Do you find yourself battling the stress of cultivating a successful career balancing a family life? I totally understand what it’s like! It can be daunting trying to harmonize it all while still making time for yourself. My wife and I have stressful businesses coupled with two children under 5 years old – we feel ya when it comes to parental guilt!
Managing all the new challenges that parenting brings can be difficult, but don’t worry – we’ve been there too! Throughout our years as parents, we have compiled a few tips and tricks to make life a little easier. It’s not always easy, I know; every day will bring something unexpected your way. But trust me when I say you’re doing an amazing job: hang in there! Keep reading for stories from others who understand where you are right now, lessons along the journey of parenthood, and essential advice on how to become an outstanding Superparent!
Social Media Monster
We are all susceptible to the lure of this monster – yet with countless blogs, documentaries, and personal stories that utterly expose its deceptive nature, it’s paramount that we don’t let ourselves get taken in by it. Social media can be a double-edged sword in our lives, affecting our personal, marital, professional, and parental egos. It’s not all doom and gloom though; social networks have been a lifesaver for friends and families that are miles apart. During the pandemic, it was especially helpful to those who felt isolated – enabling them to stay connected with others and remain uplifted during such trying times. That being said, we must make sure we use this platform responsibly!
Nowadays, many people use social media to propagate a distorted version of reality. We all know individuals who create this illusion of “perfection” – which is later revealed to be far from the truth. Although I’m no expert on psychology and thus won’t speculate why they do it, my purpose in writing this piece is simply to remind you that what we see online isn’t always reflective of genuine life events – so don’t compare yourself with those on social media! People rarely share their struggles or chaotic moments; instead, only positive highlights are broadcasted for the world to see. Our lives are all distinct, and we each prioritize differently – neither of which is considered right or wrong. What it takes to be a successful parent and professional is only determined by what matters most to us. With that in mind, let me introduce my next topic.
Reaching for Success
How do we define success? Our best advice is to not seek answers on Google or YouTube. We have both experienced difficulties with this question and achieved certain heights of accomplishment in our careers that should have marked us as successful, but still felt unfulfilled. As parents, we thought completing all the “correct” steps would make us successful yet constantly feel like failures instead.
So What Does Success Look Like?
We understand that success is not defined by the conventional metrics of money, power and status. If a person has all those things but lacks joy or love from their family, are they truly successful? People tend to equate others’ successes with what they possess rather than how much character exists in their lives. So here’s our conclusion: Success should be whatever you want it to be – unhindered by societal expectations or others’ opinions.
My Experience of Success
The day I woke up to go to a job that earned more money than I’d expected, but still caused me morning dread and mental fatigue each day, was the moment when it clicked for me. Money is necessary, of course—but true success and happiness are worth infinitely more! If you can have both financial stability and emotional fulfillment simultaneously? Congratulations on living an amazing life. On the other hand, if one is taking precedence over the other in your daily decisions…perhaps it’s time for reevaluation. Before you misconstrue my words to mean that if you are not affluent and content, then your life is not remarkable. I did not specify ‘rich’, but rather “financial stability”. If this means a family with an income of $40,000 per year who are completely satisfied with their lives, then I would say that they have achieved true success.
Defining Your Success
Ultimately, you should make decisions that optimize your life. Don’t let outside influences dictate how to live your life. For instance, if you have an employer who doesn’t recognize the importance of work-life balance, search for a different job or career path instead! After all – we must prioritize joy and fun in our lives; thus it’s essential to find activities that bring us contentment–and they don’t need to be grandiose or costly; small steps are just as beneficial too! Before making a major alteration to your life, create an organized plan of action. It may take some effort to design the perfect one for you. Doing so will help prevent any potential misfortune and is well worth it in the end.
Check Out This Blog: The Brave Step Of Making A Career Change
Family First
Is the house in shambles? Can’t even view your stunning dining room table because of all the laundry, and is that sink overflowing?! Yeah, it’s going to stay like this for some time. But don’t fret! Give yourself and your family some leeway–there is an immense contrast between living in immaculate cleanliness and having too much stuff around. Not implying you should let things get messy, just take it easy on yourself every once in a while!
Take pleasure in the time you spend with your children; life is fleeting. Understandably, work consumes a lot of your energy, and when you finally have some free time after all those tasks are done, it might be tempting to just put them aside for later. However, seize this opportunity to bond through playtime – these precious moments will never come again!
Never forget that family is the cornerstone to a content and prosperous life, so be sure to make time from your frantic day for quality activities with them. Plan enjoyable gatherings like game nights or movie marathons! Create everlasting memories and form an unbreakable tie with your children. This will stay engraved in their minds forever as something they can imitate when raising their kids someday.
You are Important
Don’t forget to take time for yourself! Whether it’s taking a walk, getting a massage, or going out with friends, make sure you have enough energy and motivation to keep achieving success. For all the moms out there, this one is for you. My wife and I have always been a team in our home, both contributing to household responsibilities. But no matter how hard she works, my heart aches because she rarely puts herself first. Two toddlers often keep her busy and though we had agreed early on that it was important for us each to participate in chores around the house, my incredible wife has become an overworked professional who rarely reaps the rewards of her hard work.
So, why should I be held accountable? As her “person,” it is my marital obligation to make sure she’s taken care of. Just like me, she can get swept up in the hustle and bustle of daily life until one or both of us reaches our brink. Prioritizing yourself is both healthy and acceptable, but remember to also give your “person” the same opportunity. If you are a single parent, set aside money for a babysitter or reach out to somebody you trust with watching over your children as you take some time for yourself. Doing this will drastically improve not only your physical and mental well-being but will benefit those around you in ways that cannot be described! You deserve this!
1 + 1 = 2
Do not forget: it was just the two of you when this journey began, so allocate time for both of you. A successful marriage is arguably one of life’s most difficult duties and I invite anyone who disagrees to present their case! Though ours has been great, our relationship still experiences difficulties with young kids and busy jobs- that’s why date nights are equally as crucial as the other topics.
Keep it uncomplicated or make something fresh—doesn’t matter, as long as you take some time just for the two of us. Attempt to steer clear from discussing work and your kids, even though they currently encompass much of your lives; rather, try reminiscing about treasured memories or spend this moment expressing gratitude towards each other.
Why not go out of your comfort zone and try doing something creative together? Enroll in a cooking class or take up painting – you’ll get to explore each other’s creative side while spending quality time with one another. If you’d rather stay indoors, have an enjoyable dinner date without any chores hanging over your head! Add some pleasant candlelight ambiance and sip on a nice glass of wine for even more intimacy between the two of you. While it may sound cheesy, trust me when I say that this extra touch will make all the difference!
Keep Your Chin Up
You can forget about me teaching you to be superhuman. That’s not going on, since they are only fictional characters! Just like being a perfect parent or professional is merely an illusion. It isn’t always what we do good that matters, but how well we recover from our mistakes. I will however guarantee this one thing: you’re the most awesome parent out there hands down! Let us keep in mind though, when judging ourselves harshly that we must also show ourselves grace and understanding at times.
You are not in this alone. Family and friends are here to support you when the going gets tough, so don’t hesitate to lean on them. Accept help from others or ask for advice – both will go a long way! Be proud of all that you have achieved and don’t let life’s little hiccups weigh you down. You can do it!
Remember- taking care of yourself is an investment in your family’s future. Make sure to take time for yourself and enjoy moments with your spouse. These memories will be cherished by your children someday. Family is everything- make sure to keep yours happy and motivated!
If you take away even one thing from this blog, please remember that I’m proud of you!
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Also check out this blog: 6 Best Tips To Balance Work and Family Life
