5 Tips To Work From Home, And Parent
 |
| Home-working, what a thrill, what a Buzz! |
Imagine working from home for so long, ABBA have reformed, and put out new songs!
That said, I'm making the best of this situation. With planning, structure and boundaries; you can operate as worker and parent. So this is how I do it, for what it's worth.
1. Create A Dedicated 'Work Space'
You must have a dedicated work area, it's essential. Most areas of the house, have too many distractions. Particularly when you have children.
In the early days it was shocking. I had no proper work space.
I would work from the kitchen, where the food and coffee were plentiful. Eventually the bar stool hurt my back. It wasn't sustainable.
Find some quiet space within your home, under the stairs, the garage, the shed etc. A productive worker, is a 'non-distracted' worker.
If you have children, stress the importance. Explain why you work and why you must do it.
2. Structure and Routine
Everything works best with structure. Chaos is fun, but chaos doesn't get the job done.
Set your day out, have a timetable and plan it all. Know when you'll be starting and finishing work. Make sure meetings don't conflict with school or nursery runs. Kids need structure too.
Most mobile phones have calendar features, which send reminders. Make use of technology.
Keep a consistent routine, and everyone will know where they stand. Even your kids.
3. Maintain A Work Life Balance
When the home is your workplace, the boundaries become blurred.
I found that maintaining a work life, was easier in a 'physical' office. When I left the office, it meant work was over. Hurray!
Always maintain a work-life balance. Take lunch breaks and regular annual leave. I have been poor at this previously, which isn't good.
A work life balance, benefits you and your family. Everyone needs personal family time.
4. Switch Off, Literally
This is my biggest lesson. Learning to switch-off, when work ends.
Finish work, when you are supposed to finish work. If work ends at 5pm, end work at 5pm.
Don't leave the work laptop or mobile on, or it will become tempting to do more work. Create some boundaries and don't let work interfere with personal time.
5. Stay Calm, and Carry On
 |
| An early highlight of my "home-working". |
In the early days, I lost my sh*t frequently. Once or twice, I got possessed and turned into the dad from 'The Shining'.
Families are (still) adjusting to this new dynamic. I think one day, this generation will adjust to having parents who work from home. But right now, it's new territory.
Remember, primarily it's the family home, not your office. However tough it gets, hold it together.
Final Thoughts
Keep structure and routine. Switch-off from work, with breaks and annual leave. A work-life balance is vital.
Hang in there. Parents stuck working from, are guinea pigs for a new method of family dynamic. We'll all adjust eventually.
Stay calm and don't lose your mind. In challenging situations, we can find positives.
fascinating. I was campaigning with LinkedIn to make flexi working and at home working more commonplace. Everyone is different but I don't think I'd ever want to return to an office again, certainly not full time. One thing I certainly will never miss: Commuting! that said, your tips are great. Mrs Adams, i don't feel, has really adjusted to the WFH mindset and kind-of peruses an office working approach from home which doesn't really work (I don't feel).
ReplyDeleteHey John. I know you are well versed in working from home! I think I just crave some balance. I'm hoping, eventually, it will be 2 days in the office and 3 at home. I believe that balance would suit me. Working from home is not for everyone.
ReplyDeleteHi Cyber Dad
ReplyDeleteFor the most part, working from home is appealing. However, working from home does not imply that you can work from your bed. Multiple studies have proven that having a dedicated workstation can help you get into a productive mindset and complete whatever activities you're working on. With a desk, you don't need a full space for your workplace; all you need is a corner. Office desks often take up less than five square feet of area, which is more than plenty for the average workstation.
More people are opting to work from home instead of commuting. Working from home, whether you're a full-time freelancer or a part-time telecommuter, may be difficult. Here's how to get the most out of working from home. Make your home office workspace more pleasant by adding a few decorations and an ergonomic chair that you can sit in for eight hours a day. If at all feasible, choose a location with plenty of natural light. For remote workers, good internet connectivity is the most important tool. You should keep track of your workdays and hours at all times. It must be prepared in such a way that you can easily follow it.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate your efforts. You publish good details about Parenting Tips for Working Mothers topic. I really want content like this to increase my knowledge and you provided this. Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteHere are 5 helpful tips on how you can stay connected with your co-workers while working from home while staying motivated and engaged. Read: how to stay connected when working from home.
ReplyDelete