How to Cope: A Few Tips

Is the frenzy at work matched only by the pandemonium at home? There are ways to reduce the stress of juggling home and career, employee and family counselors say. Here are a few of their suggestions:

* Keep a master calendar. Record all family appointments, school project deadlines, youth sports practices and games, changes in work schedules, anything that will affect the family time, on a single calendar. (Added tip: Use a different color ink for each family member.)

* Post a list of duties. Everyone can help with household chores. Even toddlers can empty a wastebasket.

* Have regular family meetings. As hectic as the family schedule might be, set aside one night for dinner with no distractions at which everyone talks about the week ahead and week behind. It’s a good time to assess and reassign duties and to plan outings or special times.

* Develop a system for keeping track of papers from school. We’re not just talking about graded spelling tests here. Forests have died because of all the fliers and other notices--menus, PTA meetings, fund-raisers, workshops, sports league sign ups--that come home in book bags every afternoon. For each child, designate a place (a drawer, a file, a box) to stash the papers until you can look at them, but make it your child’s responsibility to put the papers there. Then go through them on a regular basis. As much as possible, handle paper once.

* Let supper wait. The kids are starved not only for food, but also your attention. Just a few minutes of conversation can take the edge off the frenzy when you walk in the door. Then, when preparing dinner, involve the children.

* Treat yourself well. A 10-minute walk, a bath, a book, or some other quick luxury at the beginning and end of each day can help alleviate stress.