Do I Have To Work At Home With Them Again?!

Kids are just the worst, am I right? Okay, they really aren’t the worst, but they are undeniably the neediest people to have around when you’re trying to get things done. Between the neverending need for snacks and the constant need for attention, trying to work with kids in the house feels damn near impossible. Suck it up, Buttercup! You are a mom, and you got this! But here are some tips to help you out, for good measure.

Recognize the need for help.

Listen, mama. As much as you deserve that cape, you have to recognize that you need help sometimes. When you’re working at home with babies, toddlers, or if we're honest, grown men, you may need to outsource some of your endeavors. 

This doesn’t mean that you don’t do the work yourself, but that you channel your energies into where you are most effective. Pay someone to clean the house once a week, bribe the neighbor’s teenager to mow the yard, or bring in older kid cousins to entertain your little ones while you wrap up an assignment.

Use protection.

When you’re working from home, your computer equipment is your lifeline and your moneymaker. Protect it. This means everything from keeping the kids away to implementing online security strategies. 

Of course, an actual baby cage is out of the question (right?), but you can keep a playpen next to your desk but far enough away that sticky fingers and spilled juice boxes don’t interfere. On the digital front, avoid the temptation to download your kids’ games on your computer, and do your research on everything from identity theft to cybersecurity.

Work in chunks like a champ. 

Most of us think of the workday as a solid eight hours with a 30-minute break somewhere around mid-day. Give this thought up. When you’re working with kids, a standard workday can easily stretch from the time you wake up until long after you want to be under the covers. 

Because of this, you’ll want to be as productive as possible. This means working in chunks of about an hour. Productivity app Marvin offers a step-by-step guide to doing just that with tips like defining your project and breaking it into milestones. Make sure that you have a clear finishing point so that you can quantify your progress, even if you only work for half an hour.

Stop. Just stop.

You know when your baby’s crying and all you can think about is that you want them to stop? And then they keep going until you pick them up, cuddle them, and maybe have a snack? And, then they stop crying and turn their attention to something else? Yeah, do that for yourself. 

When you are stressed, frustrated, and can’t concentrate, take a break. Your mind needs it, your body needs it, and doing so can help you take a pause and re-evaluate order of importance. In a sense, taking a five or 10-minute break can help calm you down, just like cuddling your little one when they are overwhelmed.

Play pretend. 

You did it when you were a kid, and now it’s time for you to play pretend once again. When you’re working at home with little ones, comfort is key. Pretend to dress up without actually changing clothes once you get out of bed.  Fancy pajamas, a messy bun, and some eyeliner are all you need to get started with your morning video meetings. Let the kids play along too (and buy yourself some time in the process) by giving them an old laptop and kid-sized desk so they can be the CEO of their own corporation.

For more empowering content (like this), check the She Really Had A Baby blog often!

Guest Post by Janice Russell of http://parentingdisasters.com/