Tips for Being More Productive as a Single Parent
It’s not always easy to be a single parent. In most cases, it’s probably not what you signed up for or what you imagined either. Many people have children assuming they’ll have some kind of help from a spouse or partner — but things don’t always go according to plan.
You might find yourself raising your child/children on your own because of a divorce. It’s important to know the child custody laws in your state, including the differences between legal custody and physical custody, so you’ll know how much time you’ll be able to spend with your child. In other cases, you might be suddenly left alone because of the death of a spouse or partner.
Both circumstances are challenging. Raising children on your own can be emotionally draining on you, and it can also impact your child. Things like divorce and custody battles can influence the development of your child’s social skills, too, and they may put more weight on them than you would ever want them to experience. Think of it as a sort of heavy “invisible backpack” they have to carry around.
One of the best things you can do for your children and yourself is to remain productive and keep moving forward. But, that can feel easier said than done sometimes. So, what can you do to prepare yourself for both everyday tasks and unexpected hiccups?
Making the Most of Your Career
As a single parent, one of the biggest decisions you’ll make is how to further your career. Whether you’re getting support from your former partner/spouse or not, it can be a balancing act to find or keep a job that pays the bills while being able to spend enough time with your kids.
Some people are able to find success in working from home. When you’re a full-time parent working a full-time job at home, it takes a lot of discipline and the ability to be productive. If you do choose to work from home, you’ll need to isolate your distractions and keep your workspace separate from the rest of the house. For the right person, working from home is a great option because it often allows for flexibility and can let you spend more time with your children.
If you already have a job or you’re looking for one, it’s equally important to be productive away from the home. It’s okay to take breaks at work to avoid burning out. It’s also okay to mentally prepare yourself for the end of the day, so you don’t end up spending extra time at the office and running yourself into the ground.
Whether you’re able to stay home and work or you’re a part of the busy world of business, make sure you choose the career path that strikes a balance between a paycheck and spending time with your kids.
Tackling Financial Issues
Obviously, the main purpose of getting a job that works for you is to keep control of your finances. If you’re a single-parent household, meaning you’re raising a child after a divorce, separation, death, or some other type of dissolution, you might qualify for lower tax rates on your income from the IRS, though they do have very strict and specific guidelines in place.
As a single parent, finding other ways to both make money and save money will help you to meet your child’s basic needs and wants. In 2017, the USDA suggested that it costs $233,610 to raise a child to the age of 18, and this figure continues to hold. So what else can you do to make sure you have enough to consistently keep a balance in your checking account?
A great place to start is to make a budget for yourself and your family. Start with what you earn, then move onto what you spend. Differentiate between essentials such as food, clothing, and bills; and extras like your morning latte and the gym membership you have but never use. Finding savings within your budget can feel rewarding and will let you breathe a little sigh of relief knowing you have a bit of a “cushion” with your finances.
If you’re not sure where to get started, talk with a financial advisor about budgeting tips, how to make the most of credit cards, and where you can find savings in the money you’re already making.
How to Be Prepared for Anything
You might want to be a “super mom” or “super dad” when you’re a single parent. While your kids will never expect perfection from you (and you shouldn’t expect it from yourself), you should always have the attitude of preparedness. It starts with taking care of yourself. Make sure you get enough sleep at night by putting down your smartphone, which could disturb your rest. Adopt healthy eating habits, and make a point to stay as active as possible.
Having a daily routine is also helpful for both you and your children. Routines help to reduce stress and can make you feel more anchored, so if something doesn’t go according to plan, you can bounce back and keep moving forward.
Taking care of your mental health will also help you to stay prepared and aware. For some, that means getting over a broken relationship, whether it was because of finances, religion, family issues, or something else. For others, it’s about dealing with issues like depression or anxiety. Remember, you’ll take the best care of your children when you make your needs a priority, too.
The idea of being a single parent doesn’t have to overwhelm you. You can still be productive with a little discipline and planning ahead. When you can find the perfect balance between your career, your kids, and your own self-care, you’ll start to see that you can manage it all and raise well-adjusted, happy children in the process.
