Sheyla Scaffo, People Experience Associate & Executive Business Administrator
Many parents are
currently navigating an entirely new normal: Working from home while taking
care of their kids full-time. As schools pick back up and many kids remain at
home for remote learning, figuring out how to balance their schedule and a
full-time job sometimes feels totally unmanageable.
Most parents have
had experience working remotely in one-off, unplanned situations. However,
working at home day in and day out for the foreseeable future while also caring
for (and in some cases, teaching) kids at home proves to be a major struggle
without careful planning where needed and flexibility when possible.
Read on to learn
how to create better routines and habits that can help parents maintain a
healthy work-life integration:
1. When
possible, keep things flexible
This is often
easier said than done. However, when you do have the ability, consider getting
creative with your work schedule to base your hours around your kids’
schedules. Giving yourself the flexibility to work differently during this time
is crucial to maintaining work-life balance.
This can work in a
variety of ways. For example, if you’re an early morning person or a night owl,
or you are used to commuting a long way, consider working on projects during
these times when kids are usually sleeping. Of course, there will always be
vital tasks and meetings that require collaboration with your colleagues during
regular work hours but finding ways to give yourself time for small breaks
during the day will help you and your kids stay on
track.
2. Establish a
kid-free zone
There will be times
when you need to hunker down and complete work items free from distractions,
which is why it is important to establish an area of the house where you can
separate yourself from your family.
Not only is it
important for this space to be free from other people, but it also needs to be
free from other distractions such as dirty laundry and other messes. Keeping
the area clean and organized will keep you from wanting to disengage from work
to complete other tasks.
3. Clearly
communicate with your family
If you have a
partner who is also working from home and sharing kid duties with you, it is
crucial to communicate the times you can and cannot help out during the day.
Setting these expectations will allow for a much smoother daily routine.
It is also
important to communicate with your children if they are old enough. Set
expectations for when there will be breaks in your day that you can check-in,
whether it be a quick snack break, lunch, or even hourly check-ins.
READ MORE: How to set up an ergonomic home office
4. Utilize
special toys and screen time during work hours
Set aside
designated toys and other gadgets, as well as movies or TV shows, to be used
when you need to focus-in during the day. This will give your kids something to
look forward to and will allow for some distraction-free work time.
5. Don’t
overwork
During this time,
it can be easy to feel like we need to push ourselves to work extra hours, but
the reality is that taking the time to unplug and reset each day is critical to
success as a parent and an employee.
6. Look at other work options
Should you find
yourself out of work during this time, consider
that there are other work options out there, such as freelance and contract
work, that may help you meet your scheduling and finance needs. Freelancing is
also a great source of supplemental income for people while they look for new
full-time employment. Just make sure you choose the right platform to help you
get the right kind of projects, such as Bunny
Studio.
With
schools and offices closed, you are likely to find yourself faced with a to-do
list that has only grown. Although many of us have now had a few months to
settle into fully remote work, that does not mean keeping up with
distance-learning while figuring out the best way to accomplish your work has
gotten any easier. Designing a schedule that fits your needs is easier said
than done but following the above tips should help ensure you are on the right
track.