As a parent, co-founder of Activily, and coach, I talk to a lot of busy parents who are doing their best to balance work, school, and all the extracurricular activities our kids are involved in. Trust me, I’m living it too! Finding that balance often feels impossible, but I’ve gathered up the best 5 practical tips that might help make it a little more manageable:

Prioritise Activities that matter: Not every activity needs to happen at the same time. Let your child explore their interests, but focus on what they truly enjoy. This can save time and energy, plus your child is more likely to stick with something they love.

Plan and Communicate with a shared calendar : I cannot stress enough how much a shared family calendar has saved us from chaos. Track school events, work commitments, and activities in one place. It’s not magic, but it helps reduce surprises and keeps everyone in sync.

Local activities or Car Sharing to save time: One of the best tips I’ve heard is to find activities close to home or set up a carpool with other parents. Less time in traffic means more time for you (or maybe a rare moment of peace).

Use Digital Tools: Family apps like notion or Google Calendar have become lifesavers for us. They help keep schedules organised, and the to-do lists mean nothing gets forgotten (well, almost!).
Schedule breaks for you and your kids: This one’s tough, I know. But building in downtime for both your kids and yourself is essential. Even a bit of unstructured play or rest can do wonders to prevent burnout. Or just pizza and a movie together.

I hope these strategies help you find some balance without feeling like you’re giving anything up. It’s a juggling act – self compassion is required!