Managing Your Work While the Kids Are At Home

Many of our lives have changed pretty drastically over the past couple of months. The rapid and unprecedented spread of coronavirus and Covid-19, alongside increased social distancing measures means that many of us are finding ourselves confined to our own homes rather than sticking to our usual routines. The kids are off school. We’re not commuting into work and spending the day in our offices. We can’t send the kids off to the extracurricular activities they might usually do. Family days out are long gone. So, it’s not all too surprising that those of us who are able to work from home may be struggling a little right now. How are we meant to manage our time, hit our deadlines and stay productive when the little ones need round-the-clock care and attention too? Well, don’t worry. We’ve got a few tips and tricks that can help you to manage your work while the kids are home. Here are some to consider!

Maintain a Routine

Routine is key to success when it comes to organisation and productivity. Try to come up with a timetable that suits you and your family’s needs. Rise at a certain time. Have meals at set times so you can dish food up without it interfering with your workload too much. Try to have set times where you can be dedicated to your work. This can be easier said than done, but if your kids are old enough, they will grow to realise that you need to be left alone during set times, they will find it easier to occupy themselves rather than interrupting you needlessly.

Speak to Your Employer

If there’s anything you’re aware of that can help you to get your work done properly and to standard while you’re working remotely, let your employer know. They will be well aware of the difficulties that people will be facing while working from home with kids, so are likely to be eager to help in whatever way possible. You could suggest software that will make communication, scheduling and other tasks simpler, such as crew scheduling software or Microsoft Teams. They may be more flexible on KPIs and targets. They may be more flexible when it comes to your working hours, allowing you to complete projects once the little ones are off to bed rather than in the middle of the day. It’s always worth asking!

Keep Your Little Ones Occupied

Kids are bound to get bored when they’re stuck in the house all day every day. So, give them something to keep them occupied. Set them projects. Give them a jigsaw puzzle. Set out some colour by number books, dot to dots and other puzzles. Board games like Monopoly can keep kids distracted and focused on something for hours. The more they have to do, the more time you’ll be able to complete work tasks.

Sure, it’s going to be a difficult time for any parent right now. But there are ways to balance your work and childcare. Hopefully, the above information will help get you started in the right direction!