Guest Blog by: FlyDad Gear
Being a new Dad is no easy feat and comes with a lot of changes, challenges, and responsibilities. One of the biggest hurdles new Dads face is balancing their careers with their new role as a parent. It can be tough to manage the demands of work while also being there for your kid and your girl. However, with the right mindset and strategies, you will be in good shape.
Mindset
The first step in balancing your career with being a new Dad is to change your mindset. You need to accept that you can’t do everything you used to do before becoming a Dad. You will need to prioritize your time and energy and be flexible with your schedule. It’s also important to communicate with your boss and co-workers about your new role as a father. This will help them understand your situation and may lead to more flexible work arrangements. It may seem impossible, but at the end of the day fathers often sympathize with other fathers.
Boundaries
Another important strategy for balancing your career with fatherhood is to set boundaries with your time. You need to make sure you have dedicated time for both work and family. This means being intentional about when you work and when you spend time with your family. You may need to adjust your work schedule or negotiate with your boss to make this happen. It’s also important to be present when you are with your family. This means putting away your phone and other distractions and focusing on your child and partner. Work time is work time and kid time is kid time. If you work from home, filling your Google calendar with “kid time” may be a good option. When it’s “kid time” work doesn’t exist.
Time Management
Time management is another important strategy for balancing your career with fatherhood. You need to be efficient with your time and prioritize what’s most important. This means being organized and breaking down big projects into smaller, more manageable tasks. It’s also important to delegate tasks when possible and say no to unnecessary commitments. A great way to do this is to take your yearly income and divide it by 2000. This is the typical amount of work hours in a year. Let us say you earn $80K/year. Divided by 2000 this comes out to $40/hour. This is what your hourly time is worth. If you spend 5 hours per week cleaning, you should hire someone to do this for $20 per hour so that you can get your time back.
Take Care of Yourself
It’s also important to take care of yourself when balancing your career with fatherhood. This means getting enough sleep, exercise, and healthy food. You may need to adjust your routine to make this happen, such as waking up earlier to work out or paying for a healthy meal plan. It’s also important to find time for relaxation and “Daddy time”. Don’t feel bad for taking one night a week with your boys. You need this to be the best father and partner you can be.
Find Support
Finally, it’s important to find support when balancing your career with fatherhood. This means building a network of family, friends, and colleagues who can help you out when you need it. You may also want to join a Dad group to connect with other new fathers and get advice and tips. Check out ours! It’s also important to communicate with your girl about your needs and concerns. Together, you can find ways to support each other and create a balance that works for both of you. One night off for you, one night off for her.
Balancing your career with being a new Dad is a challenge, but it’s also an opportunity to grow and learn. By adjusting your mindset, setting boundaries, managing your time, taking care of yourself, and finding support, you can successfully balance your career with fatherhood. Remember, it’s not about being perfect, it’s about doing your best and being present for your child and your girl.
