Working and managing a home is a task that few manage without some imbalance at one time or another. Everyone needs to think practically about their 'work life' balance, and whether it's really right for them. Here's our guide for all working parents to doing just that.

Plan ahead

It’s easy to say and hard to do, but planning is your best weapon when thinking about this balance. A forward-looking plan is vital to stop things getting on top of you. Needless to say, everything won’t always turn out precisely as you hoped, but a plan of action should, at least, help you feel more able to cope with the unexpected.

Prioritise

Finding a work-life balance is all about prioritising and compromising between competing claims on your time and attention. Work out what is most important to you and make that your top priority, perhaps at the expense of less important factors.

Work together

If you find a way to work with your partner and family towards a shared goal, you’ll achieve a lot more than battling away on your own, and you might even have some fun into the bargain.

Make the most of your time together as a family

Time together as a family is avaluable thing, especially if you are working all week, so make the most of your weekends and holidays.

Get into a pattern

It can be easier to plan time off when you do if you make it part of a regular routine. Try setting aside one day a week for family time.

Avoid extra stress

Try to keep on top of your finances and other sources of stress so that your mind won’t be elsewhere when you’re spending time with your family.

Know when to stop

If you are running around all day after other people it can be hard to know when to take a break and even harder to relax when you do, so find ways to help you wind down such as lighting a scented candle or using relaxation techniques.

Make time for yourself

Work-life balance is not just about what your boss and your kids and your partner need from you. It’s also about what you need, so schedule some “me” time into your week, even if it’s just taking 10 minutes out to read a book or relax in the bath.

Find out about flexible working

For many parents flexible hours or working part time can offer a practical solution to the problem of balancing work and home life.

Think about a change of direction

More radically, if your current job requires long hours and an inflexible working pattern, you might want to consider changing the direction of your career towards a less fast-paced industry where your skills and experience will still be valued. Find out more about retraining for a new career from Learndirect (http://www.learndirect.co.uk/).

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