The challenges of balancing work and divorce can be daunting, but with a bit of organization and planning, it is possible to successfully juggle both roles. Here are a few tips to get you started.
1. Make a plan
When you know there is going to be a lot of upheaval in your life, it is helpful to have a plan in place. Knowing what you need to do and when can help to minimize stress and ensure that you don’t let either role suffer. That’s why you need to discuss your plan of action with your family lawyer and your boss when you are first faced with divorce.
Your attorney can help to ensure that your family’s legal needs are being met while your employer can help to develop strategies that will allow you to succeed at work. Together, they can ensure that neither role suffers too much as you juggle the demands of divorce.
2. Set priorities
To successfully balance work and divorce, you need to set priorities and be organized. Figure out what is most important to you and focus on those things first. It’s no secret that many divorced families are stretched to their financial limits, so it’s important to keep your income stable to help avoid future upheaval.
Besides, it’s easy to let the excess activity of divorce take over your life and cause you to lose sight of what’s most important. With a bit of organization and planning, however, it is possible to keep your priorities in order and successfully balance both roles.
3. Delegate responsibilities
If you have family or friends who are willing to help, ask them for assistance. Delegating some responsibilities will lighten your load and make it easier to manage everything. So, when possible, ask your friends or family members to pick up the children from daycare in the afternoon, take them to soccer practice afterward, and put them to bed.
This might seem simple enough, but many divorced parents don’t take advantage of the resources available to them for fear of overstepping their boundaries or imposing them on others. But there is nothing wrong with putting the needs of your family first and asking for help when necessary.
4. Take breaks
It is important to take breaks and not allow yourself to get worn out. Try taking a short break during your lunch hour or set aside some time to do something for yourself. To avoid burnout, it’s important to maintain your own interests and abilities without allowing yourself to be consumed by the divorce.
When you take time for yourself, you can give your mind a break and return to your daily routine feeling renewed. That, in turn, will make it much easier to deal with the demands of both work and divorce when you can be at your best.
5. Stay flexible
There will be times when you can’t control everything that is happening and that’s okay. Try to stay flexible and avoid dwelling on the things that you cannot change. Don’t let your stresses and frustrations interfere with your ability to do well at work.
Consequently, you shouldn’t let the demands of your job interfere with your ability to be an effective parent. With a bit of organization and planning, it is possible to successfully juggle both roles without letting either one suffer.
6. Get help
It is not a sign of weakness to admit that you cannot juggle both roles. Instead, it’s a sign of strength to recognize when you need help and to ask for it. Whether it’s your boss at work or a family member at home, there are people willing to help if you simply ask.
When you are faced with the difficult task of balancing work and your divorce, remember that there is no “one size fits all” solution. With a bit of organization and planning, however, you can successfully juggle both roles without letting either one suffer.
7. Have a support system
Finally, it is important to have the support of family and friends at all times. They can provide a crucial lifeline and be your best asset in coping with the challenges of divorce. So, whether you have a significant other or not, it is important to cultivate friendships and find the emotional and practical support that you need.
Divorce is a difficult process and it takes some time to adjust to your new life. But once you develop your own support system, you will enjoy the benefits of greater balance and be better equipped to successfully juggle both roles.
It can be difficult to balance work and divorce, but with enough preparation, it is possible to do both. Remember that your work and family are both important, which is why you need to prioritize what is most important. You don’t have to go through this alone; you can always ask for help from those who love you.
