Work-family conflict occurs when your work life begins to affect your family life and vice versa. Dealing with work-related issues while at home can drive a wedge between yourself and your family, while feeling stressed about your family at work can reduce concentration and productivity. For both your work and family lives to function well, they must function separately. If you find yourself embroiled in work-family conflict, you must find strategies that enable you to cope with each relationship the best way.
Separate
When your boss asks what you're up to on the weekend, you might offer a lengthy rundown of what your plans are with your family, but it may be a better idea to remain mum. By talking about your family while at work, you become personal and blur the lines of professionalism. Similarly, if you've had a tough day at work and project that stress onto your family, it can feel like you're still at the office even in the comfort of your own home. Keep your two lives separate, establish boundaries, and remain neutral in each about the other so your two lives don't become one, says MoreBusiness.com.
Schedule
If your two lives bleed into one another too often, it may help to keep a detailed schedule. Much like the appointments that you keep at work, make sure that your "appointments" at home are virtually unbreakable. Learn to say "no" when something comes up at work that could interfere with your schedule at home. Keeping a planner with you can help you give straight answers about when you're free when setting appointments. Imagine that your appointments at home are just as important as those with your supervisor, because they are.
Prioritize
Not everything that you deal with at home will trump your work activities. If you have a large project meeting versus dinner at home, choose the one that is most important to you. Any time that time with your family or time at work collides, it's up to you to decide which activity is most important. In your planner, number the appointments in order of priority so you know in which order to complete them. At times, your family will be the priority, while other times work will take precedence. The Journal of Occupational Health Psychology indicates that prioritizing is an effective way to cope with work-family conflict.
Make Arrangements
Talking with your employer about more flexible hours or more time with family could bring you less stress and a better understanding at work. Brandeis University notes that those who work for understanding employers experience fewer work-family conflicts and function better as a parent. If you currently work for a company that places little importance on family and requires you to work long hours without a thought to your family life, perhaps it's time to arrange a meeting with your employer or to make a change.
