Both being a great parent and having a great career can be extremely difficult. However, trying to do both at once can be even harder. As such, if you are determined to both be there for your children and give them the best childhood possible while also excelling at the career that you have always wanted, then here are some of the top steps that you should take in 2022.
Take an Online Degree
No matter how skilled you are or how much experience you have, you may often find that you run into barriers when it comes to your career if you do not have the right qualifications. As such, instead of trying to get the career of your dreams based on your skills and experience alone, you should work on achieving the qualifications that you need to succeed. However, many parents may believe that the ship has sailed when it comes to getting the degree that they need because they now have to spend a lot of time caring for and paying attention to their children and because they may be unable to move to campus to complete the qualification that they need to. As such, rather than give up on the dreams that you had for your career, you should consider taking an online degree. An online degree can allow you to study for a qualification from the comfort of your home and around the demands and needs of your children. This means that you can then get the best of both worlds when it comes to family and professional life. As such, you should consider looking at the online Masters programs in Education, among others, that are available at University of Exeter and beyond.
Manage Your Time Well
One of the major problems for people who want to be great parents while also having a career is that they struggle to manage their time well and juggle both the responsibility of being a parent and having a career well. As such, one of the first steps that you should take should be learning and finding ways to manage your time well. For instance, you might decide to work on your career when your children are napping, or you might look for a part-time job that you can work around your children’s schedules. You might also consider looking at apps that could help you when it comes to time management, such as organisation and productivity apps. You might also consider creating a routine and schedule where you can slot in being a parent and having a great career side by side, or you should find ways to keep your children entertained or able to help you while you work.
Look for Childcare
Although some parents feel guilty for sometimes putting their career first, there is no reason why you should feel that way. As such, if you want to focus on your career for a little bit or if you have to go to work, you should look for regular childcare that you trust to look after your children well. For instance, you might consider looking for a childminder or consider sending your kids to a nursery where they can be looked after by trained professionals. This will then allow you to ensure that your kids are well looked after even when you are distracted by work, and can ensure that you are unable to progress in your career because you are so focused on the needs of your children and the requirement to be at home with them.
Speak to Your Manager
The next step that you need to take to be a great parent and have a great career at the same time is to speak to your manager. Although you might believe that speaking to your manager about your situation is the last thing that you want to do if you are going to advance your career, managers are becoming more understanding of the other commitments that people have, and you may be able to make an arrangement that suits you. For instance, you might be able to work the hours that suit you, such as school hours, and they may be more understanding if you take time off at short notice if you tell them that you have children. By broaching the topic with your manager, you will be able to reduce your stress and make sure that you can get a career that suits your lifestyle.
Get Support
It is also important as a parent that you get support when you want to have a career as well as be a parent. For instance, you should consider speaking to a partner or to your wider family about the possibility of splitting childcare between you, or even of them helping you out with chores and other responsibilities. This can then free you up to do the work that you need to. You might also ask for their emotional support, as this can ensure that you can care for your mental health and that you can have someone to talk to when everything gets too much.
Look After Your Health
It is also important that you look after your health, or else you will not be able to excel in either your career or in your role as a parent. As such, you should try to reduce your levels of stress and anxiety by taking time out to spend doing the activities that you love. You should also try to care for your physical health by exercising often, eating a range of healthy foods, and by getting all of the sleep that you need. By doing this, you will soon be able to ensure that your health remains stable. However, you should always make time to visit the doctor when you are showing signs of a health issue before this problem starts to worsen. This will then ensure that you can stay completely focused on your to-do list at all times without being distracted by your health, or even finding that you are unable to complete it.
