My Five-Minute-Rule After Work

The whole work/family-balance thing is misunderstood. In reality, work and family are both a part of my life and they exist simultaneously. Even more so for those who are on-call or are required to take their work home. And...even more so for those of you who work at home!  So, as much as we want to separate the two, the better approach is to give them both your all and wherever you are, be all there.

Here's a snapshot of what I do to steer my energy and focus from work back to family, at the end of the workday. During my drive home I'm already relaxing and decompressing. Music, prayer, informative radio, a quick chat with friends or family, it all helps. When I get home from work I take five minutes to catch up with Daniela and the boys, looking them in the eyes and staying in their presence. It sounds like a short time but it's not. Here are the benefits of this simple practice:
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• Five minutes usually turns into more
• It builds fortitude and causes me to be intentional about eliminating distractions (which are usually not urgent or even important)
• It's a reminder of how important people in general are, but especially family & loved ones
• It sets the tone for the rest of the evening/night
• It sets a good example for my children

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. - Ephesians 5: 15,16