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Finally, you have the option to work from home. Maybe it’s because of your new job’s structure or some other reasons. Whatever the case may be, you’ve landed an opportunity that so many working parents desire; no more commuting or office interruptions. It’s now you, a cosy home office, and the chance to spend more time with your children.
Remote employment is a favourite decision for many working parents and the companies that employ them to improve productivity, and availability. The advantages of remote work, both for the firm and the individual, are numerous and obvious.
More parents are opting for work-from-home options instead of commuting, as working from home allows many parents to experience the flexibility to be available to their young children while also earning a living.
However, those advantages are matched by an equal amount of drawbacks.
Having your house serve as your workplace might be problematic, especially if your child is there during working hours. Working while your kids are around may be challenging but it is possible to cope. So if you feel nervous just thinking about how to deal with your kids while balancing office work, you might want to take a look at these suggestions that sheds light on how to cope.
Make a Schedule
It’s quite important to plan your day. Planning has proven to be a good way to achieve productive results. So, prioritise making a schedule, as it’s one way to adapt to working remotely with kids around.
Planning often involves detailing what you’ll do each day, particularly activities your kids can engage in while you’re busy with work. These activities can range from scribbling, colouring, reading, or solving some questions depending on your children’s age.
You can allocate some set hours for each activity so that you don’t overspend on a particular activity, wisely accomplishing each goal while the kids are busy.
When you work smart, you’ll be more productive.
Utilise Naptimes
While working from home, make good use of your kids’ naptime to be efficient. When your children nap, whether they nap for an hour or more, you want to use this time to accomplish assignments that demand your full focus and attention.
While the kids are asleep, you’ll be free of noises such as crying or loud media sound in the background. So it’s best to arrange jobs that demand silence or concentration for this time.
What if my kids have outgrown naptime?
Well, consider moving such tasks to other quiet times, such as early mornings before they wake up, or at night after they’ve gone to bed.
Set Boundaries
If you don’t have an office space in your house yet, it’s time you made one. It could be a place with doors or closed walls. This way, you can easily draw a line between work and home, letting your children realise that the office is solely for work.
Take Breaks
Working from home does not imply constant toil. You should take a break occasionally. During this break, make time for your kids. Spend quality time doing what they like to do. Do what makes them happy, and let them have fun with you. When you spend time with your child, you can help them stay happy and they will probably free you of any disturbance for at least a few hours.
Bribe Your Kids
When nothing else works, and you are brainstorming on what you can do, try bribing the kids. Bribe your children with a delicious dessert or something that can catch their attention in exchange for the time you need to finish your work. Bribery, however, should only be used in extremely rare and extreme circumstances. So don’t always resort to bribery.
Entertain the Kids
Prepare some toys your children can play with, therefore keeping them busy. Alternatively, you can set up playdates, or movie time for them while you work. If your kids are occupied with something that interests them, be it toys, cartoons, or movies, you’ll be able to concentrate more on work without interruptions. If you have more space in the house, you can also set up a play centre for them. So while you’re in your office space, they’ll be in their play space, giving them the feeling of having a place to do their things.
In their make-do space, you can also prepare a snacking area, so they can easily grab something to munch on when need be.
Use Some Help
Ask other family members for assistance. You may ask your partner to help keep the children busy. Or ask your relatives or friends for help. Can someone help you keep an eye on them? Have a chat with the kids, and tell them jokes or something, thereby catching their attention as they engage in one activity or the other?
Help from others can really help you get more work done.
Don’t be hard on your kids. Remember, it takes time to adapt. When you stick to a schedule and routine, your children will gradually fit in and you’ll find it easy to work at home with kids around.
