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| Essential tips for work-from-home mums |
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The growth of the Internet has made it increasingly possible for many mums to work from home. On paper it seems like the dream job. You save on child care fees, can be present while the kids are young, and avoid the chore of a daily commute all while continuing your career or growing a business.
But working from home can be a challenging task. Juggling many roles simultaneously can lead to you achieving nothing, and always having your work within arms reach can lead to higher stress levels. As well and unfortunately a lot of the household responsibilities usually fall to the person who is home, so you'll be dragged between laundry, cleaning, cooking and the mountain of other tasks that go into the smooth running of a house.
So how do you make the work-from-home dream work for you, and is it really possible to get stuff done with the kids around?
Work when it's work time
Rather than always dashing between kids and work, establish how many hours you need to work each week and set those hours aside. That could always be once the children are in bed in the evening, or getting up early and putting in a few hours before everyone rises. During work hours, try not to get distracted by putting the laundry on, or quickly cleaning the bathroom – you will be much more productive if you focus on one thing at a time.
Try a co-working space
If the home is too distracting and the children are of school age, a co-working space is a great way to stay focused and separate work from home. With high-speed Internet and all the usual great office facilities, you’ll be surrounded by like-minded people, and it will force you to put your 'work head' on (even getting dressed helps a lot with this!). Many co-working spaces today also have child care on site, for those with younger children.
Fill the fridge in advance
Just like putting aside time for work, also try putting aside an hour a week to cook up freezer-friendly lunchbox items or baby food, and family meals. Working-from-home days often go by in a flash, when every minute is either spent working or attending to children, so having ready-made meals for the week ahead will save you stress and time. If batch cooking isn’t possible, try a slow cooker, where you can throw everything in a pot in the morning and not have to think about it for the rest of the day.
Have a nice workspace
Though it's tempting to grab the laptop and sit on the couch, having a pleasant designated workspace will do wonders for your mind and your posture. With a comfortable chair and a well-lit space, you will be more focused when you do sit down to work.
Outsource
This might sound indulgent, particularly when you know you can do it yourself, but taking a look at your load and outsourcing the tasks that are not getting attended to can do wonders for your stress levels. Consider hiring a cleaner once a fortnight, outsourcing the ironing, or have the groceries delivered.
Make sure you have a backup
Even the best multi-tasking woman can't do everything alone. So always ensure you have a backup, so others can step up and help without asking 'what to do.' Stick a meal plan on the fridge, have children memorise emergency contact numbers, set up areas for school bags, hats and sunscreen so everyone knows how to pack their bags each day.
Have the children help
Rather than try and fit everything in whilst the children are sleeping (and we all know that it is far quicker to do jobs without them) use their awake time for them to help you around the house – handing you pegs to hang out the washing, sweeping floors, and tidying away toys. Preschool children love to help out around the house, so even if they are a hindrance and you are in a rush to finish, allowing them to take part will allow you to bond and still (albeit slowly) get some chores done.
Don't forget about you!
Amidst the work commitments, the children, the household responsibilities and the bills, it is easy to put yourself at the bottom of the pile. But you are juggling a lot of balls and it's vital you schedule time for yourself to stay healthy. Eat well, go outside for a walk, do some yoga, meditate, stop for a cup of tea, whatever you need to keep your body functioning at its best. With your work always within arm's reach, it's tempting to run and work the second you get a chance, but make sure you take a break at the weekend to enjoy downtime with the family.
And at the end of the day, always reflect on everything you have achieved, not on the lengthy To-Do list that is still to be done.
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