7 Tips For Working From Home with Kids
IDEAS FOR PARENTS
As a photographer, I get the privilege of spending a good bulk of my work time at some of the most gorgeous spaces and venues in Southern California.
But, can I let you in on a little secret? I love my “office days” too - especially because my office is my home.
There’s nothing better than rolling out of bed and editing from the kitchen table with a hot cup of tea or taking client calls from my cozy desk corner wearing a professional top but (for sure) yoga pants and slippers on the bottom.
Tips for Working From Home When You Have Kids
Now, I’ll be honest, working from home has its challenges, too. This is especially true if you have officemates who go by the name of “child” or “children”. Working from home with kids on a normal day has its ups and downs, but throw in a pandemic, and things get super tricky.
Since the onset of coronavirus, there has been a lot of advice and recommendations for working from home floating around the interwebs. While a lot of it is well meaning, it's nearly impossible to follow because it's unrealistic.
So... here are 7 tips that have actually worked for me over the last 10 years of working from home...
#1 - Get Creative With Your Work Hours
The first (and most important) step to achieving an actual schedule was to talk to my husband. Since we are both working from home now, we had to decide how we were going to divide childcare duties in order to carve out dedicated work hours. Forewarning, when factoring kids into your workday, you’ll have to think outside of the box as you have to factor in the child’s schedule, too. Often, this looks like getting up early to work before your kids are awake, making the most of that nap-time hustle, and logging in after bedtime to wrap up work. Regardless getting everyone on the same page, and knowing when you can actually work will help prepare you (and your family) up for success.
#2 - Don't Try to Multitask
I've tried to squeeze in work while also watching my son, and guess what — it always ends with one of us in tears. My suggestion? Compartmentalize work as much as possible. That way, you can be present as a parent and in your career. Trying to do both at the same time = setting yourself up for failure.
#3 - Turn Off Distractions
When it’s time for your dedicated head down work hours, create a distraction-free environment. This will ensure you maximize the time you have set aside to grind. What helps me is to put my phone and computer on “do not disturb” so I'm not pulled into a group text message or Facetime with friends. And I 100% stay out of the rabbit hole of social media!
#4 - Create Your "Workspace"
This is the biggest tip I see suggested online, but it doesn't take into account that most of us don't have a spare bedroom or space we can make into our beautiful home office. What's worked well for me is having my "workspace" in a bag and ready for me to take it anywhere — (which is often on our living room). My bag includes my laptop, charger, planner, hard drives, pens, and most importantly, my AirPods (canceling out the noise around me is key to focusing on my work).
#5 - Give Yourself Extra Time
I can't tell you how many times I've had the perfect workday mapped out, only to have my son get a cold or a boo-boo and completely derail my plans. This is par for the course as a working parent and something that will continue to happen until he leaves for college - so I’ve had to figure out how to deal. In my experience, giving myself padding for time-sensitive projects helps take the pressure off myself and allows me to show up for my family when unexpected needs arise.
#6 - Go Easy on Yourself
Working from home and taking care of your kids is HARD. Here's the truth: don't expect that you'll be able to get the same amount of work done each day. Some days will be super productive and others just won't, and that's okay! Do what you need to do to keep moving forward. I know I’ve for sure given my son extra screen time in order to meet a deadline - no regrets!
#7 - Delegate and Ask for Help
Of course, this looks different in the age of COVID because most of our traditional child care resources are not available at the moment, but please know that you don’t have to navigate working from home alone. Think about what close family members or friends you can bring into your quarantine bubble. If that’s not an option, don’t forget that there are several virtual professionals you can leverage (like a virtual assistant, bookkeeper - or in a photographer’s case - an editor).
Working from home definitely has its perks - but it doesn’t come without challenges. I hope these 7 tips can help you navigate working from home with your kid(s).