The Social Media Swami is back!  This time, Shashi B. shares tips to help busy dads achieve balance.

I am writing this after everyone has gone off to sleep. I may not be practising what is right but definitely I am aware of what should be and what is. What I mean by this is that it is difficult to maintain a work-life balance, and it is even more difficult when you are ambitious and want to learn, excel, and grow.

Life as a busy dad

I used to be in the hotel business and life in the hospitality business is tough for families. Even though I worked long hours in my hotel/restaurant job as a chef, the power of meeting people kept my energy going. This had a down side as well as I was exhausted by the time I got back home. The TV was a companion, but only as a background noise. I left the hotel business to be able to spend more time with my family.

Technology, in a lot of cases is inherently addictive. If you do some work at home, you may be under the mistaken impression that the working hours are endless unlike at work where you may have to get home at a particular time.

I am very impressed by a quote by Bryan Dyson, former CEO of AT&T, who purportedly said, “Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them – work, family, health, friends and spirit and you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls – family, health, friends and spirit – are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same…”

So true.

Tips to help you keep the glass balls in the air

At a recent meet-up in Montgomery County, Robert Katz said that he is concerned that youngsters today are not spending enough time outdoors due to digital distractions. This is a very true and its important to plan activities that are in the outdoors and away from home. I am planning on taking Robert Katz’ offer to visit a few fire stations. My kids will love it.

About the Author

Shashi Bellamkonda is Director and Social Media & Social Media Swami of Network Solutions, a company that works together to help small businesses succeed online with web hosting, do-it-yourself website builder software, online marketing tools, and domain names. Shashi is also a regular contributor to the DC Examiner and Tech Cocktail. This article contains the opinions and observations of the author and may not necessarily reflect those of Network Solutions or its clients or partners.

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