6 Strategies to Survive Working From Home With Kids
The last few weeks have brought with them an unprecedented turn of events for the entire humanity, and the community of working professionals is no exception to it. As the spread of COVID-19 or novel coronavirus shows no signs of reduction or containment, millions of businesses (including schools) have shut down their operations.
The result of lockdown in many nations has resulted in a rare event where remotely working parents now work with their kids around every day of the week. While kids seem to be enjoying every minute of these unscheduled holidays, it’s parents who have to face an uphill task of maintaining a good work-life balance.
I have two kids, and as I try hard to keep the business running smoothly with my team of ProofHub during the days of the pandemic, I have realized now that working from home is far easier said than done. Kids demand attention all the time and you feel obliged to give them company for playing, helping with studies, joining them in meals, and much more.
However, the fact is that kids are not the most ideal office mates to be working around. Let me put it straight to a large number of parents-cum-work from home professionals out there; parenting while juggling video conferencing, long and messy email threads, and tight deadlines are no joke.
After years of following all kinds of tips to keep distractions at bay while working from home, I’ve finally put together some effective tactics to successfully manage my work without compromising on dedicating time to my loved ones. Read on if you are one of those having troubled time working from home with children.
- Have a Conversation With Kids
Since the prospect of working from home with kids even for a day might appear daunting, leave alone for a few weeks. Parents have to focus on work as well as ensure their kids stay healthy and disciplined as they try to keep the ball rolling.
Assuming they’re old enough to understand the seriousness of your words, You need to sit down with them and explain what’s the current situation in your state, country, and across the globe. Make them understand why it’s important to stay at home for the next couple of weeks or even more. Encourage them to ask questions. Keep the conversation going once in a few days and ask them how they feel about this whole situation.
2. Create a Schedule
Without setting a schedule, you’ll find yourself struggling to find the right balance between work and family life. How many hours do you have to work daily? Are you required to follow the same work timings as that of regular office or your employer has allowed you certain flexibility while working remotely?
If you have an employer, make sure you have mutually worked out on the number of hours you should log per day while working from home. At the same time, set a schedule for your kids that replicates that of a normal school day. You will be able to concentrate on your tasks when your kids are quietly studying in the other room. Good time management is the key to achieve much-needed work-life balance.
However, don’t be too rigid with your schedule. Sometimes, it’s okay to push aside assignments and move out on a beautiful day with kids to play with them. You can continue with work once your kids have settled down.
Stay on the top of your schedule with recurring tasks, automatic reminders, and multiple calendar views with ProofHub. Sign up for a free trial now!
3. Make Maximum Use of Naptime
Based on personal experience, I can tell you that the best time to work from home is when your kids are sleeping. Depending on the number of hours your kids sleep for, use their naptime to work on assignments that call for your complete focus and concentration without unwanted interruptions.
You can schedule your work-related phone calls and video conferences during your kid’s naps. If your little ones are unable to sleep, you can also enforce quiet time by asking them to study, read, or play with toys quietly. You can make them sit with you while you work.
This will let them see how you go about your work with great discipline, and it will be a great example for kids to pick some cues from the way you work.
4. Expect The Unexpected Interruptions
I am sure most parents working from home had been in a situation more than once when they were on call with a client or boss, only to be interrupted by loud yelling of kids in the background. This can be embarrassing. However, kids will be kids, and you can minimize such happenings by:
- Hit the mute button during conference calls
- Talk to your kids and make them understand the importance of not interrupting between phone calls
- If you have an office door, you can use the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door
Of course, these tactics are ideal for older kids; toddlers won’t understand them as they crave for your undivided attention all the time. The best you can do with toddlers is to schedule calls when they’re sleeping, or disconnect it and reschedule it if possible.
5. Use The Best Tools For Work
Understandably, you can’t ignore your family when working from home. You really can’t commit to them unless your work is getting done on time, with minimum hassles and disruptions.
Using the best project management software, like ProofHub, that has all tools in one centralized location, can help a great deal in easy planning, collaboration, organization, and delivery of projects of any size and type. When you are in the ultimate control of your remote work, you will accomplish more in less time. This will allow you to give more time to your kids and keep everyone happy.
Have all the tools you and your team needs under one roof with ProofHub. Start your free trial now!
6. Set Aside Some Time for Yourself Daily
As much as it’s important to dedicate time to your work and lovable family, it is equally vital to set aside some time for yourself daily. This is an anxious time, and you might need to spend some time in serious self-care.
Get up early in the morning, meditate, exercise, or have a quiet cup of coffee. Read your favorite book, watch comedy shows to lighten the mood, listen to soulful music, whatever diverts your attention away from domestic chores and work for some time.
Taking care of your physical and mental health is of the utmost importance in dealing with challenging times like this.
Wrapping It Up
It’s a no-brainer that balancing kids and a full-fledged workload is quite challenging, but it can be managed with the help of smart thinking and immaculate planning. You do not have to let excessive work consume your mental health to the point where it leads to chaos in your family.
Remember, the situation outside is already tense and you have to make efforts to bring calmness to the environment in your home. It’s ok to take an unscheduled break and play with your children, have a meal with them, or spend some time with yourself in the morning or evening.
Simplify your daily tasks with ProofHub, the all-in-one project management software that has all the right tools in one centralized location. Save time and get work done faster, so your loved ones can have your attention when they need it the most.
COVID-19 — Doing Our Bit For Schools
ProofHub is committed to serving educational institutions in this time of unprecedented crisis that has moved normal life off the track in most countries across the globe. A large number of schools have been shut down and their teachers and support staff have been made to work from home.
We are now offering ProofHub free to schools for the rest of 2020, with unlimited users and unlimited projects. Get started by signing up for ProofHub now and we will help you get started in no time!
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