Balancing Work and Home Life in the Digital AgeBy Corinna Ramsey from Good Shepherd Catholic Church

My Home

My Work

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a

time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what

is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to

build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to

dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time

to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to

lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a

time for war, and a time for peace.

What challenges do you face?

Realize that you have to draw the line

Make boundaries and let people know

● Coworkers● Parishioners● Family● Anyone else?

Use but Limit Notifications

● No email notifications● Calendar Notifications for reminders at home and at work● Put everyone in your phone and answer with discretion

Ask for help● “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find;

knock, and it will be opened to you.” -Matthew 7:7● Parishioners● Family● Co-workers● Ministers● Volunteers● Use Technology

Keep a digital calendar

Share it with family

Schedule● Share it with family and work● Stick to it as best as you can● Clock in and out - OpenTimeClock● Keep a spreadsheet of your hours● Schedule things together (ie. GoF weekend, CHWC

meeting)● Work it in when it is convenient (ie. Dance class)● Take your whole day(s) off● Other tips?

Stay Organized at Work● Work is for work● Keep a running to do list on paper● Make priorities

○ What’s next on the calendar?○ How can I get ahead during slow times?

● Manage Time (ie. keep your tabs open or bookmark what you need)● Send yourself email reminders● Ask people to email you● Schedule smart meeting times● Know your limits● Organize your emails● Set alarms on your phone or computer

Stay organized at home

● Home is for home● Keep a digital to do list (ie. Listonic)

Stay organized at home

● Pick your priorities (ie. dishes)● Share the load (chores, driving, etc.)● Everything has a place, maybe it’s even in its place● Learn to be flexible● Use your crockpot● Use your phone for recipes● Schedule text messages● Other tips?

Schedule to keep your priorities straight

● Prayer● Kids● Spouse● Exercise● Health● Time away● What else?

Get the work done if it makes you feel better● Work on work time if needed● Be realistic● Make the time up a different day or week● Ideally the work should be done at work but we don’t all

live ideal lives.● Work when it is not taking time away from home or family.

(piano lessons)● Use your phone, laptop, google, etc to do your work

anywhere if you need it.

Set Expectations

● If you respond to emails on your day off once…….● Set email to auto-respond for time off● Leave texts “unread”● Email yourself notes about texts● Should you glance at emails, read emails, etc??

Schedule around life● When to volunteer● When to work● When to be parent/spouse● Kids in Mass, me in office, pack up toys as volunteer after

Mass● They will still go on without you● Communicate with family and work about missing things

What else is important to you that will keep you going?● Prayer● Healthy cooking● Healthy eating - tracking food● Exercise● Fun with family● Time to self● Sports● Volunteering● Friends● Extended Family● Add it all to your digital to do list or digital calendar

Use Google Docs or sheets

● Doc for this presentation● Sheet for workout● Doc for retreat to work at piano● Sheet for registrations● Doc for prayers● Doc for Christmas card labels

Don’t forget what it’s all about...

● God● Family● Friends

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” -Colossians 3:17

What keeps me going…….

Colossians 3:23-24

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”