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During pandemic lockdowns, many parents found themselves working as parents, workers and even homeschooling teachers. While things are now relatively “back to normal”, working and parenting from home continues to present many challenges.
Home-based careers (such as remote call center jobs) offer reduced travel costs, fewer distractions, and a more flexible schedule, but for parents with teething babies and tantruming toddlers (or tetchy teens), these benefits can seem out of reach. If this sounds like you, these tips for working from home with kids are here to help.
- Forget the Myth of Multitasking
While you might be able to simultaneously cook a meal, clean the dishes and get that report in by 5:00pm, it doesn’t mean you should. Research shows that multitasking is counterproductive and can even negatively impact your health, leaving you stressed and overwhelmed.
Mindfulness can help you to stay present, focused and calm, while anticipating and planning for likely disruptions will make it easier to go with the flow. Find focus “windows” (such as nap times), and rather than cram everything in, use these to do what you can.
- Set Boundaries
It’s important to maintain a consistent schedule for your kids, but you need to maintain yours. This can be difficult, especially for parents with excitable, impulsive toddlers who feel that everything is urgent, regardless of what you’re busy with.
In addition to learning key social and conversational skills, visual or audio cues can help, like a colorful sign indicating whether it’s time for work or play, or giving them an activity box to play with while you take calls.
- Communicate Your Needs
Parents can feel concerned about disclosing the difficulties they face, but doing so can help you access much-needed support while demonstrating a proactive and collaborative approach to problem-solving.
Rather than get bogged down in small details, keep it simple, positive, and focused on finding a solution together so that you can work (and parent) effectively. Consider also consulting with other parenting co-workers, who may have words of advice or encouragement to offer.
- Seek Support
Rising childcare costs can seem daunting, especially if you feel as though your only option is to keep the kids at home. Besides outsourcing childcare to trusted family or friends, there are a number of alternatives that may be worth exploring. Checking childcare regulations can help you to ensure the provider you are working with is safe.
In terms of workplace support, many companies have stepped up to support working parents, offering flexible hours, paid leave and benefits to assist with childcare payments. Not all workplaces have a family (or even worker) friendly ethos, especially if you’re dealing with workplace toxicity. If this is the case, seek advice from impartial career resources that can help you make your next move.
- Be Kind To Your Mind
Besides basic self-care (sleep, exercise, and nutrition), taking a break outside to walk the dog or let your kids run off some steam in the park can work wonders for your mood and energy.
It’s also important to show a little self-compassion: if the house (or its inhabitants) look a little unkempt, that’s okay. So long as you take care of what’s important (namely you, your family and your work), the washing up can wait.
