Balance - Flex time strategies for work/family

When I was asking recently about part time options at work, my mentor challenged me to really consider my objectives for a modified schedule. Do I really want full extra days with my children, or is extra time mornings or afternoons enough?  If your work hours are flexible, it might be more advantageous for both work and home to modify your schedule and/or work remotely on certain days. 

I recently looked into part time options for my work. If you have a project based job, you may be able to get approval for working less than 5 days during the week. This gives you the benefit of spending extra days with your kids and/or save a little on daycare. The drawback is that you get paid less, even if you end up doing the same amount of work.  Departments are sometimes hesitant to approve these, since they pay full benefits for part time work, so make sure you go into the negotiation with a solid plan and clear requests. 

Another option, if possible at your work, is flexing your schedule. For me, a lot of my key stakeholders are on the East coast, so not much is urgent after 3pm Pacific time. If I start a little earlier, I can leave a little earlier and have extra time to play and prep dinner. I also can catch up on afternoon emails and projects during the evening, after the kids are in bed. 

Some jobs have the benefit of working remotely. It is important to have a focused place to work in your house without distractions, but cutting out makeup prep and commute can give you more dedicated work time. (The biggest problem I have when I work remotely is eating too much. Snacks are much too accessible).

In the end, you need to be creative and find what works for both you and your employer. Your needs may change as the kids grow or even from week to week as certain events come up. If your current employer/job is inflexible, but modified schedule is very important to you, you should consider looking for a role/employer that fits your desired work/life balance. 

I know flexibility is not realistic for everyone, but for those of us that have that benefit, I encourage you to find balance. For me, that balance is working from home on Fridays and leaving at 4pm on other days, using evenings for catch up time. 

Next challenge is making sure I have time for my husband.