Parent working at home? Don’t burn out.

Running business from home or working remotely allows you to be at home with your children while also contributing to the household income. On the other hand, being a parent and an employee at the same time can be difficult when you have meetings and phone calls while your children demand attention. To avoid the “parental work-at-home burnout,” try a couple of the following suggestions.

1. Don’t work longer than necessary. Money, after all, isn’t everything. A happy and sane parent is essential for your family’s well-being.

2. Make a calendar or to-do list for both your professional and personal life. Accept that you won’t always be able to accomplish all of your tasks, and don’t be too concerned if you don’t.

3. Set aside a day for errands. Spend one day a week shopping around town and doing the tasks you can’t complete at home. Take laundry to the dry cleaners, go to the post office, treat yourself to your favorite coffee.

4. Have fun with your children. Set aside a little play time each day. Take them on a field trip, have a picnic in the backyard, or play games for a bit. You likely chose to be a stay-at-home parent because you want to spend more time with family. Put work and housework on hold while you play.

5. Take your partner on a date. Make date nights a habit and reconnect.

6. Meet up with a friend for lunch or a movie. Every now and again, parents need to stay in touch and talk with other adults. Make an effort to maintain regular contact.

7. If you’re having a rough day, call a close friend and chat for a few minutes. When you return, you’ll feel refreshed and calm.

8. Make an effort to exercise. Take a stroll, join a gym, or take a yoga class for a terrific stress reliever and as a way to stay in shape.

9. Get up and dance around the house to some energetic music. What does it matter if your kids and neighbors say you’ve gone crazy? Have a good time expelling pent-up physical energy.

10. If you have a business, make it a priority to discover ways to automate mundane tasks. Don’t overwork yourself by attempting to operate many enterprises all at once.

Start adopting several of these suggestions now and you’ll notice a reduction in stress. You’ll avoid work-at-home fatigue and have more time to enjoy life.

Of course, your family will enjoy spending time with a pleasant and well-balanced parent.