Many parents are now being faced with the challenge of juggling work and taking care of their kids at the same time. With a rush to get facilities in place for working from home, and many families trying home-schooling options, it’s completely changed your daily routine. Don’t worry everyone’s in the same boat and there are ways you can get through it.
Prioritize
Learning to prioritize is vital when you have less time to focus during the day. Make sure you really think about whether certain tasks are necessary and organize them according to the level of urgency. It’s the best idea to get the hardest work done first. This means being prepared to do the day’s most important tasks before breakfast. Work in short and intense bursts. Take for example 25 minutes to really focus on one task, have a break for 5 mins, and then start again. Plan your day like this. As much as possible teach your baby your routine so they can get to know your new work pattern, by sticking to a schedule.
Flexible Workstations
Fundamental for any parents with small babies. If you feel comfortable “wearing” your baby while you work, keep them in front of you or in a backpack. You can stand up and sway them if necessary and work on your phone or laptop on the kitchen counter. Download Google Docs or productivity apps onto your phone so you can be more mobile. Alternatively set them down in a baby lounger.
Talk To Your Boss
This crisis has created different types of problems for people so it’s important you make sure your employer understands your situation. Explain realistically what you will be able to do from home without interruptions. You will probably need to make some serious changes to your schedule and how you normally do your job. Make this as stress-free as possible by keeping steady communication going with your boss, and assure them that you are doing your best.
Virtual Babysitters
While you are having a virtual conference on Zoom, you could set up a video chat for your children as well. Make the most of the fact that everyone you know is also on lockdown and there might a family member or friend free to watch your kids via videocall. This is more for older kids rather than little ones of course. There are even more and more professional virtual babysitters becoming available.
Take Turns
If you’re fortunate enough to have a partner with you and your kids during the current lockdown, come up with a way to take turns working and watching the kids. Put together a tight schedule using calendar templates, and stick to it as much as possible. Try to create a closed workspace in the house, where one of you can work, while the other stays in another room with the kids. Explain to them if they’re old enough that the working parent shouldn’t be disturbed and reward good behavior if they comply.
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