The coronavirus pandemic has caused many of us to re-evaluate our priorities. We have been faced with a life-threatening illness and have had to determine how to protect ourselves and our families. We have been faced with financial losses and how to provide for our loved ones. We have appreciated the quality time together to bond as a family, but have also realized that we need time alone. We have missed sports and other activities, and the richness they add to our lives.

In summary, the past year has given us great insight into our priorities, which are important to keep in mind as we start to plan for the re-opening of society. What do we want to preserve, what do we want to change, and how do we make it all fit into our schedule? I find it useful to look at family life in the project management context of “constraints” to determine what success looks like.

A constraint is any limiting factor or restriction, like time or money. There’s only so much time or money available for any family or project. Though thinking in terms of constraints may seem restrictive, it keeps your family from overreaching by providing guardrails to protect your most important priorities. Classic project management constraints related to family life include time, cost, and scope.

• ⏰ Time is the number of hours in a day as it relates to the family schedule.

• 💲 Cost is the amount of money as it relates to the family budget.

• ⚙️ Scope is the amount of work as it relates to parents’ careers and kids’ schooling and activities.

Project management uses these as a framework for evaluating competing demands and adjusting them if necessary. Time, cost, and scope are interrelated and impact each other. The greater the scope, or amount of work, that needs to be done, the more time and money will be needed to complete it. If the amount of required work decreases, then the time and cost go down as well. For example, if our kids are in several activities, these require more time and money than paring down their schedules to one or two activities.

Another way of thinking about it is a triangle-shaped water balloon. The water in the balloon represents the amount of work, time, and money required, and the balloon itself represents their limits. If one part of the project gets bigger (like the number of after-school activities), time and money must move from the other parts of the balloon to support it. We move the water around from one tip of the triangle to the others to support a given priority and make sure the balloon doesn’t “pop”. Because the balloon can only stretch so far, it limits the overall amount of work that can be accomplished. If you try to increase the amount of work (or after-school activities too much), the balloon bursts.

This framework for decision-making requires a balancing act, whether the context is professional or family life. What are our limits? What do we want our life to look like post pandemic, and how can we keep our balloons from bursting? 

Every family is different, and looking at these restrictions can provide a window into your family and allow you to evaluate what is realistic. In other words, the constraints framework can help you see how your particular limits are interrelated and affect decision-making. There are lots of pieces to balance, such as parents’ jobs and kids’ school and activities. Of course, you also need to factor in your family’s health, safety, and quality of life. I talk about this in more detail in my book, Project Management for Parents, and here is a brief overview of how to approach it.

To evaluate your priorities, ask yourself:

• Do you want to preserve some of that precious family quality time from over the pandemic? Then be sure to include it as you look at your overall calendar. Don’t overschedule kids’ activities so they overrun your family time. 

• Are you more focused on your health? Add that to your schedule and budget (such as a gym membership). 

• Do you have a limited budget? Be sure not to overstretch your resources as things re-open; for example, be mindful of eating out and shopping activities.

Considering these restrictions of time, cost, and amount of work and activities can provide a decision-making framework to help you evaluate what is realistic for your unique family. By consciously identifying your limits, you can find a balance that helps you achieve the lifestyle that you want post pandemic.

Good luck, and I wish you success, health, and happiness as we venture back out into the world 💜.

Hilary Kinney is the author of Project Management for Parents, a timeless book that provides resources for busy parents to streamline life at home. She is a certified Professional Project Manager with 17 years of experience at a Fortune 500 company.