Handling your work life and private life in the same space is very overwhelming and challenging. It’s tough to work around kids, but also manage to spend some time with them too. Here are some tips and tricks that will help you balance these two sides of your life effectively.
Set up your home office
Working from home can be quite complicated. The space that you once used only for relaxing and sleeping has now become your work area too. That is why finding a way to separate your private life from your professional life is very important, especially if you have kids. Now that we’re all stuck at home not having anything to do, your kids will be running around needing more attention than usual. Try to understand them, but also make sure to sit down with them and talk to them about how things are going to work around the house from now on.
Try to explain to them how important it is for you to have your privacy while working from home. Let them know that you will have certain time of the day when you will play together and hang out, but that you will also have your working hours when you need peace and privacy.
The best way to ensure that you have some privacy and peace so that you can perform your tasks and duties without interruption is to create a home office. In case you have a spare room that you don’t use that much, you can turn it into your work space. On the other hand, if you don’t have a spare room, you can pick a spot, somewhere in your bedroom or living room where you will place all of your work supplies, a desk, and a laptop or computer.
Don’t procrastinate
Adapting to these new changes is hard on everyone. You have to be able to switch your whole lifestyle and be ready to make some drastic changes from now on. It can be scary and intimidating, and having kids around certainly doesn’t make it easier for you to adapt to these changes. In the midst of this chaos, you need to be able to focus on your work no matter what.
Working from home may not sound like such a strict type of job. However, that doesn’t mean you should let loose and work just whenever. It’s important that you stay self-disciplined and avoid procrastination. You’ll often have an illusion that you have the whole day to finish your tasks and duties for work. Don’t let that deceive you.
Try to stay organised and work according to work hours, even if you have none. The best option is to work in the morning, when your brain is at its peak when it comes to focus. Later throughout the day you’re just going to get tired and work will become harder and harder to handle. Try working as early in the day as possible, and then you can dedicate the rest of the day to your family.
Plan activities that don’t require supervision
Even though you can regularly check on your children, they will nevertheless be left unsupervised at times. To make sure they are safe while you’re not present, you can plan certain activities and games they can play without any supervision or assistance. That way, you will be able to focus on your work, without worrying about your kids’ safety. You can buy some puzzles for them, or any kind of board games they can play by themselves without your assistance.
If you have a baby, you can purchase a baby monitor. You can be working in one room, while your baby is sleeping in the other. The monitor will instantly alert you if there is any sound or movement. That way, you can respond quickly in case the baby wakes and starts crying.
Split the work and allow yourself to take a rest
In case you live with a partner, you need to make a schedule that will work for both of you. You both need to have your work time and relax time. If your jobs allow you to do so, you can work in shifts so that at least one of you is working and the other one is spending time with kids. For instance, you can work the first shift and your partner can spend that time with your kids, and then once you’re done, you can switch. This way, both you and your partner get to have your time for work and your time for relaxing and your kids are never alone.
Ensure that your children are in good hands
Sometimes, you will need extra help if you want to make this new lifestyle work. There will be times when you and your partner simply won’t be able to handle it all on your own. That’s why you can always consider getting some extra help when it comes to taking care of children. Kids, especially when they’re young, require a lot of love, attention and patience, and there will be days when you simply won’t be able to commit to them as much as you want to.
For that reason, you can consider checking out a professional day care centre where your kids will be in good hands while you are working at home. Not only will your kids get the attention they need, but they will also be able to socialise with other kids their age and make some friends. Plus, you won’t have to worry about their safety nor health. These people are specially trained to follow safety rules and make sure that kids stay healthy and safe.
Create a healthy routine and be more forgiving
Lastly, merging your private and professional life is all about creating a healthy environment both for you and your kids. Mental health is just as important as your physical health. Make sure to talk to your kids about the new changes in home and try to come to a mutual agreement. Make a routine that will work for both of you and make sure you spend some quality time with your family every day.
Conclusion
In conclusion, balancing your private and work life will be tough and challenging. However, with a little bit of help from your family, you can make it work.
