orking at home is quite the juggling act. Work seems to follow me around where ever I go. Lacey throws tantrums at the mere open of a laptop. There’s no clocking off and leaving it at the office. It’s always there.
I thought it would be easier. I thought I would be doing laundry, mopping floors and maintaining a clean house. I thought I would have structured play times, and naptimes {for Lacey, not me}.
Instead I’m sometimes so busy, I miss lunchtime {I know, call me crazy!}. I’m constantly saying in a minute, just a sec or Mama has work to do, you’ll have to wait.
Do you work at home? Do you have any tips? As well, share any tips you have for work-out-of-home mums, and stay-at-home-mums?
I have no tips. I worked from home for a few years, whilst my three were all babies. It was OK when at least one of them was having decent daytime sleeps. But I gradually pushed all the work out to evenings when they were all in bed. Which in turn ate into “couple time”.
Eventually I had to give up….for everyones sanity.
(Sorry. I wish I could be of more help!)
I work from home too – and it's so much harder than I ever thought! It seems like the perfect solution – being there with your child all day and still earning money – and in so many ways it is.
But then there's the guilt stuff. My toddler (22 mths) also gets upset when I open my laptop, and will sit on my knee and hold my hands away from the keyboard. She'll plonk a story on top of the computer to distract me.
She's really good at playing by herself, but some days are better than others. Then it's extra work in the evenings and that's hard too (partly because I want to spend time with hubby, but also because my brain doesn't function after dinnertime!).
The biggest thing I've found that makes a difference is heading out in the morning to do something with my daughter. Going to the park, running around the backyard, even going to the shops, seems to satisfy her need for attention for a while. I also try to take regular breaks to read stories to her and build towers, all that sort of stuff.
And when things get too much? I'm lucky enough to have two sets of grandparents to call on!
oh yes my tips! have twins and more kids because they play with each other!
no, seriously, when I had my first I was doing no work from home and now I've never been busier with work and I have 3 at home!
I have wireless so the laptop comes out the back with me, they play in the yard and I sit on the doorstep with my coffee watching, talking and getting up as necessary! I work in blocks of time so we get good gaps in between, yesterday was crazy as I was in catch up mode so I put madagascar on and sat on the couch in between them all, they didn't even notice I was working. Another tip is I dont' do any work between say 4.30-7.30 but the laptop is one in case anything urgent comes in and I can quickly reply.
I basically have my laptop on all day but I'm not sitting down there all day. Start your day with a to do list that covers everything for work and home and cross things off as they come up! I live by these and you can always carry things over to the next day and add emails and things you say you'll do that week so you don't forget!!
good luck and just remember it's much better than being in an office – well for me it is so keep at it and find your own pace!
corrie:)
PS – Justine Clarke, the Wiggles and Play School also help me out! Unfortunately I don't like her watching more than one of those a day, but some days… it's a great backup for that extra half an hour or so.
i agree with megan.
i work from home and find it a real challenge, it seems so easy in theory but its not! there's that dreaded guilt to deal with – i try to reason that its better that he watches maisy or playschool for an hour whilst i get some work done than being in childcare the whole day.
getting out of the house and heading to the park or cafe or a walk just to spend some one-on-one time together (away from the computer) is a good idea too.
i don't work from home every day but do so once or twice a week. it is hard to find a balance and i try to remember that if i manage that day differently every time, it's ok. during the week i rely on the routine doing a lot of work. on days that i'm home it's out the door. i think it helps to embrace the idea that not every single item on the list is accomplished but that you're mindful about all your parts.
i have the ability to be in the office the other days so i try to plan ahead and try to make my day at home as “light” as possible. regardless, it's always a long day because i can't manage to do two things at once (sadly). i start in the wee a.m. hours and work post-kid | hubby time. i couldn't do it every day but it does keep me home more often than not.
i try to get the most important things done first. our witching hours are 4-7p (also) so I'm offline at that time.
thanks for posing the question. i'm learning a lot from the comments alone.
Great tips. I have 2 & I work in chunks as well, & do feel terribly guilty but we always feel guilty. I have at least one good activity a day with Hudson, one thats physical like the park. I also try rotate his toys so they look new all they time, & because he doesnt have a day nap but needs down time, Finding Nemo or Toy Story are great. It's very hard but I would rather personally be in this predicament than be in an office away from them, not that there is an issue with that. My friends do that as it works for them.
