Managing everything that comes with “home” can be tough, but an Ōdult knows how to take it all in stride and balance their life. Having a tough time getting this balancing act down? No worries. Read on and we will help you find that sense of balance in no time.

Need A Brain Boost

Taking care of a whole household is draining. Not just physically, but mentally. You know that feeling when you just don’t know what day it is or where you left the house without a shoe and you accidentally put the peanut butter in the freezer? Yeah, that’s burn-out and it happens to the best of us. It’s important to let your brain rest and catch up from everything you’ve been dealing with. 

One way to help give your brain a boost is by taking some time for yourself during the week. This may be a hot bath and a book. For others, it could be binging reality TV shows and just zoning out. Still, for others, it may just be turning it in a few hours early and getting a great night’s sleep. Whatever your mental health routine looks like, be sure you take the time to do it so you can stay on your A-game.

Sometimes things are stressful or we let our mental health go and end up truly at our wit’s end. When this happens, you still have options to get back to a good place. Talk it out with a trusted friend or find a professional to talk to. 

As the world becomes more focused on the importance of mental health, more and more insurance packages are covering a therapy option. Ōnin Teammates have access to free counseling services when they are enrolled in the medical plan. This means they can talk to a professional anytime about anything: work, relationships, kids, finances, grief, stress and so much more.

Oh, Baby!

The laughter of children in a home is priceless, but you know what isn’t priceless? How much kids cost! If anything they are the priciest of all. That being said, there are options out there to make the kiddos a bit more affordable. One option is considering the healthcare your child uses. Kids get sick. This is just a fact of life, but where you take your babies when they aren’t feeling their best can really help your wallet out. 

Teledoctors can help diagnose your child over the phone or by video on your smartphone. Common illnesses like cold, flu, pink eye, stomach bugs and allergies can all be taken care of over the phone and from the convenience of your own home. This option makes it so you don’t have to tote the kids down to the doctor’s office. Rather, you can just go straight to the pharmacy to pick up their medication. This option is super affordable and may be completely covered by your medical insurance like it is with our Teammate medical plan.

The option for more serious issues with your kiddo includes Urgent Care centers and the Emergency Room. Both of these options are most likely going to be pricey, even with insurance coverage. The saving grace here is that they are the best place to go when your kiddo is truly sick and needs help fast. Urgent Care centers can handle broken bones, stitches or burns, while the Emergency Room is best equipped for very serious things, like difficulty breathing, unconsciousness or seizures. Again, these options will cost you a pretty penny, but they are great to have for a true emergency.

It’s great to have a plan in place for when the little ones get sick, but the fact of the matter is there is so much life in between these illnesses that you also have to manage. Things like daycare, babysitters and replacing the clothing the kids seem to grow out of overnight.

When it comes to childcare, it’s just something you’ve got to have. For working parents, it’s daycare. For others, it’s the occasional babysitter. Both can be expensive and stressful if you aren’t doing your homework. 

When it comes to daycares and babysitters, just like everything else you buy, be sure to shop around. Some daycares cost more, but they feed your child breakfast and lunch. Others are cheaper, but way out of the way on your commute causing you to burn extra gas. 

As far as babysitters go, try to find an option that feels safe and affordable. Maybe a family member lives nearby who won’t charge you $12.00 an hour? You could even offer to babysit a friend’s kids another night if they can watch your kid. You will want to make sure you have a go-to one and a back-up just in case one can’t cover you, but get creative on finding one who won’t break the bank.

When it comes to kids’ clothing, toys and activities, treat those the same way. Get creative and shop around. Second-hand and hand-me-down clothing will look fine and keep your kids clothed through their many growth spurts. Instead of paying for experiences, try to find ones that are free like local events, a new park you haven’t visited, or baking a new recipe together.

Making Back-up Plans

Getting up and going to work every day can be a real grind. We can all agree that staying in bed and relaxing is what we would all prefer — but we have to play the hand we are dealt. Part of balancing your life is making these unenjoyable parts of the workday a little bit easier on yourself. This means creating a plan for when things go wrong and preparing ahead of time so things can go right.

Speaking of well-laid plans, you should also have a plan in place for when crazy stuff comes up, like — oh, you know — worldwide pandemics. Don’t get stuck rushing for toilet paper again. Having a plan for true emergencies will help you stay sane when a true emergency strikes.

Become A Money Master

Money can sure be tight, but making your money work better for you can make life easier. If your home balance is off due to money concerns, it may be time to start a budget. A budget can help you really see where your money is going and figure out how to keep more of it. Also, a budget can help you figure out what to do with any extra money you do have.

Saving up for a big purchase like a house or car requires discipline and guidance. A budget can give you that. If you prefer to use your money to pay off your debts, a budget can help you knock out those bills and get your credit score back on track. Finally, a budget can help you save up an emergency fund to get you through the next rainy day, or hurricane, or pandemic.

On top of your budget, you can also begin to establish some great banking habits like:

• Checking your bank account before going shopping
• Turning off overdraft options
• Having your savings account separate from your checking account
• Setting up auto-pay for some of your bills

Finally, you can stretch your cash by making do with what you already have. You would be surprised what resources you already have around you that could save you hundreds of dollars a year, like reducing food waste, shopping second hand or getting creative with the food at the back of your cabinets.

Stay A-Game Healthy

Balancing everything at home will take its toll on you both physically and emotionally. Your wellbeing is important because, without you, none of it gets done. If your job offers you great medical benefits, use them! Ōnin Staffing Teammates enjoy free counseling services and low co-pays that allow them to keep their body and mind healthy. Help keep yourself balanced by using the benefits you’ve got. 

Also, consider other perks outside of medical benefits like discounts or an on-site gym or daycare. These perks can help make your home life a whole lot better! If you can work out on your lunch hour, that gives you extra time at home to do what you want to do. If you get a company discount on phone services, you get to keep some extra money in your pocket for other things.

Get Organized 

Just as we discussed above, getting yourself organized and having a plan can really help make life go right. Consider a calendar to get a total view of what is going on. 

Making it all happen is tough. Saving and spending money responsibly, taking care of tiny humans, keeping yourself healthy, and just generally having it all together is a lot to take on. Don’t give up on finding that balance though. Once you hit that stride – man, what an awesome feeling! If you need some help finding that sweet spot check out our other guides below.

Check out our additional Ō-dulting guides below for more great guides and tips.

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