Let’s be honest. In both office and work from home settings, there are distractions. But the distractions are different. Instead of a coworker popping into your cubicle to catch up, now you have a young kid tugging at your shirt asking for a snack for the millionth time since they woke up. Or saying they’re bored and want something to do. Working from home with kids? It can be hard, especially now.
I started working from home part time in 2014, shortly after having my oldest daughter. In 2017, after having my second kiddo, I made the decision to stay home full time. I still worked from home, but typically no more than four hours to day. The reason for that is simple: taking care of young kiddos is full-time work.
Now, with so many of us “stuck at home,” things are changing again. So many parents are struggling with juggling the demands of remote work, while also taking care of their kids and “homeschooling.” (I use the term homeschooling loosely, because what we’re doing is not homeschooling. Read why here).
First, take a breath… and then read on. I’ve talked to a handful of mamas who have been doing this work from home thing for awhile. They understand the crazy demands on our time, and how tough it is to juggle the many hats we’re being forced to wear right now.
Whether you’re working 2 hours or more than 8 hours, here are our best tips for taking care of young kids at home while also working:
Create a Flexible Work From Home Schedule
As long as your job doesn’t require you to keep your butt in a chair from 9 to 5, test out a flexible schedule/routine. All the work from home mamas I talked to don’t do all their daily work in one stretch. This will look different for everyone. Some prefer to wake up before their kids to get a jumpstart on their workload. Others stay up late. The key is trying to find a routine that works for both you and the kids. Also: utilize pockets of time whenever you can. In other words, are the kids busy watching a show? Fire off some emails or do some work. It can take some getting used to, but working in spurts can at least clear a couple items off your to-do list.
Set Work From Home Boundaries…
For yourself…when you work from home, it’s easy to feel the pressure to be “on” all the time. Take a breath (yep, again), put the phone down, and take a step back to focus on your kids. “They know you are there, so it’s better to give them 30 minutes to an hour of focused attention than working while playing with them,” Penny Shack advises. “They will appreciate it and you will be able to go back to work after you’ve given them the time.”
And for your kids… While flexibility is important, set boundaries and expectations for your kids. For me, my kids know that when it’s quiet time, I’m working. Will they still interrupt me on occasion? Sure. But they also know that it’s playtime with me after quiet time/work time is done. (And yes, promising them a cookie after quiet time can help too). As Rachel Dillin says, “Set boundaries, make a schedule, and generally follow it. However, give yourself the grace to deviate sometimes when it’s just not happening on a certain day.”
Institute Quiet Time
Nap time is a perfect time to work… but what if they don’t nap anymore? My answer for the last couple years: quiet time. It’s been a lifesaver for me in terms of my work from home schedule; it’s 1-3 hours of time, mostly depending on what I have to get done or how the kids are doing. It always happens after lunch and a TV show, so my kids know to expect it. A bit of forewarning though: like any new routine, getting into quiet time routine takes time. Other work from home mamas consider nap/quiet time one of their most productive times of day too.
Utilize Online Resources
Right now there are an incredible array of free resources online. Many of them are educational. (I’m currently obsessed with the Smithsonian Learning Lab). Many of them are videos. Is it screen time? Sure, but hey, that’s okay!
Get Away From Your Desk… and Work Outside
Thankfully Spring is here (finally!) If you can get outside, do it. Let the kids run wild in your backyard. Let them explore. Let them get muddy. Chances are they’ll be having so much fun you may even get a thing or two done off your to-do list.
Let Your Kids Be Bored
With all the free activities and resources out there, you may feel like you need to schedule every moment of your kid’s day. But take it from homeschooling and work from home parents: they allow for plenty of free/play time into their day. As Brittany Whitfield says, “I think there’s a lot of power to giving our kids the chance to experience boredom! I personally believe that boredom breeds creativity and it also fosters imagination.”
Yes, they may whine. But they have toys. They have access to crafts. Give them a chance to figure it out. You may be surprised with what they come up with. And yes this “boredom” time will also give you a chance to work from home too.
Give Yourself Grace
Last but not least, take a breath (yes again). We live in strange times right now. Even for people who have worked from home for years, this is different. Our schedules have changed. We’re adjusting and figuring out a “new normal” too. As Penny says, “Times are just different and we are all just doing the best we can do. It’s ok mom! You’re crushing it.”
Repeat after me: I am doing the best I can. Repeat again, as necessary, throughout the day.
Give yourself some grace, mama. You have a lot on your plate, and you are doing the best you can. And please know, you are not alone.
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