Flourish - Latest Edition - Flipbook - Page 48
4. Use workplace
昀氀exibility strategically
(and know your
entitlements)
If you are employed,
your workplace can be
part of the solution.
Even small changes
help: start time shifts,
compressed weeks,
partial work from home,
meeting free blocks for
appointments.
In Australia, employees
have access to paid
personal and carers
leave (and casuals have
unpaid carers leave),
with details outlined
by the Fair Work
Ombudsman.
If you are comfortable,
talk to your manager
early, before you are
in crisis mode. Frame
it around stability:
“With a predictable
arrangement, I can
keep delivering.”
5. Protect your energy
like it is a budget
Most sandwich
generation people try
to solve a capacity
problem with effort. It
works, until it does not.
A few low drama habits:
• Book recovery time
after high demand
days (even 30
minutes)
• Use checklists
and templates for
recurring admin
• Accept “good
enough” in low
stakes areas
• Keep one activity
each week that
is only for you
(movement, coffee
with a friend, sport,
reading)
If stress, low mood, or
sleep issues are building,
consider talking to your
GP or a mental health
professional. Early
support is far easier than
a full burnout recovery.
6. Make “future you” a
little job easier
• A small amount
of planning now
reduces panic later:
• Create a shared
folder (digital
or paper) with
key contacts,
medications,
Medicare details,
school info,
and important
documents
• Keep an emergency
plan for kids and
parents (who to call,
who can pick up,
who has keys)
• Consider legal and
昀椀nancial advice for
enduring powers of
attorney, advance
care planning, wills,
and major care
decisions (especially
if family dynamics
are complex)
