With the current pandemic happening around the world, many parents have had to make a pretty significant work-life transition. What was once the process of scheduling parental duties around your job’s hours, is now a daily schedule that includes both working and caring for your family simultaneously. Kids are busy bees! Especially babies and toddlers, so managing a team or calling into a meeting presents working from home challenges.
It’s important to manage your time, focus on the tiny victories and accept that trying your best IS good enough!
Here are some kindness tips that can benefit your remote work experience as a parent…
Maintain a Consistent Routine
Individuals who do not maintain a routine claim they enjoy a more “go with the flow” lifestyle. However, research shows that routines actually make a person more productive, healthy-habit oriented and eager to start their day. Consistent routines, especially when working from home, help frazzled multi-tasking parents.
Start with:
- Making your bed
- Brewing coffee
- Going on a morning walk with the kids
- Sit down for work and school time
- Take a snack break
- Do family PE
- Create rest time/work time
In order to establish a schedule that is successful, start by purchasing a calendar or downloading an app that is easy to use and customizable. Then, make a list of the tasks you need to complete for both your working hours and personal time. If it helps, keep these on separate calendars or note pages. Sometimes when you have too many things on the same list, it feels insurmountable. Cross things off as you go to enjoy the “small wins.”
Be Honest With Your Coworkers
If you’re part of a totally remote company right now, most likely, other people share your struggles. Be honest with each member of your team about the difficulties you’re facing with being remote and which things will impact your schedule.
If your company is extremely team oriented and collaborative, it may be smart to build a stronger connection and trust with your team members willing to not only do their part, but assist you with additional side projects. Presentations, meeting preparation and other deadlines are important, so being open and honest with your health and workflow is essential for your wellness.
Remain Financially Focused
Financial stability is tricky as it is. But add in this overwhelming situation, and things feel out of hand. As paychecks come in, ensure you have a plan for delegating expenses while at home. Your quarantine shopping habits likely differ from your normal spending. Extra groceries and essential household items are vital to stock up on. While these are necessary to have for your family, it could alter the initial budget you created.
A positive aspect of maintaining superior financial health during a global crisis is that there are a variety of tools, apps and other services to help you as a remote employee and parent. Since leaving the house isn’t an option at this time, banks and other financial companies are making their platforms as online-friendly as possible. But it’s up to you to take advantage of the benefits.
Automatic savings, account fee disbursement, budgeting and money transfers are all possible through certain financial services, either through your desktop or a smartphone screen. Using platforms that can help you maintain financial success through lifestyle changes is a piece of the puzzle you don’t want to avoid during these changes. As an additional pointer, always keep a close eye on your bank account and bills, and set up notifications so you’re aware of any changes that happen regarding your savings in real time.
Take Breaks
Throughout the workday, don’t be afraid to get up from your desk to check on the status of your household, even if your significant other is home helping you. This can be a debriefing moment for you and your family; working at a computer screen or on a certain task for a long period of time can be mentally draining.
Keep yourself engaged and try to remain positive with who you are and the strength you have in order to maintain this type of lifestyle and relationship with both your work peers and family members. Go for a quick walk, make filling meals, do a workout routine or sit down and read a book with your child to show that you care about yourself and the people around you.
Final Thoughts
As a parent, you’re a part of a strong group of individuals who are maintaining this difficult life-balance. It’s imperative to support one another, whether it’s through creating a social media group to communicate self-care tips or skype calling friends and family members who are parents as well. Realize your strength and pride through doing the things that make you feel your absolute best! Try to appreciate the good that comes from working from home: seeing your kids more, being present for milestones and simply being there.
Comment below! We are here for you! What are your working from home challenges?
