You work 40 hours a week. You also have an hour's commute each day. Some weeks are busier than others, so you also have to work overtime now and then. When your parents also require your help, how are you supposed to find a work-life balance?
#1 – Tell Your Supervisor
Make sure your supervisor knows of your family issues. If you're caring for aging parents, you may need a day off without notice. FMLA helps with that. Qualified employees can take unpaid time off to provide care without worrying about being fired or penalized.
You do need to have worked a certain number of hours in the past year. There also has to be a minimum number of employees at the business. State laws vary, so it's important to check your state's FMLA laws.
#2 – Schedule Days With Your Family
If you have brothers and/or sisters, make sure they're chipping in as much as possible. You shouldn't have to provide all of the care your parents need.
#3 – Take Time to Socialize
Work, your parents, your household, and any family pets can eat up a lot of time. You can't spend so much time on them that you lose yourself. You need to take care of yourself to avoid excessive stress or lack of socialization.
#4 – Leave a Day for Goofing Off
You need to have one day each week where you can goof off. Take your dog to a nature trail for a long walk out in the woods or along the shore. Stay home in your pajamas, get a meal going in a slow cooker, and watch movies.
#5 – Have a Plan That You Stick To
Create a care plan that covers the help your parents need. Make sure it also covers the things you need to be done at your home and in your job. Work through the list each day. If you are taking up too much time on one non-critical task, move on to something else and return to the less important task when there's time.
#6 – Avoid Distractions
You have a list of things that need to get done. While you're getting started, a co-worker comes and starts to chat. You will have to learn to kindly explain that you're too busy at that moment to chat, but you'll catch up later.
#7 – Don't Try to Do Everything on Your Own
Your parents may want you to be the only one helping them, but it's not possible. Learn to say no. Explain that between your work, your children's and/or partner's needs, and your need for downtime, you can't help them with everything. They need to have help from a senior care aide.
Sit down and talk about the different senior care services available in their area. Figure out which would be most helpful and make the arrangements.
If you or an aging loved one is considering senior care in Parrish, FL, please contact the caring staff at Home Helpers of Bradenton. Call today: (941) 499-5946.
