Work From Home With Kids Without Losing Your Damn Mind.
Earning money while you work from home and still trying to spend quality time with your kids feels like the definition of “having it all.”
But it’s not easy.
As a work-from-home Mom, I can tell you that it’s testing my sanity.
Yes, working from home does mean I get more time with my daughter than I would if I worked an out of the home job. I don’t have to commute anywhere and I can type away in my pajamas if I want (I might just be pajama-clad right now). I don’t even have to roll out of bed at stupid o’clock to get ready.
Sometimes, I even get some work done while my kid is home with me. As I type this post, my four-year-old is dancing through the house, it’s cute but hello distraction. My daughter is also a typical four year old who likes to ask seventy billion questions per hour (face-palm)
If you talk to other work-from-home parents, you’ll find the same thing. Unless the job allows them to work only during naptimes and after bedtime, they need some extra help, too.
Concentrating on work while being present enough to keep your child alive is challenging, but doable.
Here are some tips.
1. Set Realistic Goals and Create a Support System
Don’t plan to do everything you want, and don’t plan to do it all yourself.
Don’t schedule a bazillion things on one day, try to spread them out over the week. If you overload yourself and you don’t get everything done your going to get unmotivated and lose the dream.
Ask family members, friends, and neighbors for a little help.
2. Wake Up Earlier
Wake up an hour or two before the kids get up. You’ll be amazed how much work you can get done in so little time without interruptions! You should probably to go to bed a little earlier, too, so you don’t lose sleep.
3. Get Dressed Every Day
Whether you plan to leave the house or not, put on pants every day. Or a skirt or dress or
I don’t follow this rule every day, but maybe I should.
4. Keep the Kids Busy in the Morning
Keep them active in the morning when they’re full of energy. Take them to the playground or play in the yard, go to a Mommy and me class. That will up your chances of getting them to take a nap later so you can actually get some work done.
5. Be Flexible
Parenting is unpredictable. Don’t count on putting the finishing touches on an assignment in the 11th hour — that’s the exact time when someone will come down with a fever or decide to clog the toilet. When you work from home, you’re even more accessible for every boo-boo that happens during the day.
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6. Make Daily To-Do Lists
There’s no shame in not keeping everything in your head. Before you go to bed at night, make a list of your priorities for the next day. You’ll sleep better after unloading those worries, and you’ll be ready to hit the ground running in the morning.
7. Schedule Social Media Time Outside of Your Work From Home Schedule
Try setting aside specific times to check your social media feeds, like first thing in the morning, during your lunch break or once the kids are in bed. This will help you take control of your time and avoid letting the day get away from you one “just a quick peek” at a time.
