Tips for Working At Home With Young Kids

You're not alone if you want to work remotely. Research from Ladders showed that “25% of all professional jobs in North America will be remote by the end of 2022.” Adding kids to the mix, especially young ones, can interfere with productivity. Follow these survival tips from Guiding Little Hands to make it easier.

Create a Dedicated Workspace

A distraction-free workspace lets you work efficiently when you're on the clock. An ideal arrangement is putting your desk in a separate room where you can close the door on work during family time.

Use a Schedule

Setting your schedule around your child increases efficiency. Newborns sleep about 16 hours, one-year-olds sleep around 14 hours, and 2-year-olds clock about 13 hours daily, according to Stanford Children's Health. However, those hours are often broken into smaller chunks, especially during the day. If possible, wake up early to work before your little one wakes. For the night owls, putting your baby to bed and working at night is easier.

Establish Boundaries

Establishing boundaries between work and home helps you feel better about both. Set aside time to focus on your kids fully without checking work emails or squeezing in work tasks. Establish a definite end time for your workday so it doesn't creep into family time. This is where the possibility of taking coursework to either change your occupation or advance in your current line of work comes in. When there’s simply no time to attend classes at a traditional campus, the online option provides flexibility as well as affordability. You can pursue a bachelor’s, for example, in the subject matter that suits you without having to leave home, and you can study whenever it suits your schedule.

Have Realistic Expectations

Working with a toddler or baby is nothing like working in an office with adults, which means you won't get as much done. Lower your expectations and expect more interruptions to avoid frustration. 

Create a Support System

Call on your spouse, parents, or friends as your support system. Talking to your partner about expectations for childcare and household tasks ensures you get help when needed. If you need occasional childcare, consider swapping babysitting services with another work-at-home parent, or call on a friend or parent.

Organize Activities

Encouraging independent play, especially for toddlers, supports their development and lets you work while your child is entertained. Set up a playpen in your office area, and fill it with books and toys your little one can enjoy without much supervision.

Manage Your Mental Health

Self-care can improve your work performance. It's not always easy to get the seven to nine hours of sleep that's recommended by the Sleep Health Foundation, but being rested keeps you focused and healthier. Schedule at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. Eat well and practice relaxation techniques.

Hire Help

Hiring help for personal and work tasks frees up your time. A babysitter can watch your kids while you work so you're more productive. Hiring a lawn service keeps your lawn neat without taking your time. Of course being able to do this is a privilege that not everyone can enjoy; see what your budget will allow for.

For work, the benefits of outsourcing include improved efficiency, access to specialized skills, and more focus on core activities. Hire a virtual assistant to help with appointments, calls, answering emails, and other administrative tasks. Freelance job boards help you find candidates from Australia and beyond, and you can look at reviews, delivery times, and rates.

If you work from home with kids, adjust your idea of remote work and find a routine that works for you. Soon you’ll discover that your baby's schedule can integrate well with your work schedule.

Author: Janice Russell