May 2nd 2022
Being a parent is difficult at the best of times. Having to work from home and take care of the kids at the same time can often be a recipe for disaster if you don’t plan correctly for it. The children are running rampant around the house, your focus is completely off… and it’s only 10am.
Don’t worry too much though, we’ve put together a handy list of things you can do to ensure the little ones are happy and your work is being done without interruption.
Become an Early Riser
This first point we can’t stress enough. Being an early bird can have a multitude of benefits in your working day. With time saved from not having to commute to work or get the kids ready for school, you can allow yourself an extra hour or two to get set up for the day.
Depending on your area of work, you can use the extra time in the morning to boot up your computer and get a head start on any tasks you have for that day. Plan and double check for any meetings you’ll need to attend and check your inbox for any critical emails.
Try to Keep a Routine
The best part about working from home is that you can work to your own time. This doesn’t mean going where the wind takes you all of the time though. Having a rough routine will be critical in maintaining the flow of the day. There are also many helpful apps that can help with time management out there!
Remember, you’ll need to schedule for your children as well as yourself. You can let them sleep in on some days to give yourself even more extra time in the morning, as discussed before. However, you’ll also need to ensure that they understand what is expected of them during your working days.
Set Activities and Tasks for the Kids
When trying to maintain your routine, you’ll need to come up with creative ways to keep your kids occupied during your peak working hours. Older children can be set small household jobs such as emptying and filling the dishwasher, washing the car, or simply tidying their rooms.
Younger children, however, will be a bit more difficult to wrangle. A few fun activities spring to mind here, like painting, colouring, drawing, puzzles or reading – all relatively quiet and time consuming. We also recommend scheduling a timeslot for homework for all children, where they have your undivided attention and assistance.
Have Your Own Work Spot/Space
If you have an extra room in your house or apartment, consider making this your working room. Move all of your necessary work tech and items into that room, so your children know this is where mummy or daddy goes to work. Make sure your computer, printer, pens and paper and a dedicated desk are in this room.
This will also help you to detach from regular home life and feel more like you’re at work, which is one of the biggest hurdles to overcome when working from home. Trying to work on the kitchen counter with kids around you is a big ask of any parent.
Alternate with Your Partner
If you have a partner who also works from home, together you can refine your schedules to allow you both to work and spend time with the kids during the day. This will help your kids to feel less neglected, and also allow you moments to breathe as you step away from the computer screen for short periods.
Coordinating with your partner, taking turns working and keeping the kids occupied, will not only help to keep everyone in the family happy, but will also do wonders for your mental health too. It will give you a healthier work-life balance in the long run.
Meal Prep!
This may seem like a bit of a chore but planning mealtimes effectively can save you so much time in the day. If you’ve already set out what’s for lunch and dinner, your children will have no need to constantly pester you about it!
You can also set up a drinks and snacks station in the house. This will allow your children to have a little autonomy when they’re a bit hungry between meals. It will also save you from the dreaded “Mum/Dad, I’m hungry!”. Again, if you have a partner also working from home, try alternating this responsibility each day/week to lessen the stress.
Take a Break – When You Can!
When working from home, especially with kids, you’ll need to also look after yourself. You could see working as an escape from the kids and playing with the kids as an escape from work – but this leaves no solitary time for you to unwind or simply have a chat.
When in an office environment, it’s natural for colleagues to strike up a conversation and talk about events. When you’re working from home, it’s entirely on you to start those conversations. Talking about things completely unrelated to work (or the kids!) can do wonders for your mental health, and even a quiet five minutes to yourself with a coffee can boost your mood tremendously.
Be Open with Your Colleagues
It’s simply impossible to stop every interruption from the kids during the workday. You’ll need to explain this to your colleagues from the get-go. Working from home is so much more common nowadays, and the kinks will never fully be ironed out because real life is happening all around us.
One of your kids might be having a meltdown during a work call or meeting, and anyone with a heart will understand that the world is not going to end simply because the little one didn’t get their ice cream. Be open and upfront with your co-workers that these things will happen, but at the end of the day, the work is still going to be done.
Schedule Meetings Effectively
One way to minimise interruption during your working day, is to plan your meetings for the correct times. Schedule a touch base with colleagues after setting a task for your kids. This way you’ll know they’re occupied whilst you’re on camera, minimising the risk of them bursting through the door.
If your partner is available, ask them to shift their time to look after the kids while the meeting is taking place. If you have toddlers or babies, schedule the meetings for when their nap times are. This way you’ll know exactly where they are, and how long you have (usually).
Remember to Switch Off
All of this can amount to a very stressful environment if not managed correctly. This is why, if things don’t necessarily go to plan on a particular day, you’ll need to remember to switch off from work. There should always come a time where you say to yourself “I’m done for the day”.
You could be working from very early until midday and then switch off giving you the rest of the day to dedicate to your children. Alternatively, you could spend the morning with them and then work until it’s their bedtime. It’s really up to you to pick these ‘switch off’ times in your day but remember to always have an end time in mind.
Working from home with kids can be a stressful time. But, if managed right, can be the most rewarding thing in the world. We hope you’ve picked up some helpful advice here today on how you can turn the mixing of the hectic home life and busy work life to your advantage.
If you’re eventually going to need to return to an office to phase yourself back into in-person working, why not head across and take a look at our serviced offices and managed office spaces to see what we have available in your area.
