Are you struggling to work from home with your kids around? It can be tough to concentrate on work when you have little ones to look after, but you can do some simple things to make it easier.
Are you ready for some helpful tips to improve your work-from-home experience with kids? Here are ten tried-and-true suggestions that every hardworking parent can benefit from. By following these tips, you’ll be able to spend quality time with your kids while achieving great career success.
1.Make A Schedule
It can be tough to keep everything organized when you’re trying to work from home with your kids around. You might feel like you’re constantly scrambling to keep up with everything. We’ve all been there, and it’s not easy.
But it’s definitely worth it to establish a routine. Once you get into the habit of following a schedule, things will feel a lot smoother.
One of the best ways to establish a routine is to create a schedule for each day. Ensure you have a specific lunchtime and take breaks when needed. Try to stick to a similar routine as you would have during a regular work or school day. You can even get your kids involved in the planning process – no matter their age, they can provide input and help create a sense of ownership over the schedule.
Once you have your routine set, creating visual reminders is helpful. Review the schedule in the morning and make it easy to follow throughout the day. With some planning and helpful reminders, you can make working from home with kids a lot less stressful.
2.Priority First
When you’re working from home with kids, it’s important to prioritize your workload. Begin your day with tasks that require your full attention and concentration, and leave the less demanding work for later. Use the early morning hours when your kids are still asleep to focus on the work that requires more effort. As the day goes on and interruptions become more frequent, shift your attention to smaller tasks like answering emails and making phone calls. Be realistic about the interruptions that will inevitably arise, and plan your schedule accordingly.
3. Wake Up An Hour Earlier
Getting enough sleep is important, but sometimes waking up an hour before your kids can make all the difference in your day. If your children can sleep in, take advantage of that time to grab your laptop and get some work done before they wake up.
For parents of younger children who require regular attention throughout the day, it’s important to plan your schedule wisely. While you may not have complete control over your work schedule, you can optimize your efforts by prioritizing your tasks. Identify the most important thing you need to accomplish for the day and start working on it before your children wake up. This way, you can get it done and out of the way before it starts to weigh on your mind.
4. Screen Time Is Okay
According to experts, screen time can be beneficial, especially when it comes to educational content for kids aged three to five. Providing the right content can help improve your child’s literacy and cognitive skills while encouraging positive behavior.
These days, educational television goes way beyond just Sesame Street. Many high-quality, free videos are available that are perfect for kids. Spend time curating a playlist that’s just right for your little one.
You can’t go wrong with tried-and-true options like YouTube and Netflix when choosing platforms. While it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that all screen time is bad, that’s not necessarily the case. It all depends on the content.
For some kids, watching videos can be a more effective way to learn than reading books or listening to teacher lectures. Going digital and finding engaging content can help your child stay interested and excited about learning.
5. Establish Separate Areas
When setting up your home for work and play, it’s important to designate separate areas. Creating a specific area for kids to play and a separate space for your home office can make a huge difference in productivity and overall happiness. If you don’t have a lot of space, you’ll have to get creative.
One option for a workspace could be using the kitchen table from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., while the living room area rug could double as a play area. It’s important that these spaces don’t overlap physically, meaning no toys stacked on important documents or equipment. Establishing these separate spaces gives you a strong foundation for a successful work-from-home experience with your kids.
6. Be Honest With Your Team
Parenting is hard work, and it’s important to remember that it takes a village to raise a child. Instead of pretending like you have everything under control, it’s okay, to be honest with your team. Ask for flexibility in your schedule and offer it in return.
The traditional 9-5 office grind isn’t always the most productive for teams. Embracing the option to work from home can lead to happier and more productive employees. Finding a way to make it work for everyone on the team is important. By being open and honest about your needs, you can create a supportive work environment that benefits parents and non-parents alike.
7. Blur Out The Background
To avoid those awkward moments during video calls, try using the blurring background feature available in Zoom, Skype, and other video call apps. You don’t have to worry about your kids interrupting or the clutter in the background because the blur feature can hide all of that. Plus, you don’t have to spend hours cleaning or decorating your space before the call. It’s an easy way to create a clean and professional look without hassle. So, take advantage of this feature and focus on the conversation, not the background.
You Got This
Hey moms, are you ready to take on the challenge and make remote work with kids work? The key is to plan ahead, which is every mom’s superpower. Try different strategies until you find what works best for you and your kids. It may not be easy at first, but don’t give up! It will get easier over time.