Tuesday, 16 November 2021

How to Master Working from Home with Young Children

Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddles understands that when you have young children, working from home can be a real challenge. It can take all of your energy just to ignore distractions and stay focused on a single task, let alone juggle your workload and endless parenting obligations. If you’re not careful, you can work yourself into a state of burnout. Thankfully, it’s possible to enjoy remote work while taking care of young kids. With smart scheduling, outsourcing, and plenty of self-care, you will thrive in this role!

Lighten Your Workload

Reducing the amount of work on your plate will help you stay sane as a work-from-home parent. One way to do this is to enrol your child in child care or bring in a nanny a couple of times per week. Another way to lighten your workload is to outsource some of your administrative work to freelancers. Hire a virtual assistant to handle all of those time-consuming tasks. For example, your assistant can help you with appointment scheduling, customer support, and email management. Look for virtual assistant services on freelance job boards like Upwork and compare costs and client reviews to find a professional who will meet your needs.

Prioritise Self-Care

When you’re a busy parent, self-care is non-negotiable. Practicing self-care isn’t just for you, so you don’t have to feel guilty about carving out time for yourself. Self-care can actually make you a better parent! According to Redfin, keeping your workspace clean and clutter-free is a great step towards improving the energy in your home and caring for your mental wellbeing. Gratitude is also an important element of self-care. Get in the habit of practicing gratitude to improve your outlook and focus on the positive things that are happening in the present moment.

Keep Yourself Comfortable

Eliminating as many distractions as possible will make it easier to stay on task while working from home. When it comes to productivity, comfort is often overlooked. Make sure you’re comfortable working in your home office space. Temperature, lighting, and clothing all play into this.

Create a work-from-home wardrobe that makes you feel put-together, but avoid restrictive clothing and materials that don’t feel great against your skin. Soft, stretchy, and breathable clothing is best! You can’t beat a comfortable pair of leggings, especially if you need postpartum tummy support. On top, a simple button-up or cardigan can help you feel polished if you need to hop on a video call in the middle of the day.

Photo via Pexels

Maximise Your Available Work Hours

Few things are more frustrating than facing constant distractions when you’re trying to concentrate on a mentally demanding task. Scheduling blocks of time for deep work can help you maximise your productivity. While some parents might try to squeeze focus time in before bed or early in the morning, your sleep is important too! Instead, take advantage of shorter blocks of time while your kids are occupied with something. You can get a lot done in 25 minutes of distraction-free work!

Get Out of the House

Being cooped up indoors all day isn’t great for your mental or physical well-being. To support your whole-body health and keep your energy charged for work, try to get outside as often as possible. Start your day with a quiet cup of coffee on the porch. Load your baby into the pushchair for a lunchtime walk. Take your laptop into the garden and work outside while your kids crawl around on the grass. You’ll feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to take on the day!

Nothing is easy about being a work-from-home parent. If you have very young kids to care for, it can seem impossible to get anything done. Do what you can to reduce your workload, eliminate distractions, maximise your productivity, and keep your mental health in good shape.

Thank you Janice Russell of parentingdisasters.com for contributing this guest article to Kids, Cuddles and Muddy Puddles. 

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