February 1, 2024
Ok that's a sensitive topic and something that I share here as chapter 1 only of a major discussion that we will have over the upcoming months and years. I will try just to scratch the surface with this first post.
On one side, business is important and as a founder I feel I have to be focused 110%, and many working hours per day and week are quickly gone behind solving things. On the other side, I want to share time with my kids as life is short, and I know that kids are my best clients and deserve absolute priority. How to share the two clashing interests in a smart and productive way?
General tips: some are reasonable, some are garbage
Well, first I share a quick general list of wise but generic suggestions from a bit of research done on the web:
1. Prioritize and Plan Time Effectively
Start by creating a daily or weekly schedule that outlines your work commitments, family activities, and personal time. This will help you visualize your commitments and identify areas where you can adjust your schedule to make time for your family. Easier said than done, and it is especially hard to keep the ball rolling over time here.
2. Delegate and Outsource Tasks
Doing everything yourself is not sustainable in the long run. Delegating tasks to team members, or hire additional help when necessary, is a great idea. But what if there is no budget or help?
3. Establish Boundaries and Separate Work from Family Life
It's important to set clear boundaries between your work life and family life to avoid burnout and ensure that you are fully present and engaged with your family when you are with them. This may involve turning off work notifications during family time, avoiding checking work emails or messages outside of work hours, and setting aside dedicated time for family activities.
I buy this 100%. No work emails when I am playing with my kids, for example.
4. Involve Your Family in Your Startup Journey
Don't hesitate to involve your family in your startup journey: share your vision, successes, and challenges with them. This will create a sense of unity and purpose within the family.
Yeah, fair enough to share with a wife or husband, or old (18+ kids). But how can I share this with my kids going to the primary school?
5. Embrace Technology and Tools for Efficiency
Utilize technology to your advantage to streamline your work processes and enhance your productivity. Explore project management tools, communication apps, and time tracking software to optimize your workflow and minimize distractions.
Absolute garbage tip. Here we move from being busy without tech to being busy with tech. Let's move on.
6. Prioritize Quality over Quantity of Time, and be present.
It's not always about spending the most time with your family, but rather spending quality time together. Focus on engaging in activities that you all enjoy, such as playing games, reading together, going on outings, or simply having meaningful conversations. Also, make the most of the time you spend with your family by being fully present and engaged. Put away your phone, turn off notifications, and focus on listening attentively, playing actively, and sharing meaningful moments with your children.
I also buy this 100%. See work emails while playing with the kids. Big no.
7. Practice Self-Care and Avoid Burnout
As a startup founder and father, it's easy to neglect your own well-being. Make time for regular exercise, healthy eating, and relaxation techniques to manage stress and prevent burnout. When you are well-rested and healthy, you will be better equipped to handle the demands of your roles and be a more present and engaged father.
This is another important point.
What I try to do
First, my kids have a daily routine - as yours do. My wife and I try to be present in this routine. One delivers the kids to school, the other tries to pick them up. This is set in stone. It is a wonderful time to discuss what is happening/has happened in the day and how do they feel. But such time takes away one productive work hour every day.
Three times a week, our kids do some sports: in part, they play at school during school hours, but in-part they do it as extracurricular activities. We also try to be present in those moments, splitting our time one day each. It is also beautiful to see them swimming, playing soccer or doing basketball. But again, one more hour is gone in some days.
We are trying to run very lean and very efficient with an alarm around 7am, breakfast and dropping kids at school at around 8:30/9am and then we start working. We do focused work, client meetings or whatever needs to be done with a quick 20-minute lunch (unless we are with clients) and we continue until almost 5pm, before taking the kids from school. In one of those days of extracurricular activities, if it is my turn, I go from school to - let's say - the swimming pool with them until evening, so the day ends early.
My solution is to tend turn on the PC again between 9:30pm and 11:30pm. Two good hours of work every evening mean 8 more hours Monday to Thursday, or one normal working day gained back.
Is it crazy to work at night? While I have never done it as an employee in the past, as I think would be a deep problem of inefficiency or poor culture, as a founder of my business and father I am so back to work less in the day, spend some time with my kids, and then recover some hours when is more convenient for me. It works for me. In our post-Covid world of business services, as we work from home and many companies are going remote, I think that solid work/family time boundaries and being present can co-exist with flexible working hours.
Curious to hear what you think: nico@pantar.ai.
