How to work from home with kids without going crazy
HOW TO WORK FROM HOME WITH KIDS
With schools closed many parents have to now balance work life, parent life and even teaching all at once. You probably know how tough that is if you’re here looking for tips on how to work from home with kids without going crazy. Balancing so many different tasks at once can make you feel like you’re losing your mind. But, I’m here to tell you that there’s a few things you can do to have less stressful days and to keep your routine on track.
I’m currently working from home with a little one and at first, it was really hard to adjust to the new schedule. I was having trouble getting anything done and I wasn’t managing my time wisely, it was really starting to affect me mentally. It felt like 24 hours a day was not enough time to get work done and be a mom at the same time. I was really going crazy. Until I decided to stop and really think one day, of little things I could do to make my days less stressful. Creating a list and implementing that list into my daily routine made a huge difference. Suddenly, I was able to sit on my desk for a few hours and finally get work done. I’m so happy that I thought of this list because I finally feel like I can breathe. This list consists of 10 simple tasks you can do through out the day that will literally lift weight off your shoulders. Keep reading to learn how to work from home with kids without going crazy.
HOW TO WORK FROM HOME WITH KIDS WITHOUT GOING CRAZY
Working from home with my little one is probably one of the toughest things I ever had to do. But, thanks to the 10 tips mentioned below I’ve been able to have easier and less stressful days. Let’s take a look at them.
1. COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR PARTNER
It’s so important to communicate with your partner about the day’s plan. Especially if you’re both working from home. If you talk and create a plan for the day you guys can take turns watching the kids. Team work makes the dream work lol! Seriously.
2. DO YOUR CHORES IN THE MORNING
Is it just me or you just can’t get work done when the house is dirty? When I try to sit and work with a dirty house I can’t concentrate because all I hear is the broom and mop calling my name. If get your chores out of the way in the morning you will no longer have to think about them the rest of the day.
3. MEAL PREP
Imagine having to cook 3 times a day, every day. Sounds awful doesn’t it? I used to do it, I’d be in the kitchen for hours a day. Until I had the genius idea to start meal prepping. Now I only cook every 2-3 days and I use the containers above to keep food fresh. I can’t tell you how much time meal prepping has saved me. All you need is 1-2 hours of a day to make a couple different meals for the next few days.
4. TAKE BREAKS
It’s so important to give yourself a break every few hours when you’re working from home with kids. You might want to use up every minute that you can to get work done but, you must know that mental health is more important. It’s also good to give your eyes a break, starring at the computer too long can dry your eyes and can even cause more serious eye problems.
5. KEEP KIDS BUSY
If you want to be able to work from home with kids you have to figure out a way to keep them busy. Maybe with games or crafts. I’ve mentioned a few simple activities to keep your little ones busy, make sure you have a few set up for the day because kids have short attention spans and they will get bored fast.
6. GET YOUR KIDS TIRED
I’m sure your kids wake you up super early so why not take advantage of that time you have before work and use it to tire them out. Play with your kids, maybe take them out for a walk or go to the park and let them run and play. When they get back home they’ll be calm and quiet and probably go right back to bed.
7. SCREEN TIME
I know a lot of parents hate to give their kids screen time, I hate it too. But, sometimes I have to do it in order to get some work done. It’s our last resort though, I’ll give it to him if he’s still acting crazy after I’ve tried to keep him busy with toys and different activities.
8. TAKE A CHILL PILL
Sometimes you just have to chill and let them do whatever they want as long as it’s nothing dangerous. Let them swim in the fish tank, as long as you can still see them LOL! Just kidding. But seriously, take a chill pill and just work. Clean up the mess later.
9. KEEP YOUR KIDS FED
Keep your kids fed so they’re not asking you for food while you’re in the middle of something important. This will be easy if you’re doing #3 because all you’ll have to do is warm up food and then you can go back to work.
10. COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR KIDS
Communicating with your children is just as important as communicating with your partner. I know it’s hard to believe at times, but kids actually understand what you’re saying. It’s important to treat kids as adults and have conversations with them about how important it is for them to let you work. Remember to always use language that they can understand and make instructions and requests as simple as possible.
TIPS FOR WORKING MOMS
Working with kids at home is not easy at all. It’s stressful, and no matter what you do to keep them quiet and busy, you’re still going to have to deal with some yelling and crying, or even fighting if you have more than one kid. So, just remember this…
You’re working hard as well, you’re living the mom life, work life and probably the teaching life too all at once.
Take a break FOR YOURSELF
Make that drink !
Do a face mask
Do yoga
Meditate when the kids are sleeping.
Self care is so important, especially during these tough times. I know it’s the perfect time to get work done when the kids are sleeping, but it’s also the perfect time for you to relax. Balance everything out and don’t forget about yourself!
OMG I love the fish tank thing. I started dying laughing but meal prep has saved me so many times.
