I often ask myself if I can really make working at home with kids, well, work. There are times when the minis become so difficult that I start thinking of quitting my work at home career and be a SAHM instead — perhaps I’d be less stressed if I don’t need to split my time among my kids, my work, and house chores.
Of course, I stop the thought of quitting even before I start to seriously consider it. I’d like to keep our simple yet comfortable lifestyle. And to do that, I have to continue working from home. So, what do I do if working from home becomes difficult?
Tips On Working At Home With Kids Around
Before anything else, try to find a work schedule you are comfortable with. I like working early in the morning (before the minis wake up) and in the afternoon while the big kids are in school and the little kids are taking a nap. When they’re all home, I work when all the kids are playing together. If in case, they refuse to take a nap or play on their own, I usually just give in and drop my work so I can play with them. It always works to give them the time they want with you so later on, they’d give you the time you need for work.
On days when I need to get a lot of work done, I call for backup. I either ask Daddy A to bring one of the minis with him to the office or we get the help of a babysitter or a relative. That usually buys me enough time to get things done at work. If you do this, make sure you remove all distractions so you’re only focused on work!
If I need to work, but there is no need for backup, I often just bring the kids to their playroom or outside and I work nearby where I can see them. Sometimes, kids just want to have you with them so it works to either work in their playroom (if they have one) or give them a corner in your home office.
It is also very helpful to have a set of activities to keep the kids busy every day. I usually give the minis art supplies and let them get creative. I also have blocks and balls for building and sports. These things will keep them busy for an hour or two — just enough time to squeeze in some work.
I won’t lie because there are some days that the minis would not let me work at all. During these days, I just let go and go with the flow. Because really, I’m working from home because I want to be more present to my family — the money I get is just a consolation prize. 😉 Important Note: Just make sure this does not happen every day, though, because you’d definitely lose clients. 😀
Are you a work at home mom/dad, too? What do you do to make working at home with kids more productive and less stressful?