2.
The MAMA (or PAPA) of All Trades
Not only are you working from home, you’re also the teacher-extraordinaire, CFO (Chief Family Officer, thank you VERY much), in charge of home-schooling/daycare, meal-planning, and keeping life going: for everyone.
Ohhh and you’re expected to keep your job and/or business running.
No doubt, this is a stressful time and there’s a lot going on. Here are some tips and tricks to help you while working from home.
Here are potential pitfalls to look out for as a MAMA (or PAPA) of All Trades:
You’re so busy looking after everyone else, you aren’t looking after yourself
You’re overwhelmed and reacting to what’s going on, instead of being proactive
You’re holding yourself to an impossibly high standard courtesy of social media (I see you, Pinterest!)
Here are some tips to be more productive and happy as a MAMA (or PAPA) of All Trades:
First, give yourself some grace. This stuff is hard, and trying to do it while also looking after children and family is a challenge.
Decide what absolutely must get done - for you, for your family and for your work - and release everything else.
Consider what’s going to work best for you and communicate with your partner. Remember, you’re on the same team (even if one part of the team still snores/chews too loud or doesn’t know how to put their socks away). Communicate, communicate, communicate. Check in daily, or mid-day, if you have to. Your family is looking to you as a role model: that doesn’t mean you have to be perfect (oh heckkkk no!) but instead, it means you’re CAPABLE of more grace, love, compassion and focus than you think.
Here are a few family-specific tips: Try what you think will work for your family and release the rest:
Set up a mini kid’s “office” or “desk” in your workspace. Give them an old laptop or keyboard, and phone. Or let them colour on your old work papers, use sticky notes, and “work” with you.
Trade work hours with your partner. One of you work for an hour or two, while the other takes the kids. Then, swap.
Set up a calendar for your kids and post it/communicate it with them. Let them know where and when you’ll be working, and when you will have family time. Set them up with activities, books, or movies to keep them learning or at least, distracted.
Consider which work activities you might be able to do easier with the kids around and which ones need more focus and organize your work day around that. For example, you might be able to easily post to social media, respond to certain emails or host some networking calls with your kids around, but doing creative or brain-intensive work - or recording a podcast - are better to do without the kids.
Work in shorter sprints - what can you do in 20 minutes? Or 10 minutes? Chunk down your work, and focus in whatever time you have.
Create three jars, and research activities to fill the three jars. Write activities on pieces of paper, and put them in the appropriate jars:
Things we do together when it’s raining/cold outside
Things we do together when it’s sunny
Things we do while mom/dad are working
Use Pinterest, Google, blogs, podcasts, and activities/movies/puzzles/anything you have around the house to add ideas
Get your family to help contribute ideas
Pull an “activity” from the jar when you want to do work and have it be special things your kids look forward to.
Bonus: There’s also fun ideas for when you’re stumped/bored/too tired to think of ideas for things to do together!
Here are the tips that work for pretty much everyone:
Build habits that work for you in your home and work-from-home space
Get dressed each day as if you are going to work. Shower, put on makeup if it makes you feel good, and set yourself up to feel good so you have the energy to take you through your day. It will also signify the “start” of your work day (which can be challenging when you work from home).
Create a separate space for your work. Even in a small apartment, you can use a nightstand, or a small table. Habits are formed partially through location: work-life balance and productivity will be reduced if you use the same space to eat, drink and work.
Avoid working in bed. Don’t check your phone, emails or laptop. Save your bed for sleep and sex.
Set up boundaries by communicating to family, friends, and roommates when you are working. Turn your phone on airplane mode while working so you don’t get distracted. Put up a sign outside your office door to let the kids know you’re working.
Plan your week, and plan your days.
Each week, spend 30-60 minutes and plan out what your priorities are for both work and life. Organize social get-togethers (even if it’s virtual), date nights (even if they’re at the house), and exercise. Grab this free weekly planner here: www.lisamichaud.com/weekly
Plan each day by starting with your top 3 priorities and knowing when your work will begin and end.
Work in sprints. Studies show 50 minutes time blocks are the most productive. Set a timer, and stop when the timer goes off. When the timer goes off, get up from your desk, move your body and stretch. Go to the washroom, drink water, and do NOT check your phone/emails.
Move your body often. Stretch at least every hour - your neck, shoulders, hips, and anything else that feels tight.
Eliminate as many distractions as possible. Put your phone away. Turn off notifications on your phone and computer. Let family/roommates/friends know when you’re working. Turn off the TV. Clear off your desk/area except for the one thing you’re focusing on.
Connect, connect, connect. Even if you thrive working from home, you will still benefit from some human interaction. Make an effort to go outside and get fresh air, connect for a virtual happy hour, or play an online game with friends.
Additional Resources:
Check out episodes 19, 20 and 21 of Goalden Girls Podcast for more resources on working from home
