When it comes to arranging one’s work schedules, many people would like to get one that offers flexibility in order to get the perfect work-life balance that equals less stress and tension. Some even believe that if one works in a short period of time, they will have better chances of succeeding in life and work.

However, if one gets a reduced work schedule, there is no guarantee that it will match one’s current lifestyle. For parents, a reduced work schedule may be beneficial, especially if one partner will be tackling childcare and the other work.

As a parent, I’m always questioning myself the option of working-from-home, part-time work or going back to my career full-time.

But, before you consider getting a reduced work schedule, consider if it is worth it by examining these factors:

• Does it fit your lifestyle or current life situation?
  If you are a parent, determine whether or not your child requires you at home the most. If you end up negotiating for a reduced work schedule when they are in their toddler years, you may be unable to stay longer at home once they get older.
• Will a lesser income work for you?
  Reduced work schedule means a reduced salary since you are working for shorter hours each week. Check if you will be able to pay all your expenditures with reduced pay.

If you are decided in taking a reduced work schedule, here are some of the things you need to remember to ensure it will work efficiently for you:

• Discuss your workload with your boss
  Before you accept a reduced work schedule, discuss what job responsibilities will be given to you.Even if the schedule is reduced so you can do your other tasks, it is possible that your job responsibilities will be too much that you will be unable to finish them at your given schedule.
• Show to your boss that you are committed
  If you request for a reduced work schedule, your boss or manager may assume that you are not intending to advance from your job or take on harder challenges.However, you can actually show that you can still handle tougher projects even with a reduced schedule. You can ask for travel-related assignments and even arrange regular meetings with your manager to discuss your work and other ideas in the future.
• Create a boundary to reduce the possibility of being overwhelmed
  Flexibility is a nice perk of reduced work schedules, but if people find out that you have reduced work hours, they may take advantage of it and ask you to do things for them.Set a boundary as to how much work you are willing to do work on in your free time.
• Identify why you want the free time
  Why are you getting a reduced work schedule? Is it to spend it with your family? Give yourself some free time to relax? Knowing the reason will keep you pushing forward to achieve your goals.
• Request for reduced work schedule rather than quit
  For some working parents who do not want to quit their jobs but need the flexibility to tackle both household chores and work, requesting a reduced work schedule is ideal.

Making the choice to get a reduced work schedule to achieve a perfect work-life balance is a tough decision to make because of the effects it may have to your career. A good start would be having a chat with your partner and then, your boss to explore if a flexi-work arrangement is possible for your role.

If your intention is to leave your career entirely for a few years, a reduced work schedule is a great way to kick off your plans and to test waters with your toes.

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