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Even though the spread of Covid19 seems to have reduced a bit and we are on the brink of finding a successful vaccine, people are still afraid to commute and go to the office. Sensing this sentiment, many companies allow their employees to work from home ensuring the safety of their employees. While Work from home might seem like a boon, it does come with its shortfalls such as managing your kids while you hustle with your work at home.
If you are having a difficult time while working from home with your kids, these eight essential tips will definitely come in handy:
Get Creative With Your Schedule
It’s important that you align your day carefully with fixed “Office” hours. Ask these questions to yourself: How many hours are you hoping to work that day? When will you return the calls on your mobile? What can you accomplish when your son/daughter is drawing in the next room? You can get more done if you work smarter and not harder.
With that being said, whether you are your own boss or you work for a company, one of the greatest benefits of working from home is flexibility. If your son or daughter is pestering you to play with them outside, it’s okay to set your assignments aside for a short while and join them. You can resume your work later when your kids have settled down.
Make Good use of your Kids’ Naptime
Whether your kids sleep for one hour or three, utilize this time to finish work that needs your utmost focus or concentration. If for some reason, your kids aren’t tired, then they must have little quiet time instead, utilize this time to get some work done even if it’s as little as half an hour. If you have toddlers, you can plan his/her nap time when you have to take calls.
Designate a Work Area
To isolate yourself separately from the rest of the house, set up a work area which will be used for strictly work purposes. Also, mention to your kids that this work area is strictly off-limits during specific hours.
Keep Kids Entertained
If your kids have something to look forward to, then they are less likely to interrupt you. You can set aside some toys for them to play with or you can arrange playdates for them or even you can set up special movie screenings at your home so that you get some quality work time.
Plan for Unexpected Interruptions
No matter how much you prepare for that important call, there might be unexpected interruptions from your kids. They might be hungry or there might be some other reason. Make a cardboard sign or sign of some sort (tie a ribbon on the door) and inform your kids that you do not want to be disturbed when there is a sign on the door.
Seek Extra Help If You Need It
You might have thought that work from home means that you may skip child care, but you soon might have realized that it’s not the case. During these times, you can speak with other working Moms in your network and have a playdate for the kids. More often than not, kids will keep you as well as their moms alone as they will be engaged playing with each other and won’t disturb you.
Get Creative With Your Schedule
It’s important that you align your day carefully with fixed “Office” hours. How many hours are you hoping to work that day? When will you return the calls on your mobile? What can you accomplish when you son/daughter is drawing in the next room? You can get more done if you work smarter and not harder.
With that being said, one of the greatest benefits of working from home is flexibility, whether you are your own boss or you work for a company. If your son or daughter is pestering you to play with them outside, it’s okay to set your assignments aside for a short while and join them. You can catch up on work later when your kids have settled down.
Let Kids Make Some Choices
Give your kids a list of choices such as coloring, dance party, crafts, cooking as well as the cleaning at the end of the list. Obviously, kids wouldn’t want to get to the bottom of the list and get stuck cleaning, so they chose something else in the list. Also, having your kids self-serve meals and snacks will teach them to be more independent.
Communicate With Your Coworkers
If you are going to have a conference call and know beforehand that there might be unavoidable noises in the background, inform your coworkers at the beginning of the conversation. This way, when it happens, your coworkers are a little more prepared and not thrown off by the distraction.
You can make your kids participate in Rareminds events while they learn and you work peacefully by following the above tips.