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By Gwen Payne
If you are new to remote work or are looking to switch to a remote job, you may be wondering if it is possible with young children in the house. Fortunately, plenty of families make working from home functional by employing a few clever tricks. Work-life balance is possible, even when there isn't a clear separation of work and home. From mastering your workspace to caring for your mental well-being, here are six smart tips that can help you productively and peacefully work from home.
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1. Set Up Your Workspace
Whether you have a dedicated office or not, getting your work area set up properly is the first step to having a great experience working from home. Make sure to clear your space of clutter, as research shows it can distract your brain from the things you need to focus on. Combining good lighting and inviting touches like candles or an essential oil diffuser can help your space be more inviting and more conducive to getting work done.
2. Create a Routine
Children need routines to feel safe and increase their likeliness to cooperate. Routines also take a lot of stress out of the day by providing you with a solid work schedule. Single parents can have breakfast with their toddler or baby and then hand off children to family or daycare. Or work while they are occupied with sleep or other activities. Spouses can trade work time, such as 4-hour work blocks, during the day. Remember to prioritize time together and strike a balance that works for everyone.
3. Facilitate Activities That Don’t Require Supervision
Watching enriching children’s content or playing educational games can keep your child occupied and learning at the same time. There are also plenty of quiet, hands-on activities you can set up for your toddler while you work that won’t be loud and distracting.
4. Use Your Support System
Friends and family are often more than willing to help shoulder some of the childcare load. This can provide you with more quiet time to get things done without worrying about your child’s immediate needs. It can be helpful to actively create a support system so you aren’t struggling to think of someone during emergencies.
5. Delegate
If your current job has you taking on a multitude of tasks while working long hours, it might be time to consider hiring some freelancers to help offload some of your work. You can find and hire freelancers through online job boards.
If you’re looking for budget-friendly options, you can locate capable foreign freelancers. For example, you can hire skilled workers in India by using a job board like Guru. When it comes to paying freelancers, realize that traditional methods like bank transfers can be cost-prohibitive. Instead, you can utilize a money transfer service like Remitly. For instance, if you need to pay workers from The Philippines, they offer near-instant transfers for only $3.99.
6. Plan in Advance
Planning as much of your schedule as early as possible will help the week go much more smoothly. Sunday meal-prep can make meals a breeze, and having a list of activities and purchasing necessary supplies in advance will mean everything you need is already at your fingertips.
If working from home is new to you, it may seem impossible to balance everything and stay sane. Fortunately, it is possible, and many parents just like you have made it work. In fact, once they get their routine under control, many parents prefer the comfort and pace of remote work.