Picture this:
Your Fitbit watch vibrates at 6:30 a.m. while you’re still in bed.
You don’t want to wake up your little one because this morning you want to get a jumpstart on your work at home tasks.
You get up, change and make your morning coffee. Then you head to your office and get to work.
This made-up scenario sounds terrific, right?
Uninterrupted time, silence and you get to drink hot coffee.
For many parents who work at home, this isn’t their reality though.
And for many moms, there are pros and cons to being able to stay home, make money, and work.
Being a parent is the hardest job in the world – now add working at home along with doing house chores, taking care of your children, meal prepping and more.
It can almost seem like a double-edged sword when you think about working at home.
I’ve been working at home for five years, and I’ve learned how to make the most out of my days – and enjoy them – when my twins (oh yes, I have twins) were home with me all day.
It doesn’t take ingenuity – but it does take some planning.
1. Know Your Why
What was the reason you wanted to stay home in the first place?
Was it to save money? Was it to enjoy a flexible lifestyle? Or was it to spend more time with your child?
Whatever your why is, remember this when your child needs you, and you have to take a client call at that precise moment.
My why was to be able to stay home with my children and give them the life where both of their parents are home with them.
They know no different. If my child is sick, I stay home with them. And if lasts 10 school days – I can stay home with them and take them to the doctors at any time of the day.
It’s these perks that I remember and hold close to me when I have to meet deadlines as a freelance writer.
If you have to – write out your why in your planner, on a whiteboard or anywhere where you can view it daily.
2. Block Kid Activity Time
A fun way to keep your kids busy is with a kid activity.
These are activities just for your child, or you can participate if you need a break or want to spend time with your little one.
When my twins were around three years old, I would set up a sensory table with cups, spoons, and beans. I would often join them for a good 20 minutes.
Then I would walk away and be able to work.
The stay-play-walk away approach is a fabulous method when you have to get back to work.
3. Block Self-Care Time
Just as crucial as kid activity time is for child, so is self-care time for the parent.
When you work at home, you suddenly sit for longer periods of time or snack more throughout the day.
If you find yourself slipping into these poor behaviors, it’s time to add more self-care into your work at home schedule.
I like to do walking videos every day. I can even incorporate my twins since these are easy to do at home exercises.
I also try to walk outside every day with my husband or family.
As for snacking, I drink a lot of water so that I’m not hungry throughout the day.
I also drink Protein shakes that fill me up for the afternoon.
And, if I want to snack – fruit & cheese is my go-to option.
By adopting a routine to make sure you are eating healthy, sleeping regularly, exercising and managing your stress, you can enjoy your day as a work at home mom.
4. Involve Your Children
One of the best things I did early on was to encourage my children to work alongside with me.
I would give them an old keyboard, and they would sit at their play table next to me and type away. I also gave them paper and crayons and other craft material, so I could squeeze in 20 minutes.
5. Stop Work at the Same Time Every Day
Because you create your own schedule many people can start and end work at any time they want.
Right now, I work until I have to pick up my twins from school – 3 pm.
If you have little ones at home, you can stop earlier or before supper.
Of course, for many work at home parents, we aren’t working straight through until 3 pm.
With kid activity breaks, self-care breaks, lunch, and general house chores, do your best in finding that optimal end of the work day time.
Working at Home Can Be Enjoyable
For many of us, finding the time to work at home is the biggest challenge.
And when there isn’t enough time, it feels like you have a never-ending to-do list.
But, by using these four simple strategies, you can start enjoying your day and making each work at home day purposeful.
Share your best tips for getting the most out of your work at home day with me!