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20 Tips For Working From Home With Kids
Working from home with kids can be challenging, but it’s doable! In this blog post, we will share 20 tips that will help make things easier. Whether you are just starting or have been working from home for a while, these tips will come in handy. Let’s get started!
1. Set Up A Dedicated Workspace
One way to make working from home with kids more manageable is to set up a dedicated workspace. This can help you to stay focused and avoid distractions. It can also be an excellent way to set boundaries between work and home life.
Find a room or area in your home that you can use as a dedicated office space. This will help you to stay focused and avoid distractions when you need to get work done.
Dedicated workspaces don’t have to be fancy; a simple desk in a quiet corner of the house can do the trick. If you’re working from home with kids, setting up a dedicated workspace can help you to be more productive and avoid burnout.
Having a space just for work can more easily stay focused and get things done. Here are some benefits of setting up a dedicated workspace when working from home with kids:
- It helps to establish boundaries between work and home life.
- It can make you more productive.
- It can help to reduce distractions.
- It can boost your mood and improve your focus.
- It can provide a sense of normalcy during uncertain times.
So, setting up a dedicated workspace is a great place to start if you’re looking for ways to be more productive while working from home with kids.
2. Get Dressed For Work Every Day
Getting out of your pajamas and putting on real clothes will help you feel more professional and put together. It doesn’t have to be fancy – make sure you’re presentable and look like your boss!
Dressing for work helps you get into the right mindset and separates your work life from your home life. There are a few things to remember when getting dressed for work when you have young kids at home.
- First, choose clothes that are comfortable and easy to move in. You might be sitting at your desk all day, but you never know when you’ll need to chase after a toddler or crawl around on the floor.
- Also, consider your environment. If you’re working in a shared space, like the kitchen table, dress accordingly. You don’t want to wear something that will get too wrinkled or is too loud.
- And finally, don’t forget about shoes! It’s essential to have comfortable shoes that won’t make too much noise.
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3. Establish A Routine And Stick To It
You should establish a routine and stick to it as much as possible. Kids thrive on routine and knowing what to expect. Having a regular start time, break time, and end time for work will help them understand that even though you’re home, you’re still working.
4. Handle Complicated & Time-Consuming Tasks First
When working from home with kids, staying organized and efficient is crucial to make the most of your time. One way to do this is by handling complicated tasks first.
By getting the most challenging and time-consuming tasks out of the way first, you’ll be able to focus on simpler tasks later on and avoid feeling overwhelmed. Plus, you’ll be able to enjoy some well-deserved free time after you’ve got all your work done.
Here are a few tips for handling complicated tasks first when working from home with kids:
- Make a list of everything you need to do for the day, including work tasks and household chores.
- Prioritize your list by importance and urgency. Handle the most important tasks first.
- Set a timer for each task and work for a set time before taking a break. This will help you stay focused and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
- Delegate simple house chores to older kids or hire help if needed. This will free up more time for you to focus on complicated tasks.
5. Schedule Breaks
As any parent who has attempted to work from home with young children knows, staying focused and productive can be challenging. Kids have a way of interrupting at the most unexpected times, and it can be difficult to get in the flow of work when constantly interrupted.
Another way to help manage this is to schedule regular breaks into your day. For example, you might take a ten-minute break after every hour of work or take a more extended break in the afternoon so that you can play with your kids for a while. This will help prevent burnout and give you something to look forward to during the day.
6. Get Organized
Parents who work from home know it can be challenging to stay organized. There are endless distractions, and it can be difficult to find a dedicated workspace. However, parents can take a few simple steps to help them get organized and make the most of their time at home.
It’s helpful to establish a daily routine. This may include setting regular work hours, taking breaks at specific times, and scheduling time for meals and snacks. A routine will help you stay focused and on track throughout the day.
As a result, having a clear plan for how you approach your workday can help you stay on track and avoid getting overwhelmed.
