Maybe you are working from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic, or perhaps you have a job that allows you to do so you need to learn How to Handle WFH While Being a Parent.
If you run a home-based business, you likely spend a lot of time at home.
It can be hard enough trying to focus with all the distractions that come from being at home, but it can be even more difficult if you have a child at home during the hours you would normally work.
Some of us had to deal with having our children hanging around while schools were switched to virtual learning, but many of us have children who are not yet old enough to attend a daycare or preschool.
Here is how to handle WFH while being a parent.
Table of Contents
Wake up earlier
It might not sound especially appealing, but one of the best ways to work is when your child isn’t around – aka, when they are still sleeping!
Set an alarm an hour or so earlier before they are typically awake and get rid of your biggest projects first.
Even if you aren’t ready to work at this time, you can use the hour to have a coffee, eat breakfast, and organize yourself or plan out your workday.
Get some help
It isn’t a bad idea to enlist the help of someone else!
It doesn’t mean you are giving up, either.
It can be tough trying to work from home with children who are stuck at home or toddlers who are too young to attend daycare or preschool yet.
A babysitter, nanny, or family member may be able to step in to look after your toddler or child for a few hours to give you the time you require to get some work done.
You can establish a regular routine with the sitter or helper to ensure that there is a pre-set time you can get your work in.
Use nap time
A regular, enforced nap is not only essential to the development of your young child, but it is essential for ensuring that you get some time to get in your work.
If possible, you may want to encourage a nap around two to three hours.
This is plenty of time to get a good chunk of your workday in!
You can plan for this by making sure this nap is regular and structured.
Put aside time for your child
While working from home does offer some benefits, it is not easy.
At times, you will need to put your work away and give your child the attention they both require and deserve.
It is essential to their wellbeing – and to yours!
Something to note
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of us were forced to work from home due to social distancing procedures.
Technically, this might not merit any impact to your homeowner’s insurance.
However, if you already own or suddenly decided to operate a business out of your own home, your insurance will not cover any commercial-related losses!
It is a good idea to acquire a home-based business endorsement or even consider a small business insurance policy, depending on your personal needs and what kind of work you do from the sanctity of your own home.
You might struggle
This point is less of a tip and more of a statement of fact.
Even if you have been working from home like a pro long before the pandemic hit, or even got into the swing of things while we were all in lockdown after lockdown, you may struggle juggling your parental duties as well as your work.
When you are the parent of a young child and are working from home, your child will eventually go back to school or be old enough to attend daycare or preschool soon enough.
And if you’re working from home situation was temporary, you will soon be able to go back to the office or you may need to make your home office permanent.
This is all to say, don’t beat yourself up.
Sometimes, your kids may have more screen time than you would like, or they have eaten one too many less-than-nutritional meals in a single day.
It’s okay!
It doesn’t have to be perfect.
That goes the same for your work.
Some days you struggle to meet your quotas or your head just isn’t in it, there is always tomorrow.
Take care of your biggest priorities first but at least you know How to Handle WFH While Being a Parent.