These are great ideas! I am definitely going thru this right now with my 2 year. Working at home and watching her is a struggle!
You guys are so cute! The fish tank is hilarious! I definitely feel you on all these points though!
The fish tank picture got me too lol I had to use it ! And thanks 🙂
The fish tank!! 😂😂 i agree, communicating with your hubby is so important and can help a lot.
Yesss, it has helped us both much. Working with a little one is hard!
These are great tips. I’ve fallen into the “let them do whatever they want” category plenty of times because I know this is stressful for them too.
I fall into it all the time, I also hate having to say “no” so much. I just let them do what they want as long as they’re not doing anything crazy.
It is so hard to work from home with kids, especially the younger ones. These are great tips!
Yes it is so hard, but doing the tips mentioned above have made it a little less stressful for sure.
These are great tips! It is stressful no matter what it’s just a matter of how much of that stress you can minimize with distractions for our kids.
I completely agree with what you said. It will be stressful no matter what but if you keep them distracted its a win win situation. They’ll be entertained and you’ll get work done!
These are great tips! I’ve been workng from home with kids for many years now and having a routine definitely helps. Also, taking plenty of breaks so you can spend time with your kids and unfry your brain, lol.
I often take breaks because I find myself just starring at the computer sometimes, my head starts to hurt, my butt gets numb from sitting down and I can’t even concentrate anymore. After the break I feel a lot better and I am able to get right back to work.
I thought I was the only one!! Working from momma for the first time ever – in a position that isn’t meant to be remote – and it’s insane some days! I have been trying to do better with meal prepping on sunday – even though most weekends I am dragging my feet but thanking myself come Monday and Tuesday when we can have leftovers!! Lol. Thanks for sharing this!
Oh wow I am sorry you are struggling. I know how hard it can be, I am also working from home with a little one for the first time. Meal prepping does help a lot because cooking can take up so much time.
These are great tips! My husband gives me breaks at certain times of the day so I can get things done. It’s so hard right now!
Yes it is hard, I hate that everyone is struggling right now. I hope things get back to normal soon! 🙁
This was great. So this sounds crazy but for some reason my brain has never thought to meal prep for being at home. Right now I am temporarily at home due to Covid and I would meal prep for work everyday. Since we have been home we have fallen out of our normal routine. Thank you for sharing.
I used to meal prep for the gym then thought it would be a great idea to do it now that were all working from home to save some time. It’s such a good idea.
These are great tips. I am trying to get a hang of working from home with kids.
I am still trying to get used to it too, it’s so tough but luckily I’ve found ways to make it less stressful.
I have a one year old to entertain while working from home. Routines really work for her!
I’m glad that’s working for your little one, they work for my baby too!
I’ve really been utilizing the breaks and the meal prep strategies more than normal and it truly does make a difference!
Break are so important !
I’m currently living this life. I have a 2 year old and a 6 years old and meal prep has saved my entire life. We love w good movie time out as well.
Love this! It can be super challenging to work from home with kiddos and this is a great list.
Thank you 🙂
Activities definitely help a lot, but I found it was a full time job to figure out new exciting ones everyday until I had an aha moment to change up the same activities but convince my 14-month-old that they were new. (I actually just posted about it today on my blog so I won’t re-write it here). I worked from home by myself for nearly the first year of my son’s life and sometimes the ONLY way to get something done was to feed him a snack. I thought I was the only one!!
Danielle from Whether the Storm Blog
I will go take a look at your blog cause I’m curious to know how you convinced your little one that they were new activities lol
These are great tips for working at home with littles! The fish tank made me literally laugh out loud. 🙂
We’re still getting used to the changes. It definitely hasn’t been easy for us at all.
Hasn’t been easy for us either! It’s a struggle but finding way to keep the kids busy helps so much.
Great tips and a good read. Working from home can be a real struggle. These things definitely help.
Helpful tips for the many parents who find themselves working at home with their little ones during the pandemic. Keeping a schedule, planning meals and having activities planned ahead are all key.
Yes they are !
I love this article so much. This is so encouraging!
i know from experience its really hard to work from home with the kids
Thank you I’m glad you liked it 🙂
Great ideas and advice that I will be sure to incorporate ❤️
Thank you !
My kids are older now and much easier to deal with while working at home. But I remember well the struggles of working with little ones by my side.
You’re so lucky. Can’t wait until my little one is old enough to go play outside by himself haha
Great tips!
It is harder than I thought it would be.
It is hard, but just do whatever you can to keep them busy, and take breaks, we need our breaks!
I loved this! The kid swimming in the fish tank is hilarious! I’m a SAHM trying to build an at home business, so it’s definitely difficult. Right now I’m also schooling one at home so my poor 2 YO is getting far more screen time than I prefer. But it’s got to get done somehow…
Exactly ! I don’t like screen time either but it has helped me keep my kid entertained for a while.
