Your home-based business has taken off this year. You loveĀ theĀ work-life balance youāve achieved during the school year.
Then summer hits, and the kids are home for six weeks. Theyāre spending a lot more time in and out of the house. TheĀ constantly banging doorsĀ can undoubtedly attest to it.Ā Stay sane working from home with kids this summer with these tips.
1. Develop a summertime plan to work at home with kids
Summer disrupts the time working mumsĀ typically have while the young ones are in school. And paying for child care isnāt always an option. Itās essential to have aĀ summertime-specific plan that acknowledges the unique challenges and stress.
Yes, you can work and keepĀ kids of all ages happyĀ at the same time.
2. Set clear priorities toĀ stay sane when youāre working from home with the kids this summer
Mumās guilt is a natural productivity killer. This constant mental battle makes you feel like thereās less time in the day than there is. And honestly, you will have less time for work and personal life.
Many feel torn between summertime fun activities with mum or getting work done. You want your sweet babies toĀ feel loved and valued. But working makes money andĀ ensures they have a roof over their heads.
When working at home with school-aged kids,Ā work-life balance is vital. When you make time forĀ family and work, everyone benefits.Ā The summer breakĀ is an opportunity to spend extra time with them that you donāt have when theyāre in school.
As parents, make time to do things together, like:
- Lunch hour
- Cooking dinner
- Engaging in fun activities as a family
- Household chores
- Family vacation
Now,Ā the work-from-home parentĀ can feelĀ guilt-free when dedicating time to work.
3. Establish healthy boundaries
This isnāt something you can learn or teachĀ overnight. But itās crucial to retain your sanity. If you give to others all the time, youāll deplete your own resources and ability to provide.
Have boundaries with everyone in your life:
- Boss
- Clients
- Co-workers
- Little ones
- Spouse
- Relatives
- Yourself
Communicate with your offspring. You will not stop working to settle a sibling dispute or a toy when youāre on the job. And you expect your teenager to respect the screentime boundaries youāve agreed to. They must work it out (depending on the kidās age or kids).
The same goes for family time. You will not be pulled back into work when working with a boss or clients, except in extreme situations. And if youāre being asked to put out many fires while off the clock, then itās time to re-affirm boundaries in your work relationships.
4. DonātĀ multi-task
For many decades, societyĀ told us we could do it all and all at once.Ā Perhaps youāve bought into this while building a home-based business.
Science doesnāt agree with multi-taskingās popularity.Ā You may already realize theĀ hours you spend multi-tasking are very unproductive and leave you wondering what you got done today.
ToĀ stay sane working from home with kids this summer, youāll need to:
- Set some boundaries.
- Schedule your time so you can focus on one thing.
- Avoid switching between tasks (including social media feeds) when trying to work.
Of course, this is easier said than done when the kids are out for the summer, which is why your summer work-at-home with kidsĀ plan is so important.
5. Teach kids to play creatively
This is one of our favourite tips. ItĀ encourages kids toĀ entertain themselves rather than expecting others always to give them something to do.
Playing independently is an important skill, but it looks different at each age.
Babies canĀ enjoy time spent rolling around on a floor mat or play pin next to yourĀ kitchen table workspace without you needing to hold them all the time. This works well even if you create yourĀ home office in a small space.
ToddlersĀ need lots to play with. Keeping many toysĀ in aĀ dedicated space can free your mind from worrying about what theyāre playing with.Ā When they try to show you something, redirect them back to independently entertaining themselves.
YoungĀ ones can reach and find things to do when left to their own devices all week. Older kidsĀ may stay outside with friends and āsee the worldā, coming in only for water and food. Talk with them about goingĀ into other rooms or outside to stay busy while you finish your work.
6. Buy age-appropriate learning toys
Children who play without guidance a lotĀ can easily find things to do that are free.Ā But some kids need more direction because they donāt creatively gravitate towardĀ kidsā activities.
This can wreak havoc on your work time.
While extra cost isĀ involved, you can plan for summer by purchasing a learning technology game for each child. We hope itās a quiet one!
This game serves a dual purpose.Ā It keeps them engaged in learning during the schoolĀ break. Technology can also keep a child playing aĀ quietĀ time activity for quite a while.
Since you are concerned about screen time, youāll want to have other none-screen activities, but having a learning technology in your summer working mom toolbox.
As far as your daily schedule goes, make thatĀ conference callĀ and video align with nap times and otherĀ long periods of quietĀ when the children stay engaged with theirĀ quiet learning technology.
8. Make outdoor play easierĀ withĀ strip curtains, etc.
When encouraging older children to play outside, theyāll undoubtedly come in and out. Itās what they do.Ā TheyāreĀ opening doors wideāletting all those summertime flies inside to buzz around you while you try to work, not to mention the hot air.
Here are some ideas to makeĀ working and living with this less of a stress.
Set up a water station outside and talk to them aboutĀ getting what they need before going out. When they do need to come in,Ā strip doorsĀ effectively reduce the insects that get through the open door.
Some final thoughts
Summertime presents unique challenges for work from home parents. You need a clear plan to survive with your sanity. But with some minor changes, you canĀ stay sane working from home with kids this summer.