Tips for juggling working from home and kids simultaneously

Adjusting to the new normal of working from home with the kids underfoot has not been easy. No school or daycare means kids are left without any schedules, and understandably tensions are running high with everyone stuck inside all day. You might be at the end of your tether with trying to juggle work demands and the needs of your little ones at the same time. Conference calls are a whole lot more stressful if your kid’s tantruming in the background, right? Yikes.

The good news is, there are ways to make this situation better. We’ve got some useful strategies for how to juggle parenting and working from home simultaneously. We hope these tips help you feel happier, be more productive, and keep you from losing your mind.

3 Tips for working at home with kids

1. Set a Schedule

2. Prioritise

3. Get 1-on-1 Time

Set a schedule

Kids thrive on routines, and suddenly having none can result in a sense of chaos for everyone. It can be easy to descend into ‘pyjamas all day’ if you don’t establish a routine. Have a chat with your kiddos and let them take part in deciding some of the schedule. Giving your kids a sense of ownership allows them to feel more invested, which means they’ll be more willing to work with you. Make an agreement as a family about what basic things need to get done every day, like getting dressed, 2 hours of educational time, 2 hours of free play / creative time, and 30 minutes of exercise. Recognise you’re probably not going to be able to stick to a rigid schedule, but it’ll feel good to hit certain targets every day.

Make sure the schedule is visible for everyone, and definitely add in a reward system so kids gain a sense of accomplishment. Make sure you praise them! You could offer “prizes” too. Maybe they get to bake a cake if they did well with the routine that day, or maybe they’ll respond to a sticker chart for recorded achievements.

It’s also a good idea to set up visual prompts for quiet time. If your kids are able to play on their own for half an hour, put a “Do Not Disturb” sign outside your work area, so kids know not to come in during that time. This way you can grab 30 minutes of devoted work focus, or take a video conference call. Let the kids make their own “Do Not Disturb” sign too, so if they want their own personal alone time, they feel respected. The goal is to work as a team to meet everyone’s needs as best as possible.

Remember too that this whole situation is helping our kids develop self-sufficiency. So if the schedule goes totally off the rails, remind yourself that boredom can actually be a good thing for kids!

Prioritise

The first thing to recognise when tackling work and kids all at once is that you’re not going to be as productive as you normally would be. Keep your expectations in check, and make sure you ditch unnecessary tasks or video meetings. It’s really useful to start every day by making a list of three things you want to accomplish, then do everything you can to get those done. You’re definitely going to have to roll with the punches throughout the day as stuff comes up with the kids, so it’s important to accept what you can and cannot control.

This is about adaptability, flexibility and patience. It can also be helpful to spend a little time in the evening planning out the next day, so you get off to a good start. Above all, prioritise your own sanity, and the happiness of your family.

Get 1-on-1 time

Each day make sure you have 1-on-1 time with your kids. If you have more than one child, it’ll be especially important to offer a dedicated chunk of time to each individual, so no one feels left out. Kids are bound to be off kilter with so much immense change, and it’s important that they feel ‘seen’. Set aside a 15-minute break to get personal time with each child. Read a story, throw on some tunes and dance your heart out, or just snuggle into some hugs and ask them how they’re doing. Even a few minutes of uninterrupted, “just us” time will make a world of difference to everyone’s sense of security, which should in turn help children let you get back to work when you need to.

Make sure your kids know when their dedicated time will happen, and stick to it. For example, carve out 15 minutes in the morning for just you and your youngest, and 15 minutes in the afternoon to be with your eldest. If you give kids the contact they crave, they’ll be more likely to help you out with fewer interruptions so you can focus when you need to.

We know these times are tough, and it puts immense strain on families to have school, work, and everything in between all under one roof. Try finding opportunities to be playful, make jokes and see the positive side. Take the time to connect with extended family and friends through video chats so everyone still feels connected. Above all, be kind to yourself and try different approaches and solutions until you find what works best for your family. With a flexible approach, a positive attitude and resourcefulness, we can all adapt.