Every day can be a day when you have to stay at home and work, whether it’s due to strikes, the little ones getting sick or the weather.
That’s why we’ve created a list of suggestions and tips that can help you in these situations, because we’ve been there too, and so we know all about your “suffering”.
Teleworking has become more common with COVID-19
The first reaction of parents to this is
Wait a minute, working from home with children? That might not work!”
At least that’s what the person writing these lines thinks. If you have kids full of energy, who usually spend it at school with their friends, it’s a total no-brainer to know what to do to entertain them at home while you work.
With no one to pay 100% attention to them, to force them to spend that energy playing rolling around on the floor or running around the living room, it’s not easy for a kid of this age to stop for a little nap.
And forcing them to do so is out of the question. It’s the equivalent of trying for at least two hours, with no guarantee that he’ll fall for the “oh my” song.
My experience at home
With two parents teleworking, you’d think everything would be easier, right? No! If you don’t set timetables, everything will tend to get even worse. Let’s consider the following scenarios:
Can the grandparents help?
If mobility conditions allow and the grandparents live nearby, their help can be a lifeline! However, you need to consider the safety of the journey if, for example, the reasons for staying at home are inclement weather, especially in the event of ice, snow or floods.
If they can help, remember that even when grandparents are present , parents should still intervene whenever possible, especially at mealtimes and when changing shifts.
Can parents telework shifts?
In my experience here at home, this is the best way to telework without going crazy. However, it requires a lot of discipline.
Let me warn you that it won’t be easy at first. As most of us aren’t used to sharing our homes for work, there have to be a few rules to make everything work almost perfectly:
- Define a work schedule: while I focus on my daily tasks, my wife is taking care of the little one (playing, watching TV, playing, learning, going for a walk near the home area if time permits, etc.), and then the other way around. If possible, define who can stay in the morning so that the other can look after them in the afternoon. It’s difficult gymnastics, but I’m sure you’ll find the best solution.
- Not all homes have the ideal conditions for us to isolate ourselves to work, without anything distracting us: here at home we define the living room as a common area and where we spend the most time with our son, so our solution was to turn the bedroom into an adapted office: the chest of drawers became a desk, to which we added a chair from the kitchen. It seemed perfect. But the truth is, as you’re confined between the four walls where you usually sleep, sooner or later you may feel a little desperate. So make sure the room you choose as your temporary office has good natural light and take five-minute breaks. Or take as many as you like so that you don’t turn this space into a prison. And this is very important. If you start to feel trapped, move to another room or try out new arrangements in your new office. Anything goes if you want to feel comfortable.
- Working in the same room, you’re sure to hear shouts: “Tiago, don’t move. Tiago put down the TV remote. Tiago get off the table.” They’re never quiet and the important thing here is to never lose patience. It will happen. It will happen many times. But always remember that the little ones are not to blame for anything. So I advise you to get that into your head once and for all.
- When it’s your shift, make sure nothing disturbs you: wear headphones and listen to music (so you don’t hear the shouting), and try to abstract yourself as much as possible, focusing completely on your work. After all, you really have to get used to new circumstances, don’t you?
Essential tips for any “forced” teleworking
The following tips are intended to help you in a teleworking environment and work in all circumstances, whether you have children or are working from home without company.
- Daily routines are a must:
- In addition to setting a work schedule, exactly as if you had to go to the office, make sure you keep up your routines, namely setting your alarm clock at the same time (or a few minutes later, but without overdoing it). Shower, eat breakfast and dress as if you were leaving the house. Never, ever let yourself be tempted to work in your pajamas.
- Watch your diet:
- It’s not because you’re at home longer that you should stop respecting mealtimes. Avoid snacking as much as possible and take advantage of this time to make your own food. You’ll find it’s good to relax a bit.
- Take care of your body:
- Sitting for too long without ever getting up is not now, nor has it ever been a good decision. Every 30 minutes get up, go to the kitchen for a glass of water or a coffee, do 10 push-ups, deep down, stretch your bones. Never spend too long in the same position.
- Keep your workplace organized:
- Nobody likes a disorganized desk. Make sure you have everything you need to work by hand, in a more optimized and efficient way.
- Keep talking to your coworkers:
- Video calling apps are one of the best tools for keeping in touch with your team. Make sure you talk to them – remotely – at least once a day. You’ll see that it will make you stronger mentally.
When many of these tips don’t work, because there are always constraints, you always have the option of using the evening hours – when the kids are asleep – to bring some work forward to the next day.
But this is not at all our best recommendation. However, we know that it’s not always easy to maintain a productive working environment.
Thanks and happy teleworking 😉
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