Productivity is important, but it can be challenging to remain productive while working at home with kids. As I was writing this article, my three-year daughter was next to the plants reading a book while my two-year-old was preparing to take a nap. Seeing my children more has been a real blessing. But staying at home also brings about the challenge of remaining productive whether it’s finishing your work, budget, or managing your debt via a debt payoff app.
Maybe you are also agonizing about how to be productive while working from home and with your kids near you all the time. This article will help you with tips on remaining productive as you work from home with your kids around.
1. Be purposeful on the time you set aside for work
You know your habits more than anybody else; therefore, you are well-placed to design a suitable schedule. You might opt to handle some work before breakfast or go for a breakfast break and join your family before resuming work.
Why is it crucial to allocate time for disruptions? Well, your children might not get it that you need to take a 3 pm conference call, and it is the worst time to come begging you to tell them a story.
To be on the safe side, try as much as possible to arrange crucial meetings when things are quiet, for instance, when the kids are eating or sleeping. In case both you and your spouse work, make sure that you create a reliable work schedule. Most importantly, keep reviewing the schedule to ensure that it works well. Finding a perfect schedule is crucial, tools like these can be very helpful for other things going on during our lives. It is very important to be purposeful of the time that we set aside for work and essential tasks.
2. Ensure That you Take Breaks and Work Less Conventional Work Hours
As you work, it is advisable to be attentive. Adam Grant, in his New York Times article, wrote that ‘Attention management is the art of focusing on getting things done for the right reasons, in the right places and at the right moments.’ You may be in a “break” debt that could be similar to actual debt. According to a recent research study, Americans have a non-mortgage debt to income ratio of an astounding 49%. If we don’t take breaks like we don’t take care of our finances, we are in trouble. In such situation, you should go for free debt counseling to keep your finances on track.
To be more productive, taking breaks is essential. And if you have an understanding boss, you may decide to work less regular hours.
For instance, you can have some work done very early in the morning when the children are still asleep.
Or you can do that at night when they sleep. If you are the primary caregiver for the kids, you can get some work done when they are sleeping or spending less time during the daytime on work. What is important is to talk to your boss and prepare them for the situation. Make sure that your manager knows why you are not working at a particular time of the day before going to the boss.
3. Take Worthwhile Breaks to Spend Time with your Children
Your children need and deserve your attention. Now that you work from the house, it might be hard for them to understand you need to give the work every bit of attention. Fortunately, you can still be productive if you take breaks to hang out with your kids. Apart from your children loving the attention, there will be fewer disruptions and increased productivity when you resume work because you have given the kids their time.
In her article, Connect To Thrive, Emma Seppälä Ph.D. stated that ‘Social connectedness, therefore, generates a positive feedback loop of social, emotional and physical well-being.’
When you set time aside to interact with your kids across the day, both you and the kids will experience a constructive feedback loop of emotional, social, and physical well-being.
Conclusion:
Maybe you are working from your residence with your kids around, and you think that you will never be productive again. We believe that these guidelines will come in handy.
To be productive in the long run and have a great time with your kids, you should be purposeful with your time. Most importantly, you should schedule a few breaks and connect with your children.
