Achieving a work-life balance can be a challenge in the best circumstances, but it always seems to get harder during the winter. Between having to take the time to clear snow from the front of your home, kids who are tracking wet and muddy snow through your home, and the possibility that the weather might make your daily commute all but impossible, you could be in for a rough couple of months. Since you cannot prevent the winter season from affecting your job or your home life, we have a few tips that should hopefully make things a little easier.
Keep Your Employer Informed
During the winter, you’ll just have to accept that there will be days you won’t be able to make it to work on time, if at all. Most good managers will understand if a severe blizzard prevents you from commuting to work, but it still helps to communicate proactively with your boss. If you think the weather will make it difficult to make it to work and do your job, let everyone know. They will appreciate being kept in the loop.
Have Contingency Plans
If you know that the weather is going to require you to stay home and take care of your house and your family, come up with a few contingency plans so you can still contribute at work. Working from home has practically become the norm, so ask your employer if this could be a possibility. Otherwise, if you have a project that needs to be completed by a certain deadline and you know that you’re going to be hit with a blizzard, arrange to come into the office on your day off so you can finish your work before you get stuck at home.
Talk to Your Neighbors
Your neighbors will be feeling the effects of severe weather right along with you, so communicate with them when the winter is at its absolute worst. You should be able to help each other out with your homes and your children so you can return to some semblance of normalcy sooner rather than later. You can shovel each other’s driveways, offer to babysit children who might be stuck at home, and otherwise find ways to get through a difficult time as a community.