School Holidays Are Here: 5 Tips for Juggling Work and Kids (Without Losing Your Mind)
School Holidays Are Here: 5 Tips for Juggling Work and Kids (Without Losing Your Mind)
For working parents, school holidays can be both a joy and a logistical puzzle. With the NSW school break just around the corner, many of us at ASR Recruitment – and many of our candidates and clients – are preparing to juggle family time, work commitments, and everything in between.
We know that flexibility at work isn’t just a buzzword – it’s a lifeline for parents during these busy weeks. So whether you’re working from home, managing hybrid hours, or trying to keep your team productive, here are a few tried-and-true ways to keep the kids happy and keep your sanity:
- Set a loose routine – for everyone
Kids thrive with structure (even during holidays). Creating a light routine – breakfast, outdoor time, quiet time, screen time – helps them stay settled and gives you blocks of time for focused work.
- Embrace flexible hours if possible
Whether you’re an employer or employee, flexibility is gold during school holidays. Starting early, taking a longer midday break, or splitting work across two parents can make a world of difference.
- Have a “boredom buster” list ready
Create a go-to list of activities your kids can do independently: puzzles, audiobooks, crafts, online museum tours, or free holiday programs in your area. (Hot tip: Newcastle and Sydney councils often have free school holiday events – worth checking out!)
- Communicate with your team
If you’re a hiring manager or team leader, now’s the time to check in with your team. Being aware of who has kids at home and offering some leeway can go a long way toward maintaining morale and productivity.
- Don’t aim for perfection
Real talk: your house might be a mess, a Zoom call might feature a surprise guest, and screen time may go up. That’s OK. These weeks are temporary – give yourself (and others) some grace.
Why We’re Sharing This
At ASR, we support people through career moves and life changes – because they’re often one and the same. Whether you’re job hunting, onboarding a new team member, or leading a department, schoolholidays affect how we all work.
If you’re navigating flexibility, team culture, or work-life balance – we’d love to chat. Supporting professionals is what we do best.
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