Some adults end up caring for both their children and aging parents, a situation lovingly dubbed “the sandwich generation.”
While it’s common for families to have multigenerational households and conflicts, it can be tough to manage children, parents, a marriage, a house, and a career all yourself.
Thankfully, there are many options to make juggling tasks a bit easier.
The most important tip, however, is to take breaks and know your limits.
Schedule and Share Chores
Trying to cram all of your daily tasks and chores into one hour is stressful and ultimately unrealistic—you’ll set yourself up for failure, which will stress you out even further.
Create to-do lists or schedules where you do certain tasks per day.
Caring for your children or parents comes first, of course, and typically happens daily.
It’s okay only to finish what needs to be done. Other chores can be taken care of on days off or during calmer evenings.
You can also divide and conquer when it comes to tasks. Most kids can handle simple chores, and if you have a partner, let them share the load, too.
Friends and other family are willing to lend a hand, too. Don’t do everything alone!
Utilize Childcare and Babysitters
There is a reason why raising a child commonly “takes a village.”
It’s difficult to raise a child all on your own, and children need proper socialization and enrichment from other sources.
It’s normal and completely fine to hire a babysitter when you work late, need to get chores done, or just want a break.
Daycare is also a helpful and enriching option to manage your younger kids on weekends or work days.
Consider Senior Care
In addition to getting extra help with childcare, there are options for aging loved ones as well.
You may not have the time, skill, or resources to provide round-the-clock care for a senior loved one.
You can hire an in-home nurse or aide to help you manage tasks that you don’t have the time or experience for.
Alternatively, you can consider an assisted living or nursing home community that your older parent can move into.
In a good senior community, they will be kept safe, cared for, and enriched during all times of the day, including necessary healthcare.
You can compare the costs of in-home caretakers and nursing homes if you’re having trouble deciding.
With either option, you will need to vet the caretaker or community thoroughly. Read reviews, ratings, and local recommendations.
Background checks or a review of the company's history are also important.
Diversify your vetting process; looking at reviews or ratings alone may not provide the full picture.
Nursing homes like Bayshore Pointe Nursing and Rehab Center have a quality rating of three out of five stars but have been fined for violations of neglect and improper treatment.
There are plenty of great communities and caretakers out there, but it’s important to stay safe.
Involve Your Kids
Your children can learn a lot from helping you manage the household and their grandparents.
Teach them how to provide basic care for their grandparents and include them in any nursing home visitations.
Children can learn empathy, household skills, conflict resolution, familial bonds, and life lessons while caring for their grandparents.
Sharing certain tasks or chores with your kids can help you lighten the load while teaching them valuable skills.
Ask for Help
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or drowning in responsibility, it’s good to ask for help in all areas of your life.
Ask for assistance both at work and at home to keep your task load more manageable.
You can also ask for emotional relief; it can make all the difference when you have someone to talk or vent to.
Ask friends, family, your partner, your parents, and your kids to help you when necessary.
Take Breaks
When juggling many tasks, you need to take physical and emotional breaks during the day.
Caring for parents and kids can also be emotionally draining.
Take advantage of any paid time off or breaks during work to stretch and refresh your mind.
Give yourself at least five minutes between each task. Incorporate leisure time into your schedule, too.
Avoiding breaks can lead to stress, productivity issues, and poor health.
Remote or Hybrid Work
If your industry or job allows it, working from home can help you take care of your parents and children while reducing the time you spend on a commute.
If allowed, you can explain your home life to your management to see if hybrid or remote work is a good fit for you.
Working from home doesn’t benefit everyone, however; some people need the structure and motivation from a physical workspace.
Care for Your Mental Health
Juggling many roles and life tasks can be emotionally taxing.
When you ignore signs and symptoms of stress, anxiety, or depression, you can create chronic mental health conditions.
You may not be able to provide for your parents, kids, or yourself the way you’re used to.
It’s important to take care of your mental health.
Take breaks, vent, and find a good therapist to talk to. Your health and happiness are important, too!
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