Working from home can be a real blessing when you have kids. It gives you the flexibility to be there when they need you. You can avoid the stressful commute and annoying coworkers. Not to mention, the money you save on childcare!
That said, any parent knows that getting anything done with their kids around can be almost impossible sometimes. When you’re working from home with young kids who demand attention, there’s no doubt it’s going to be challenging!
However, there are some great tips you can follow to make working from home with the kids much easier. It’s all about finding the right balance.
Here, you’ll learn some of the best ways you can effectively work from home even with kids in the house.
Plan engaging activities
When you need to get on with an important project, it can help to get the kids immersed in an engaging activity. Craft projects tend to be a popular option. They are fun for the kids, and they take a while to complete.
You’ll find hundreds of craft project ideas online. Try and find something which utilizes supplies you already have in the home. Then, they can be getting on with their crafts while you complete your important work tasks.
Create a routine early on
Working from home and having the kids home all day might be a new experience for both you and them. Therefore, it’s going to help if you create a routine as early as you can.
Kids thrive with a routine so make sure you all have set wake up, meal and bedtimes.
Try and schedule time you can spend together on your breaks too. That way, they are still getting one to one attention from you, reducing the likelihood they’ll pester you when you need to get on with work.
Take advantage of nap times
If your kids are still quite young, make sure you take advantage of nap times. These are the perfect opportunity for you to get a bulk of your work done without having to worry about the kids.
Ensure you have a quiet workspace
One thing you’re going to need when you’re working from home with the kids, is a quiet workspace. It should be away from all distractions and ideally you shouldn’t be disturbed while you’re there.
Of course, this can be tricky, but if you explain to the kids that you can’t be disturbed and why it’s important, you’ll find they are typically willing to listen.
Utilize technology
In usual times, you try to limit your child’s exposure to technology. However, when you’re trying to work from home, you’ll find technology can be a real help.
When you don’t want to be disturbed, let the kids watch a movie or play on a smartphone or tablet device. This will keep them occupied for a longer period of time, allowing you to take that conference call for example.
It’s not easy working from home with the kids, but it isn’t impossible either. Follow the above tips to make it that little bit easier.