7. Set Boundaries With Your Kids
In addition, it’s important to set boundaries with your kids and explain that even though you’re at home, you’re still working. Tell them they should respect your work time and not interrupt you unless it’s an emergency.
8. Take Advantage Of Naptime
One way to help make things more manageable is to take advantage of your child’s naptime. You’ll be able to get more done without interruptions. While they’re sleeping, you can use that time to get some work done. Whether catching up on emails, working on a project, or just taking a few minutes to yourself, naptime can be a valuable asset.
Of course, it’s important to balance work and family time, so be sure to make time for your child when awake. With some planning and effort, you can make working from home with kids a success.
9. Stay Flexible With Your Working Hours
One of the great things about working from home is that it gives you much more flexibility regarding your working hours. You can usually arrange your work around kids’ nap times or school hours.
Of course, there will be times when you have to work while they are awake, but if you are flexible with your working hours, then this shouldn’t be too much of a problem.
However, one thing to bear in mind is that you shouldn’t be working all hours of the day just because you can. It’s important to take breaks and spend time with your family; otherwise, you’ll quickly start to feel burnt out.
10. Establish Ground Rules
Establish rules for how much noise or disruption is acceptable during working hours. Sit down with your kids and explain the ground rules for when you’re working from home. Let them know that even though you’re at home, you’re still working, and they should try not to disrupt you unless it’s an emergency.
11. Keep Your Kids Occupied With Creative Activities
It’s no secret that working from home can be a challenge, especially when you have young children. Not only do you have to worry about maintaining a professional appearance and keeping your work area tidy, but you also have to find ways to keep your kids occupied. Encourage your kids to participate in activities that keep them occupied (homework, arts and crafts, reading, etc.)
Here are a few creative activities that will keep your kids entertained while you’re working.
- Set Up An Art Station
One great way to keep your kids occupied is to set up an art station. Stock it with crayons, coloring books, markers, and other supplies, and let them go to town. You can even hang up a whiteboard or chalkboard so they can draw and doodle to their heart’s content.
- Set Up An Activity Table
If your kids are a little older, you can set up an activity table with puzzles, building toys, and other engaging activities. Encourage them to put on a puppet show or play dress-up for even more fun.
- Put On Movie
And if all else fails, there’s always the classic standby of putting on a movie or turning on the television.
With some planning and creativity, you can find ways to keep your kids occupied while working from home.
12. Set A Play Room For Your Toddlers
Finding the right balance between caring for small children and getting your job done can be challenging. One solution is to set up a playroom for your toddlers. This dedicated space can help keep them entertained while you’re working, and it can also give them a chance to explore and learn independently.
How To Set Up A Play Room?
- To set up a playroom for your toddler, start by finding space away from the main living area of your home. This will help to minimize distractions and noise levels.
- Then, fill the space with age-appropriate toys and activities. Look for items encouraging exploration and imagination, such as blocks, puzzles, dress-up clothes, and art supplies.
- You can also add comfy floor cushions or bean bags for lounging and relaxing.
- Finally, ensure the space is safe for toddlers by childproofing any sharp corners or electrical outlets.
With a little effort, you can create a fun and functional playroom that will help you get more done while working from home with kids.
13. Have Fun With Kids At The Weekend
When you work from home, it can be hard to juggle everything. You’re trying to get your work done while also taking care of the house and ensuring the kids are entertained. It can be a lot!
However, there are ways to make it work. One way is to have fun with the kids at the weekend. This doesn’t mean you have to spend every waking minute with them, but it does mean setting aside some time to do something that everyone will enjoy.
It could be going for
- a hike
- visiting a local park
- or even just having a picnic in the backyard
The important thing is that you’re spending time together and making memories. And who knows, you might even get some work done while they’re occupied!
14. Schedule “Special Time” With Each Of Your Kids Every Day
This is a one-on-one time where you focus all your attention on them and do something they enjoy. It doesn’t have to be long, but it should be consistent, so they know they are important to you.
