Taking Care of Yourself (HBR Working Parents Series)

Book description

Have you taken time for yourself today?

Too many working parents focus solely on those around them—their families, their work, and a never-ending list of other commitments—only to lose sight of what they need themselves. But neglecting your own needs and wants can prevent you from being happy, healthy, and productive.

Taking Care of Yourself provides expert advice to help you identify what you value most at work and at home, make choices that align with those values, and be the best version of yourself for your job and for your family.

You'll learn to:

  • Prioritize the tasks that are most meaningful to you—and let go of the rest
  • Deal with complex feelings, including parental guilt and perfectionism
  • Carve out time for self-care, including friends, hobbies, exercise, and sleep
  • Communicate your needs to your boss and your family
  • Feel more present, both at work and at home

The HBR Working Parents Series with Daisy Dowling, Series Editor, supports readers as you anticipate challenges, learn how to advocate for yourself more effectively, juggle your impossible schedule, and find fulfillment at home and at work. Whether you're up with a newborn or planning the future with your teen, you'll find the practical tips, strategies, and research you need to make working parenthood work for you.

Table of contents

  1. Series Page
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright
  4. Contents
  5. Introduction: Self-Care and the Working Parent
  6. Section 1: Give Yourself a Time-Out: Look at How You Spend Your Time
    1. 1. Give Yourself Permission to Recharge
    2. 2. Working Dads Need “Me Time,” Too
    3. 3. Does Your Schedule Reflect Your Values?
    4. 4. Six Ways to Weave Self-Care into Your Workday
    5. 5. Do More by Doing Less (at Home and at Work)
  7. Section 2: Learn to Talk: Communicate Your Needs
    1. 6. Four Conversations Every Overwhelmed Working Parent Should Have
    2. 7. What’s a Working Dad to Do?
    3. 8. How to Communicate Your Self-Care Needs to Your Partner
    4. 9. Too Much to Do? Here’s How to Ask for Help
  8. Section 3: Deep Breaths: Check Your Mental and Emotional Health
    1. 10. Stop Feeling Guilty About What You Can’t Get Done
    2. 11. How to Refuel When You’re Feeling Emotionally Drained
    3. 12. Let Go of Perfectionism
    4. 13. How Busy Working Parents Can Make Time for Mindfulness
  9. Section 4: Time for Your Checkup: Prioritize Physical Well-Being
    1. 14. How Regular Exercise Helps You Balance Work and Family
    2. 15. Find Exercise in Life’s Margins
    3. 16. How Working Parents Can Prioritize Sleep
    4. 17. Parents, Take Your Sick Days
  10. Section 5: Recess: Make Your Time Off Matter
    1. 18. The Case for Having Hobbies
    2. 19. Make Friendships a Part of Your Routine
    3. 20. How to Get the Most Out of a Day Off
    4. 21. Get in the Right State of Mind for Vacation
  11. Epilogue: Try It, You Might Like It
    1. 22. It’s Not Selfish to Take Care of Yourself
  12. Notes
  13. About the Contributors
  14. Index

Product information

  • Title: Taking Care of Yourself (HBR Working Parents Series)
  • Author(s): Harvard Business Review, Daisy Dowling, Stewart D. Friedman, Scott Behson, Heidi Grant
  • Release date: December 2020
  • Publisher(s): Harvard Business Review Press
  • ISBN: 9781633699793