Can We Really Balance Family, Work And Me Time?
Ah, the age-old juggling act: family, work, and that mythical unicorn known as “me time”. It sounds simple in theory, like a lovely Pinterest board full of colour-coded schedules and serene yoga poses, but in real life, it’s more like spinning plates while blindfolded, on a trampoline, during a toddler’s birthday party.
So let’s break it down, shall we??
Work: The Never-Ending Rush
Work, for many of us, now comes with the added bonus of always being available. Emails ping at midnight, Slack messages never sleep, and your boss somehow thinks “quick call” means 45 minutes of small talk and one actual question. And if you work from home, you now have the added thrill of pretending your background isn’t just the laundry you haven’t folded in three days.
How to balance it:
Set work hours and actually stick to them. Even if your office is your kitchen table, treat it like a workplace. At 5 or 6pm (or whatever works for your job), log off. The email will still be there tomorrow.
Use “Do Not Disturb” like a boss. It’s not rude, it’s healthy. Block out time in your calendar where no one can book you, especially for deep work or your lunch break (you’re allowed one).
Plan the chaos. Start each day with a to-do list that has 3 realistic tasks. Everything else is a bonus, not a failure.
Family: Cute, Chaotic, and Loud (And Around All Summer)
Family life is joyful chaos wrapped in constant noise. We love them, obviously, but wow, can they test your patience. Kids need snacks like it’s their full-time job, your partner can’t find anything (it’s in the fridge, where it always is), and the dog decides 3am is the ideal time for a dramatic incident involving a sock.
And then, just when you’ve found a rhythm-bam!-the six-week summer holidays arrive like a hurricane of noise, sticky fingers, and endless cries of “I’m bored.” You start off with a Pinterest board full of craft ideas and end up letting them eat ice cream for breakfast just to buy yourself 15 minutes of silence.
But here’s the thing, while it feels like an eternity when you’re in it, six weeks is really just a blink in the grand scheme of childhood. It’s a golden opportunity to make memories, share laughs, and do the messy, imperfect bonding stuff you’ll all remember (even if it does involve glitter in places glitter shouldn’t be).
How to balance it:
Prioritise and delegate. You don’t need to do everything. Let go of non-essentials, rope in your partner, older kids, grandparents, or anyone else willing to lend a hand. There's no shame in calling for backup.
Create a loose daily rhythm. Especially during holidays, having a rough routine (morning activity, lunch, downtime) can help everyone know what to expect and stop things spiralling.
Take advantage of the longer days. Use early mornings or lighter evenings for pockets of time - whether that’s squeezing in a solo walk or a family outing. Summer gives you space if you plan for it.
Address what matters most. You won’t do it all, so focus on what matters to you. A picnic, a film night, or just ten calm minutes chatting about their weird dreams, it all counts.
And remember: the goal isn’t a perfect summer…it’s one with at least a few brilliant, messy, happy moments that make the rest of the chaos worth it.
Me Time: The Endangered Species (But You Can Rescue It)
Ah yes, “me time”. That elusive, magical thing you were told you deserve, but haven’t seen since the noughties. If you're lucky, you might get ten uninterrupted minutes on the loo, scrolling TikTok while pretending you're doing something useful. If you're really lucky, you might even get out of the house alone. Fancy!
How to balance it:
Book it in like it’s a meeting. Treat your “me time” with the same respect you give your boss’s calendar. Whether it’s a walk, a bath, or just reading nonsense on your phone, it counts.
Start small. You don’t need a spa day. You need 15 guilt-free minutes doing something that fills your cup (and ideally not folding someone else’s clothes).
Protect it. Tell the people you live with: “This is my time. Unless the house is on fire or someone is bleeding, please leave me be.” Then go and lock the bathroom door, just in case.
So yes, Balance Is Possible
It’s not always going to be pretty. Some days work wins, some days family needs are everything, and some days you’ll binge watch telly and pretend you're “resting your eyes”. But that is balance: knowing that it shifts, and making sure that you don’t always come last.
You're not failing…you’re just living a very full, very normal, wonderfully messy life.
