enough to be able to concentrate

Here are 10 suggestions for parents who work from home with their children

Many dream of working at their homes. You have more freedom, more time at home, and can be more connected to family members.

The flip coin also has its challenges, especially for parents trying to balance work and child care: difficulty in focusing on work; managing with caring for children (or homeschooling children); the blurring of lines between work and private life; and kids begging for your attention when you are not there.

It is possible to feel guilty about not getting work completed on more sombre WFH days. It's possible to be productive while caring for your children however, this will require you to reevaluate your expectations and working methods.

These are our top tips for parents working from home.

10 Tips for Parents who Work From Home With Children
1. Focus on the positives.
While some parents choose to work at home, other parents find themselves having to adjust abruptly to the new situation.

While the situation is not free of issues, it could be a viable alternative for a lot of people.

It's not always simple, but it is possible to focus on the positives, and remind yourself of the things you should avoid while at work, especially on stressful days.

2. Adjust your schedule.
Adults are happier when they stick to the same routine.

WFH is a way to keep our focus and avoid distractions.

A routine for your morning will assist you to plan your day and ensure that it is more consistent. Wake up, prepare for the day as you would prior to going to work. You'll then head to your home office, whatever this looks like to you, and then get in a good mood for work.

Optimize the rest of your day by making adjustments to your schedule in order to make time for home life.

Flexibility is a must and develop a routine that works well for you and your children. But remember, you can always modify it to meet daily changes.

This tip is part of our collection of remote work tips.

3. Share your opinions with your colleagues.
There are a variety of things that parents could do to help their kids work from home. However, interruptions can still occur. Your children may run to your office, throw tantrums on the Zoom call, or require you to take care of emergencies in your home.

You can't pretend all is well. Approach work as you do in a workplace setting and insist you don’t need any assistance.

Be upfront with your team about what working from home looks like for you. Then think about what requests you can make to make it easier and more efficient. This might result in an easier schedule, or perhaps some more patience.

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4. Focus on your work environment.
Although you don't have to adhere to this rule 100% of the time, assign one area of the house as your dedicated work space.

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This allows you to reduce distractions and keep work on track without it affecting your personal life.

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When you start your workday by arriving at your dedicated workspace with a cup of coffee and dressed for the day, you let your mind be aware that this is the moment and place where you begin working.

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It is an area you can convert into a home office. If this isn't feasible, consider finding another space in your house to use as your workspace. With everyone in the household, agree on the guidelines for how and when you will be reached.

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Parents can also ask their children involved in designing homemade office signs that include green to signify "yes, you're allowed in" and red to mean "don't ever consider it."

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5. Do not work with short bursts.
Baby and toddler parents are more difficult than other parents. You can't leave your child to himself.

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It may be easier to take care of children for short periods of time when you're responsible.

If you're fortunate enough to be able to concentrate on work while your partner helps with childcare at home, design your timetable so that you are able to come out of your office and assist every now and then instead of locking yourself in all day.

6. Nurture creative activities.
Your child is probably not going to sit quietly and read for hours while you're at work. If you are responsible to care for your child, encourage the child's imagination and play.