If you work from home and have children at home you know how hard it can be to juggle both your work and your home life. It is often made doubly hard by the age of your children, and their individual needs. Here are 5 Tips For Working From Home With A Toddler that are sure to help you stay on top of your game, and give your kids the quality time that they need.
5 TIPS FOR WORKING FROM HOME WITH A TODDLER
Turn Off The Noise. Help yourself focus better by turning off the music, tv and sounds around you. Focus on your work instead to get projects and tasks done in a more timely manner.
Create A Realistic Schedule. While you would love to have a typical 9-5 work day, when you are juggling both a work at home job and a child that typically isn’t going to happen. Become realistic about their needs as well as your own and set your office hours to reflect that. If you have to have extended evening “work” time to make up for early morning naps, play time, and snack time, then work toward that. Don’t set yourself up for failure by limiting yourself to a standard schedule.
Include Them In Your Office. Even though many work from home jobs don’t allow for small children to “help” with the work, there are ways you can incorporate them into your daily office routine. Create a kid corner in your home office with their own “work” to do. Puzzles, toys, a children’s laptop or tablet are all great ideas. Chalkboards, dry erase boards and felt boards are all great items to have to occupy their time.
Work Smarter Not Harder. This one is often a tough one for all of us to grasp, but it is especially important in issues when you are trying to juggle work and home life. Figure out what work practices are the most profitable for you and make it your goal to focus on them.
Hire A Babysitter. While it may not be affordable for everyone, hiring a babysitter to help you out at least one day per week will give you the freedom you need to get projects done without interruptions. Check with local teens during summer months for inexpensive help, or look into local church “moms day out” programs that give you a few hours to one day a week of child care with ease.
Working from home is becoming a more and more popular way to make a living for men and women alike. Whether you are working for someone else as a virtual assistant or running your own home business, it can be tough with kids underfoot. These 5 tips for working from home with a toddler can help you stay focused, be productive and conquer your to do list.
