Working from home is harder than it sounds but with self-discipline and organization you can actually get shit done.
With the recent rise of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) more and more people are starting to work from home. Schools are starting to shut down all over the country, and now the kids are home, holy crap! It's hard enough working from home by yourself, or with a child/children home half-day, now they are here, ALL DAY! and some of us get an added bonus of having the spouse home during this time too.
Brace yourself, it's gonna be tough, but with a good plan, you'll make it through with these awesome tips we've rounded up from some experts who've been doing this work-from-home and Homeschooling thing for some time.
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Don't let yourself get consumed by your business. Set hours so that you can walk away at a certain time and not feel guilty. When you have those times you feel better about using your other time to do the other things you need to do. For example, I have told myself I don't start working until 11 am. This gives me the time I need to focus on my kids in the morning and what they need without feeling like I need to work. - ERIN RANDALL
- Working from home with children can be difficult. I find myself multitasking often and playing two roles. The mommy role and business role. My tip is to learn to separate the two. Spend quality time with your children, give them your undivided attention and play with them! Family is important so once you’ve set time aside for them then you can set time aside for business. Set your little ones with an activity they can do independently and then you can sit and focus on your business. Children get bored of their toys quickly so I’ve learned to set some special items aside that’ll keep them busy when I take it out such as play-doh, special coloring books or renting a new movie! - ARIANNA VELEZ
- My tip for keeping oneself from feeling too isolated from the world while working at home is to schedule breaks and/or lunch and go outside. The going outside part obviously needs to be adapted to your location and the current health safety/social isolation status. Whether it's going out in your yard, out on your front steps, or just opening a window and taking a look around it will remind you there is a world outside. RACHEL WINKLEY
- While working from home AND homeschooling, a schedule of course is a must but add a time block for kids to help with chores around the house. Take out the trash. Fold laundry. Anything right before recess! Makes room for the evenings to be true relax time. -JENNIFER CRUMP
- Use Alexa white noise! If you have calls nobody can hear the craziness on the background. -ANA BOLANOS
- I’m a homeschool mama so my kids are always home. My one tip is communication. Communicate their schedule and your expectations. For the schedule - depending on their ages to let them help you create it. Especially if you have client calls or need to record podcast episodes. For the expectations, share with them what you need from them when you are on the phone or can not be interrupted. -PAM ANDREWS
- Make sure the husband and child/children are fed and occupied! - KIMMY GENEUS
- Keep kids busy and happy and they will let you work.- JESSICA LUOG
- Have a routine that you try to follow each day. This will help create a feeling of stability, normalcy and calmness during this stressful time. KATHY BALDERRAMA
- I pay my older child a small amount after school (homeschooled) to do fun activities (babysit) his younger siblings during my work hours! JOHANNA DEAN
- Shower - get dressed! Set aside a place to do work and commit to scheduled hours of office time. Treat that space as if you really aren't in the house. No sneaking off to fold laundry, etc. Except getting a refill of coffee is fine! SUE MONHAIT
- Sometimes you can work too much! Stick to your hours, start on time, take a lunch break and end on time. BARBARA BALDINELLI
- Remember that you will get more done at home in less time than you would at the office. Taking a break to take care of your kids or pets is going to happen and getting frustrated with the interruptions is not productive. Be thankful that you can work from home and be safe. KELLY PARKER
- I’ve always been home-based and in the beginning, it was a challenge because our youngest was still at home. It takes a lot of organization and intentionally. If you have little ones it’s even more of a challenge. I think most of us need to reevaluate our priorities on any given day. Go over your business plan and goals. Maybe it’s best to break your goals down by week. Give yourself some grace, as well. - MARTHA SMITH
- I taught college online for several years. It takes a LOT of self-discipline. JOANN THISSEN
- When I work from home I found that sharing my calendar with the kids helps. It gives them a sense of involvement and establishes my boundaries. It’s not uncommon to hear bushes voices “ be quiet mommy has a call” lol ANDREA
- Set a realistic schedule. If you know the kids will be the most content in the morning, prioritize your most difficult or involved tasks for the morning. My kids have certain witching hours that make things like phone calls or even answering emails impossible. So I strategize the order of my to-do list with my children’s routine. If your kids have a solid nap time (lucky you!) save your client phone calls or more involved tasks for that time. CARRIE ALLEN
- Working from home definitely has its challenges, but we have found that having a schedule helps. I printed it out, and it hangs in our classroom/ dining room. We alternate blocks of school time, creative time, physical activity, and screens. The kids like knowing what to expect, and it helps me block out time to get work done. (Screen time for the win!). Luckily, there are tons of interactive and educational resources out there. We like gonoodle.com and watching the daily live show at the Cincinatti Zoo. SAMANTHA WECKESSER
- I time block so I know what my day is going to look like. I make a list of the top three things I need to get done during each block the night before so I know what I'm working on before I sit down at my desk. It's easier to jump in and do it when I start if I know what I'm going to work on the minute I sit down. BECKY J ANDERSON
- Wake up earlier than you normally would! If you are a morning person like me, I find I am extremely productive earliest in the day. My day starts at 4 am and I work through 7 am when the kids are usually getting up. By then I’ve already done a ton of work and can pivot throughout the day as needed ANNYA BROWN
Have a tip you could also share with our community? Share it below! we'd love to hear it.
