There are few things in life that become easier when you have small kids. And for parents who work from home, you already know that getting your work done is one of these things. But despite your parental duties, there are things you can do that will make working from home easier for everyone involved.
To show you how this can be done, here are three tips for working from home when you have small children.
Grant Yourself Some Grace
The very first thing that you need to realize when you’re working from home while also being the primary caretaker for your kids is that you’re going to need to grant yourself some grace. While you may be a fantastic parent and also be great at your job, it’s rare that you’ll be able to accomplish both of these things simultaneously, so you can’t expect that from yourself.
Rather, Sara Sutton, a contributor to FastCompany.com, advises that you try to stress less about doing everything perfectly for your kids while you’re trying to get your work done. While you may have some strict rules about things like watching TV, doing crafts, having friends over, or eating at the table, if bending these rules is going to allow you to get your work done while keeping your kids safe and happy, it’s okay for you to let this happen and still be an amazing parent.
Use The Time When They’re Asleep
When your kids are small, they should be spending a decent chunk of time during the day asleep. If this is the case for you, it’s wise to try to use this time to the best of your advantage by getting done your most important work tasks during this time of no distractions.
Another option, according to Louise Fitzgerald, a contributor to Very Well Family, is to wake up early or stay up late to finish your work. While maybe not ideal, at least this will give you some time where you can focus solely on work.
Foster Independent Play Time
One of the best things that you can try to teach your kids about spending their time while you’re working from home is to play independently. However, for many kids, this doesn’t necessarily come naturally. For this reason, you have to know how you can foster this type of environment.
According to Heather Levin, a contributor to Money Crashers, some great options for independent play include safely playing in your backyard until they need to escape back into the air conditioning inside, having a box filled with things they can play with when they’re feeling bored, and more.
If you’ve been struggling with working from home and being a full-time parent, consider using the tips mentioned above to help make things easier on you and on your kids.
