How to Create More Flexibility in Work and Family Life
What’s the one currency that makes life actually easier for working parents?
It’s not money.
It’s not time.
It’s flexibility.
Flexibility isn’t just nice to have... it’s foundational.
It gives you a sense of autonomy — the feeling that your life and time are your own. It lets you work around the unavoidable (daycare drop-offs, last-minute school events, breakfast meltdowns) and build a rhythm that works for your family and your career.
Without flexibility, you feel time-starved, overextended, and on the edge of burnout. Cue: decision fatigue, guilt, and resentment.
Flexibility is the most valuable currency a working parent has.
It’s what allows you to:
Pick up your child from school a couple of times a week
Show up to a school concert or sports event
Share a simple dinner around the table
Be there for the moments that matter
Because in the end, it’s not about the quantity of time... it’s about the quality.
“Children spell love with four letters: T-I-M-E.” — Max Lucado
So how do you actually maximise flexibility as a working parent?
Here are three core questions to help you gain clarity and take action:
1) Outside of any constraints, what is truly important to you?
Yes, your kids, your career, and your partner matter. But dig deeper.
What’s non-negotiable for you — the things that, if ignored, would leave you with regret?
Think holistically. When one core need is unmet, it affects everything — including your presence and joy with your child.
School pick-up three times a week?
Daily movement for 30 minutes?
Dedicated time to hit career milestones?
A regular date night to reconnect with your partner?
Get clear on your list. No one else can write it for you.
2) Where is communication needed about your priorities?
It sounds obvious... but have you clearly articulated what matters most to you?
Many working parents never stop long enough to reflect. We just keep "doing the do" — and then wonder why we feel frustrated when our needs aren’t met.
This might mean:
A conversation with your manager
A heart-to-heart with your partner
Or even an honest check-in with yourself
In The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, one of the core agreements is:
Don’t make assumptions. Have the courage to ask questions and express what you really want.
You deserve to be clear — and heard.
3) How empowered do you feel to make flexible work arrangements that suit you?
This one’s about your inner world.
If you believe flexibility is "too much to ask" or that others will judge you, you’ll likely hold back from even exploring your options.
Start by noticing your own beliefs.
Do they limit you... or support you?
When you trust that your needs are valid and possible, you step into a different kind of leadership — one that balances boldness and compassion.
Have you created flexible work arrangements that truly support your family?
If not, what’s stopping you?
If you're ready to stop feeling stretched thin and start creating a rhythm that supports your family and your goals, explore the Stressed to Best Parent Method. It will walk you through how to align your time, energy, and priorities — so you can be present for the people who matter most.
