Thread: How do you make time for family?

My wife tells me that I am always on my BB when I am at home. I have to reply to emails and take phone calls for work but sometimes I do think that I spend too much time on my Crackberry. I feel like my work is an addiction.

How do you guys make work stop at work? How do you make time for family?

(I posted this in the business section because it is my "business"'s fault that I am always on my phone)

While not having kids and a wife, still having similar pressures with a girlfriend have happened. We slowly worked in no phones at the dinner table, then no phones after a certain period during the evening. Unless it is super important like closing a huge deal or that is just the time that something can happen then let them know.

Some people will enjoy the honesty if you mention spending more time with your family unless they feel like you have been putting them off for a while.

No phones at dinner. I have 2 phones as well. my personal is friends and emergency for work only, while the other is strictly work. I dont pick that up if after 5, unless i have some deal going on and i need to know about it. i also have the voicemail set up to email me a copy of it, so if needed i can attend to it.

I understand this post completely. I am Active Duty Air Force (as is my wife), and I also run Site2Street, which takes up a great deal of time. Work never really ends, but my wife is completely supportive, and I'm the one often found feeling guilty.. lol. I have a son that's 11 months old, and he means the world to me, so it's important that I put down what I'm doing, and I spend time with the fam... it's a stress reliever too!

My typical day consists of waking @ 0600 - checking e-mails, replying to clients, making phone calls, etc. 0730 - roll into "work" (USAF), and see my patients there. Lunchtime, I knock out a few phone calls and jot down anything I know has to get done that evening. 1700 - finally off "work" and back in "business mode"... emails, coordination, phone calls, etc... The important thing here though, I make sure I spread the wealth and have ultimate time management. So I spend time with my son and wife, without phone calls and emails, then after little man is in bed and dinner is done, I'm back on the computer taking care of business until about 11pm. Then, restart the cycle.

J

Sooo.... time management... lol

Well, my phone was broken yesterday so I didn't use it at home and guess what? I woke up in the morning to fix the phone and all was still good. I realized that I can live without my phone. So I am trying to manage my time a bit better.

Does anyone have any software for their BB that will postpone emails until morning? Or not send out any emails until morning?

Business does get very addicting and I feel can eat the day away. I invest in various markets, so from the time I am awake to the time the market closes, I am on my computer or checking my iPhone every 15 minutes or so. Then when the trading day in NY is over, I will turn my attention to global markets and Forex for an hour or two. I try to distance myself for several hours after that and decompress. Then at about 10pm, I will read the days final thoughts on the markets, review notes, new materials, and books about investing or a particular market or niche.

And the process repeats, I don't really mind having to break away and dive into my technology frequently through the day, as I can be anywhere I want doing anything I want.

Thanks for creating this thread. I was about to post something similar.
The only time I actually find to do something else than stricly business-related stuff is L4P,
but only as I design and navigate everything via my Mac/PC and are therefore always online and able to post some crap on the 4.
I always try to find some sleep, but somehow the day's over again and I already have only 2-3 hours left for sleep.
Whenever I decide to take a quick nap after work, I realize that I have way too much stuff left to do, so it's basically back to work,
only before I realize that I have 2-3 hours of sleep left for the next day, again...

Are you guys really that busy? Is there really not enough time in the day to get what you need to get done and still have time for your families?

Some people are truly busy....I get it. Most people like to make themselves busy so they can feel accomplished or like they are doing something. I see it all the time. Some of my clients say they are so busy yet they have time to read ESPN, post on internet forums, take long lunches etc.

Same thing goes for the gym. "Oh I spend 2 hours a day at the gym BLAH BLAH" 1.5 hours is sitting on your rump chatting with the other dudes there.

If you have to tell/remind yourself to find time for your family and friends.....you need to work your priorities out.

My priorities
1. Family
2. GF/Friends
3. Health (includes exercise, eating right etc and debatibly number 1)
4. Money

I agree with above ^ a lot of people like to think they're busy but being busy doesn't necessarily mean being productive! besides, although I don't have a family I think it's absolutely necessary to have time for them

I have a 5 year old and a 20 month old. My wife and I are only children and neither of our parents are close by. YOU DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO! I work while my competition sleeps. I take every free moment to work, but all the others go towards my family!

I have been lucky to find a career that works for both me and my family. Not quite self-employed, but mostly independent.

I'm only human and I have to make myself turn the laptop off or put the iPhone down. My wife made a sign for me several years ago when I was going through quite a bit of work stress. Basically, it said, "Don't bring your work B/S past this door (garage door)."

That has stuck with me and will gladly drop a client's needs for my children's needs. Every parent, aunt, uncle, etc will totally understand that.