The Challenge Of Taking Care Of Children And Working From Home
In the society in which we live, teleworking is increasingly present and, therefore, more and more parents are joining the challenge of caring for children and working from home, especially during vacation periods or during that, for various reasons, children have to spend more time at home. And I say challenge because balancing work performance with the care and supervision of children is not an easy task.
Interruptions can be constant, as the little ones demand and need us. And yet, despite being by their side, we cannot be as available to them as we would like. Finally, we end the day feeling that we have not been up to the job, neither in our role as parents.
Before anxiety and guilt take over, let’s try to breathe and take perspective. Let’s establish the best conditions to be able to fulfill our work and our family tasks, but once this is done, let’s avoid punishing, judging or demanding ourselves beyond our possibilities.
Keys to taking care of children and working from home
Choose a suitable space
Due to the fact of being at home, we can be tempted to subtract some formality from working hours and carry out our tasks anywhere. However, if we want to be productive, it is important that we have a specific workplace.
This will help our mind to create a division between the family routine and the work schedule. And as you enter this space, you will understand that it is time to turn our attention to our professional obligations.
Make sure you have an organized, clean, bright, and well-ventilated environment. As much as possible, make it a room with doors to avoid interruptions and distractions. Above all, try to make this home office cozy and help you focus.
Set schedules to take care of children and work from home
Having a routine is important for our well-being and for our productivity. If we do not establish schedules, we will end up trying to perform several tasks at the same time, in an interrupted and interspersed way. And this will only cause that we need more time to meet our objectives or that we end up doing everything by halves.
Therefore, establish in advance what times of the day will be allocated for each activity, and try to follow this schedule as closely as possible. This means trying to avoid interruptions to your family while you work, but it also means dedicating your time fully to them when appropriate. Setting a schedule will allow you to avoid interference of some tasks in others, since all will have their assigned time.
Get organized
However, setting schedules and following them is not always easy, since you are not in an office as such, but you are in your own home and you have to take care of minors. Therefore, it is very important to get organized.
If you live with your partner or other adults in your home, try to develop a joint schedule. Determine times so that each adult can work with the peace of mind that the other is taking care of the little ones. Trying to work at the same time can make the task difficult, since a part of you will always be aware of what the children need.
On the other hand, if you are the only adult in your house, you can take advantage of your children’s rest hours to take care of your professional tasks. Get up before them, work while they nap or after they have gone to bed for the night.
And, if this is not possible or sufficient, try to involve the children in the work routine. That is, explain to them that certain hours are times to work and suggest that they do their homework, if they have any, while you work. They can also read or do some other quiet activity during these “work hours”.
Be forgiving
Above all, be forgiving and compassionate to yourself. Understand that it is a situation to which you have to get used to little by little, since teleworking is something relatively new, so do not worry if one day your children spend a little more time watching television or if your Dinner. You will soon find the best routine.
Do your best, but allow yourself to enjoy your family and don’t let anxiety take over your days. Take perspective and lower your self-demand.
