’d be surprised at how many are, providing they’re raised frankly and professionally. 

5. Make time for Play

FYI: for this entry, we’re referring solely to your homelife. Playing at work is at the discretion of your employer. (Unless they’ve got super relaxed policies.) 

Joking aside, it’s easy to find yourself constantly ‘switched on’ to work, forever thinking about that next meeting or mentally planning out your task list. 

And we’re here to say: don’t. (At least for a little while.)

Work is essential for both financial security and offering a sense of purpose. But it’s just that – work. And if you let it, it’ll occupy your headspace at all times.

Fortunately, there’s an easy (and fun!) solution that’ll put work back in its box and create magical moments with your little one(s). 

Play!

Whether you’re raiding the dressing-up box, sinking into a board game session, or getting sporty in your back garden (or public space), setting aside time to play as a family is essential—and will help to reframe your work/life balance. 

Every working parent is, at some point, guilty of bringing work home. For many, it’s unavoidable. But by baking time into your life for playing as a family, you’ll improve your mood, put work into perspective, and enjoy some quality time with your little one.

Which is what truly matters.

And there you have it. 5 tips for working parents, intended to help balance work and family a little easier. Do you have any go-to tips of your own? Follow us on social media and pay it forward. 

Need more parenting advice? Check out our blog, where you’ll find articles on everything from time-saving tips for parents to claiming child benefits.