15. Hire Childcare Services
Working from home can be a great way to balance work and family life. However, having young children at home can also be challenging. One way to make working from home with kids more manageable is to hire childcare services.
Childcare providers can help supervise playtime, prepare meals, and prepare kids for bed. This can free up your time so that you can focus on work.
Hiring childcare services can be a worthwhile investment if you’re working from home with kids. In addition, childcare providers can provide social interaction for kids who are used to being around other children. This can be valuable for their development.
16. Keep Distractions To A Minimum
It can also be challenging to stay focused when there are distractions. However, you can do a few things to minimize distractions and create a more productive work environment.
- First, set up your workspace in a quiet area of the house. If possible, find a room with a door that you can close when you need to concentrate.
- You might also want to invest in noise-canceling headphones to help block out any background noise.
- In addition, it’s important to establish ground rules with your kids before you start working. Explain that you need some quiet time to focus on your work, and let them know when it’s okay to interrupt you.
- Finally, don’t be afraid to take breaks when you need them. Stepping away from your work for a few minutes will help you reset and refocus, making you more productive when you return.
17. Keep Communication Open With Your Partner Or Co-Parent
If you’re working from home with kids, keeping communication open with your partner or co-parent is essential. This will help you coordinate schedules and determine who is responsible for what.
For example, if one parent works in the morning, the other can take care of getting the kids ready for school. Then, they can switch roles in the afternoon.
It’s also important to have regular check-ins to see how things are going. This will help you identify any areas where you need more support.
18. Balance Work & Family
Balance work and family responsibilities as best as possible – it’s not always going to be perfect, but try not to stress too much!
For example, if you have young children, try to schedule your work hours around their nap times. This way, you can get some work done while they’re sleeping.
Setting aside some time each day for family time is also important. This is when everyone can relax and enjoy each other’s company. It doesn’t have to be long, but it should be consistent so you can all reconnect.
19. Get Outside
Take some time each day to get outside and get some fresh air, even if it’s just for a few minutes. This will help you clear your head and recharge.
If possible, try to schedule outdoor activities with your kids. This way, you can get some exercise while spending time together.
20. Take Advantage Of “Me Time.”
Whenever possible, take advantage of “me time.” This is when you can do something for yourself without worrying about work or family responsibilities.
For example, you might use “me time” to read a book, take a bath, or walk. It’s essential to have some time each day that’s just for you.
BONUS:
21. Hire Help For Other Things Around The House
Hear me out here, I could spend two hours on my laundry, vacuuming, and cleaning the bathroom and lose $150 working or I could pay my cleaning lady, (mine is an angel btw), $30 to do it while I work on m $150 tasks… Did you see what I did there? I’m still again $120 plus my work is done and my house is still clean.
22. Use Delivery Services
So this may be easier nowadays than twelve years ago when I started my first business, it also helps that I’m an introvert and I seek out these types of services. We use Amazon Prime, Grubhub, and Instacart for delivery because honestly I just don’t have the time to go out and buy things often. I tend to stick to my budget and save time simultaneously when we do this.
23. Meal Plan
This last tip has taken me a while to adapt to but once I got started homeschooling my youngest, it was a no-brainer. I make a weekly menu for the following week every Friday, shop for my groceries on Saturday and that’s it. When I meal plan, I take into consideration the days we will be out for appointments or leisure like going to the movies, etc. On Fridays, we like to order in and some days we have leftovers or my mom sends us a meal. These all help me see which days I need to cook and what I need to cook. If I have my groceries delivered on Saturday then we have fresh seafood on Sunday.
However, you do this, try and make it work for your family.
Working from home with kids can be challenging, but creating a more productive and balanced work-life is possible. Following these tips, you can set up your workspace in a quiet area of the house, establish ground rules with your kids, take breaks when you need them, and take advantage of “me time.” With some planning and communication, you can make working from home with kids work for your family.
20 Tips For Working From Home With Kids
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