7 tips for working from home when you have young children

Remote working is not an option for everyone. It requires self-discipline and better planning than a traditional full-time job. It is a concept that is particularly difficult to implement if you have young children who need to be at home during your working hours. It’s easy to get frustrated and mentally burnt out then. Can you reconcile the two? Here are 5 tips to help you work from home when you have young children.

Set priorities
You can’t complete everything in one day. The sooner you accept this fact, the better for you. You should start each day by setting a minimum plan – what really absolutely must be completed that day. If you have a teleconference scheduled for today and the preparation of a compiled cost estimate, it will be difficult to find time to take a walk with the baby and clean the flat. If today is going to be a very busy day professionally, it is a good idea to plan fewer work activities for the next day so that you have a balance

Set clear boundaries
When you work from home it is necessary to establish boundaries with the rest of the family. When the door of your room is closed then absolutely no one should interrupt your work. If you are using the phone then teach your children not to interrupt you until you have finished talking. Establish these clear boundaries and make sure everyone in the house adheres to them. Tell your child that you finish work at 4pm and only then can you play with them.

Focus on productivity, not working hours
If you have specific tasks to complete for the day and you realise that you are able to complete them much quicker than the full-time 8 hours then don’t kid yourself. Complete them as quickly as you can, and allocate the rest of the day to other activities. This is not cheating your employer at all. Remind yourself how much time at work you spent drinking coffee, chatting and joking with colleagues. Do your due diligently and then get on with something more enjoyable.

Take regular breaks
When working from home, don’t forget that after an hour of working on the laptop, a break of a few minutes is necessary to allow your eyes to rest. It is also a good idea to stretch your spine by doing some stretching exercises. You can do this without being subjected to the annoyance of your co-workers. This is one of the advantages of working from home.

Don’t feel bad about leaving your child in front of the TV
Constantly sitting your children in front of the TV is not good but remember that the situation is unique. If you are forced to work while staying with your children without any help, then unfortunately you have no other choice. Streaming services such as Netflix and HBO offer a large number of cartoons and programmes for children of all ages. This should keep them occupied for a couple of hours during which you will be able to finish the job.

Leave snacks on the kitchen table
There is nothing worse than children interrupting your work by calling for food. Therefore, have snacks and drinks ready for them before you start work and leave them in a visible place it could be yoghurt, cereal bars, toast or anything else your little one likes.

Reward yourself for your work
After you have done your work, allow yourself a moment of pleasure whether it be a slice of your favourite cake, a relaxing bath or once in a while a glass of good wine. This will help you maintain the necessary balance.