Sounds almost like a vacation, right? I mean, you can sleep in, you don’t have to commute, and you can stay in your pj’s all day long. But then you are faced with reality. You are a parent. And your kids are quarantined right along with you. So, you now realize you not only have to work, but you have to parent your children as well.
Bye-bye vacation dreams…
Realize that desperate times may call for desperate measures. So be ready with a list of distractions for your kids when there is a time you cannot stop working. Such as a Zoom meeting.day I am going to share with you share 5 ways to keep your sanity and still be productive at your place of employment, and your job as a parent.
1. Keep Open Communication
Now is the time to communicate all of your needs, from everyone in your life.
Keep the door of communication open with your boss. Let them know you want to maintain your job, but you need to let them know you do have children at home to care for.
Ask if you need to maintain your current hours, or if they can be flexible. There will be bumps in the road as every company tries to sort this thing out. Remain tactful and patient in communicating with your boss.
Regularly communicate with your co-workers and partner. This will help ensure expectations can be properly set and managed.
2. Recognize the Signs of Burnout and Ask for Help
Burnout comes from prolonged periods of intense work and prolonged stress. And working at home with children, are the perfect storm for just that.
Burnout often comes in the form of anxiety or depression, low morale, short temper, headache, stomach or back problems, and fatigue.
Prevent burnout by…
Creating a schedule- Set a schedule and only work during the hours you normally would if you were in the office.
Plan and prioritize- Make a list of the tasks you need to complete, and set realistic deadlines.
Set up a separate workspace- By keeping a dedicated workspace, you can “leave” your work when you are done for the day.
Take mental and physical breaks throughout the day- Change your scenery. It does wonders for the soul.
Slow down- Rushing through tasks, can cause you to feel more stressed. Pause, and take a deep breath when you start to get overwhelmed.
Ask for help- This is especially true for parents. Know that it is okay to ask for help. Ask your spouse to split childcare. And if necessary, consider hiring an in-home nanny to help. You can’t always do it all.
3. Plan and Organize
Realize that desperate times may call for desperate measures. So be ready with a list of distractions for your kids when there is a time you cannot stop working. Such as a Zoom meeting.t works for you.
In your schedule you may need to include:
Meal plan and prep all meals
Plan and set up activities
Set aside a specific clean house/ tidy up hour
Plan the hours where you can get the most work done in them
Block social media
Have your next days game plan ready every evening
4. Be Prepared to Distract Your Children
Realize that desperate times, may call for desperate measures. So be ready with a list of distraction for your kids when there is a time you cannot stop working. Such as a Zoom meeting.
Prepare all the snacks
Water Activities
Play Hide and Go Seek with a toy
Plan rewards for playing quietly and alone
Let them play with play-doh, slime, and moon sand
Decorate cookies
Let them play with an old computer or laptop
Utilize screen time
5. Hire a Loving Care Home Services Nanny
We are here to help you with working from home whether it's temporary or maybe even permanent. We take pride in recruiting, evaluating, and referring quality caregivers to your family. We can find the perfect nanny for your family to help during these times or even in the future months. Learn more here.
We are all in this together. Ask for help when you are able. You will need help more than ever right now and that is okay. Each day will get easier. Just keep on keeping on.
We are also here for you at Loving Care Home Services. We can help you through this time of adjustment too or even for a summer nanny. Check out our services here.
What additional tips do you have for working at home during the quarantine?