How to Work from Home with Kids
This is my norm: Working from my couch, a kid looking over my shoulder or climbing in my lap for a hug every so often. And while I may not get as much done as if they were in full time childcare, I love having them near and we have found some systems for making it work most days.
With recent events and the spread of Covid-19, many of you are suddenly finding yourselves in the same boat. Trying to navigate keeping a business afloat online while simultaneously taking care of your kids who have been sent home from school. It’s not an ideal situation and so I want to share a few tips I’ve learned over the past couple of years.
Make a daily schedule/routine, and then also be flexible because kids don’t always play by the rules. My kids thrive under a routine. They know what to expect and are happier to go along with things when we stick to the routine regularly. But of course, some days nothing goes as planned and that’s okay too. You just have to be ready to take advantage of the quiet moments.
Wake up before the kids. For me, this is a game-changer! Being able to have my coffee and get my mindset right before taking care of them helps me to not feel overwhelmed by my to-do list, and on a good day, can really jumpstart checking some things off my to-do list. I try to get up a full hour before my kids wake up.
Get dressed even if you won’t see anyone else all day. It helps your mindset from the get-go. Pajamas always make for a lazy day in our home despite the best of intentions.
Prioritize your to-do list (preferably the night before or during your quiet morning hour before the kids get up). For my own sanity, I like to write down one thing that, if it’s the only thing I get done that day, I can say I did enough. This also helps with knowing exactly what to focus on when you have a quiet moment.
I don’t know about your kids, but mine are happiest in the morning. After breakfast, we do independent play. The kids are usually happy with their toys for about an hour while I work at the dining room table or in the living room. We don’t have an office currently, but we do have a playroom and it’s always a good morning if they will play in there, but even if they are around me during this time, I find that they need less of my attention so I try to get as much done as I can before they get bored. This is also something we worked up to for the length of time they will entertain themselves, so don’t beat yourself up if you’re not getting quite that much time out of them, just set the expectation for them and get as much done as you can.
If you have older kids outdoor time is a great way to keep them busy and help them get their energy out! Sometimes with our oldest, we tell him he needs to go run around the outside of our house 3 times. He loves the challenge and we love the break! It helps that we have nest cameras and a fully fenced in yard so we don’t worry about his safety!
We don’t do a lot of screen time anymore because we found that in general it actually made Harvey more bored and grumpy, but if you are really desperate (like you need to jump on a call and not have a kid screaming in the background) it can be a lifesaver!
Quiet time after lunch. If your kids are older this may include books. We have quiet time every afternoon for 2 hours if at all possible. Sometimes it’s a fight, but it’s so worth getting the truly quiet and uninterrupted work hours in! Our kids are still young enough that they are not allowed off their beds until I get them, whether they sleep or not.
For me, I don’t plan on getting anything done after the kids get up from quiet time. The late afternoons are always their grumpy time of day and they need me to just sit on the floor and play or take them for a walk. (Not to mention I need to prepare dinner for the family.) I give myself permission to put work away during this time until after they go to bed. This designated time ensures that we get some quality time in almost every day too.
Have you learned any helpful tips for working from home or managing with having your kids around all day? I’d love to hear other tips as we come together during these times! Leave your tips in the comments below!