Great tips for working from home. I think the biggest take away is don’t expect to have a large block of time to do anything work related. Because kids have short attention spans, we get frequently interrupted. And so much yes for not waking your kid from a nap. I never wake mine because I enjoy the free time so much. And it’s my productive time, so don’t want to cut into that.
That’s right! Let them sleep as much as they want and get your work done! Nap time is when we finally get to work without interruptions, I agree.
These are great points. It’s best to take it in stride.
So many great tips for the babies. I love it! My biggest balancing act was juggling working and virtual school while also trying to potty train my 18 month old. Having some sort of meal prep done would have saved me tons of time.
Oh wow that sounds tough! Good job momma you’re doing great ! I’m about to start potty training my 1 year old, hoping he gets it quick.
i have two teens, and we are all learning together to make working-from-home work
and that fish tank 🙂
I like your tip about communicating with them. Sometimes we underestimate how much kids understand, and often times when I’m honest with my child about what today’s deal is, she often gets it.
That’s so true. Sometimes I laugh because I know my kid understands me but sometimes decides not to listen. I know they’re just kids but they’re so smart.
It’s so difficult doing everything at home with little to no breaks. These are great tips to help all those out there working from home.
Very true! And thank you.
First of all, you and your son are so adorable together. I melted when I saw the sleepy photo! And I love all these tips. It’s so hard to stay sane when we cannot get out of the house let alone have routines, school and a break from each other. I found myself nodding my head to every single one of these. Thank you for sharing! And I love how you ended with self-care. I got shingles at the beginning of this so I really suffered but am now making exercise a priority again. It’s helping me so much!
Yesss! We matter too!! I forgot about myself for a while to be honest. I recently started to take breaks, pamper myself and exercise and it feels great. I feel a lot better throughout the day now.
So we actually have fish tank too! lol hahah. The only time I can actually get some work done is late at night!
I actually manage to get my kid to quiet down sometimes by keeping him busy with different activities. I know a lot of parent try to avoid screen time but, that one has helped me big time. Try anything and everything because we have get work done!
Great tips. Simple but hard. Though it doesn’t mean it cant be done.
Yes I agree!
Great post! Meal prep always helps make the day less stressful.
Exactly! And saves you so much time!
This is definitely a challenge! Working with kids at home means so many distractions. These are great tips.
Thank you !
In these times, your tips are needed more than ever. Great list of tips, I find that teamwork between my husband and I helps so much! I don’t always take the time to switch off and take a break with the kids but when I do we all feel happier for it! Great list when working from home with kids, thanks!
Same here, my partner helps so much but I don’t always just take time to myself, but when I do I get so much work done and I feel less stressed.
OMG where was this article when I had to work from home??? There’s so much great info here!
I agree to take breaks this helps me on a daily basis
Yea, you need to take a break. Sometimes, I start stressing out and I can’t think. And after taking a break, I feel a little better and I’m full of ideas.
Normally my youngest doesn’t nap, but we’ve been able to play outside in the back yard more and so we’ve been using your “wear them out” tip and it’s working, he’s started napping again!
My little one stopped napping for a few days and I was like, oh no I have work to do lol ! So, I started to tire him out with activities and now he’s take 2 naps a day haha I love it!
Meal prep is so amazing to save time during the week.
I agree ! It can save you hoursssss!
i’ve always worked from home with my son – meal prep is a huge help
I’m glad that’s working for you, cooking can be so time consuming.
It’s so hard mama! I feel you with my 3. Hang in there it sounds like you are doing great!
Yes to all of this! Ive always been working from home for the last decade almost, but I’ve been lucky that I only really had one child home at a time. Now with my school aged one home full time, while I have my toddler and work – it definitely hasn’t been easy. Love your advice about truly communicating with them and actually taking breaks with them (and also by myself). Those little pockets of time spent is so worth it, and it gives them that boost they need to do a little more of their independent stuff too. Great post!
Wow you are lucky lol I don’t want to have more kids until my little one starts school. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to have 2 or more kids running around while you are trying to work from home.
Great post, generally work from home with the availability of kids is not easy! your article is fulfilling the realtime need of many peoples, during this time your tips are helpful for all of those who are working from home….!
I work from home and I totally agree with all the tips that you shared. It is a must that she still take breaks and this is the reason why opt for work that has a flexible schedule or projects that are not hourly but simply output-based so that I can have full control our my time.
Working from home can be such a challenge when you have kids. These are good tips to be able to be efficient.
Thanks!
I forgot to give time for myself sometimes. Thanks for reminding me to take care of myself too.
I forget about myself too but self care is so important keep reminding yourself that you matter too <3
These are great tips. There definitely very helpful during these times. You guys are so cute, and your son is absolutely precious. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you 🙂