85 percent of parents want to work less

Finding the balance between work, family time, me-time, housework and friendships remains a challenge for many parents struggle. They spend more time on work and career than in 2015, although they would rather see it differently. This is apparent from research by Ouders van Nu and research agency Choice among more than a thousand parents.

More at work

Of all those surveyed, 52 percent are spending more time on their work and career than they were seven years ago (39 percent), while 85 percent of people would rather spend less time to spend more time with family and themselves. In 2015 it was still 50 percent. Parents have started working more weeks of at least 29 hours because it has become a necessary source of income due to inflation, while the preference is for a work week between 17 and 28 hours in order to have time for things that really matter to them. It creates uncertainty because parents now give themselves a lower score than in 2015. They feel that they have become more indulgent, actually want to be more consistent and indicate that they buy toys more often that they do not support.

Also read – A third of men believe that women should work less after having children >

Structurally too little time

“Parents have a structural sense of not having enough time for their child(ren) and themselves. We also see that image. Parents struggling with burnout puzzle over the division of care and time for yourself. We are also seeing a greater interest in topics such as self-care, self-development and balance,” said Ouders van Nu editor-in-chief Hilde Tholen. Maintaining friendships continues to be a struggle for parents as more time goes to work. All the time left over is better spent with the family. “That is abrasive, because parents also see that free time with like-minded people contributes positively to a feeling of relaxation, better mental and physical health and less uncertainty.”

Working part time

All of this leads mothers to choose to work part-time once the children get older, if financially feasible. More money does not outweigh the time they have left for things that are more important to them.

Source: Parents of Now, NOS.

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