I agree with everyone – it's a very hard balance. I find that the balance tips different ways at different times (so not really balanced!). Sometimes it is a cleaner house and less work, other times the socialising almost completely stops, a bit more work is done but I am running to the local supermarket to grab a couple of things for the dinner because I haven't had time to plan it and get it. You are no superwomen so something has to give – and for me that varies week to week. Sometimes a lovely week, other times super stressful.
It was great when I had sleep time but my youngest has stopped that most days. I am finding this an extra challenge. Like Megan I am exhausted after dinner and can't do anything very productive.
I think lists, outsourcing (eg. home delivered milk and bread or groceries), letting some things go (at least for that week or so), accepting all offers of help for anything (but of course giving some back when you can too). BREATH!
Working from home is hard! I used to work from home before I had Riley and that was soooo easy. And I think working from home when she was a baby was much easier than trying to do it now that she's a toddler.
Riley's not much for playing on her own either. It's just not really her thing, so I've had to get creative.
I agree with Megan, that going to the park or something like that in the morning can do wonders for your day. When I take Riley out in the morning she's in a much better mood all day for having had a run around in the outdoors and she's also more likely to nap better in the afternoon.
Although, my situation is far from perfect and I really think that trying to squeeze in 4 hours a day of work (for me) is a bit much, and at the moment things are a bit crazy and I'm a bit pregnant so the TV is on all the time. Which I don't like, but given I'm only working for a few more months I'll just put up with it for the time being.
But, the best way I've found to combine working at home with house work and real work is to turn the house work into one-on-one play time. So, Riley runs around outside and plays in the backyard while I'm hanging out washing or helps me hang out the washing. When I'm doing the dishes, she stands on a chair and helps me do them – although for her it's more about bubbles. And I'll tend to break up my real work with that sort of stuff so I just work in one hour blocks and that seems to help too.
Of course, there are going to be days when she's snapping the laptop lid closed, clambering all over me and is just generally unwilling to let me get anything done.
And also? Riley has started holding up one finger and saying 'one minute' to me now. That's how often I tell her she has to wait.
I work away from home 4 days a week, 1 day from home a fortnight and I can't imagine working from home AND looking after the children. To be honest, I don't think that's fair on anyone. When I'm working from home it's like any other work day and the girls go to care and the boy goes to school. There they can get the attention they need and I'm not feeling frustrated and harassed. We can't do it all at the same time! Work From Home mums should consider care for their kids just as Work Away From Home mums do.
I take my hat off to all the work-at-home mums. I don't know how you fit it all in, I have my hands full with just one bub and keeping on top of housework.
I'm dreading going back to work next year, I just don't know how I'm going to manage. I'll be working 2 days one week and 3 the next. I used to work from 7.30am to about 5pm, then do a couple of hours work at home (I'm a teacher), but that just won't be possible next year.
I still want to be a good teacher, but I want to be a good mamma and wife too.
Keep the tips coming!
I work from home and don't have children – and I know all the working mums will probably just want to shake me, but I really find it hard to get things done! I left my job to work from home at the start of this year and I too thought I would have this immaculate house, I would have all the time in the world to do work, ride my horse as I wouldn't be getting home in the dark any more and have beautifully prepared meals ready every night. Instead I find I have work spread out over the entire house and I'm on my computer at 7-9pm while my partners on the couch where I used to be! Working from home is def different in reality.
I work at home and out of home and I gotta say the out of home stuff is easier. To be honest, I'm bad at it but am getting better. I agree that in a way, it's easier when they're a baby than with a toddler. You never walk away from it & I actually feel like I never have anything under control. I think a pretty good “routine” of when what is going to happen works the best though as it helps keep my mind more at ease with knowing what is to happen at what time and assuages my guilt in saying, “Please wait a minute, can you see Mama's busy”. I actually am struggling to find things to do to keep the Bebito occupied when I need to work other than tv! I don't think there's a magic bullet on this one Telle. Shame about that though! It's bloody hard work for sure.
I have worked at home, around my kids, for nearly 7 years. You'd think I have tips, but no. All I can say is get used to working at night. Cyberspace is full of mums clocking on at 8.30pm.
Well I am bouncing a toddler on my knee and typing with one hand right now which sums up my productivity today! Archie is sick so is being extra clingy and sookie and I am getting all the more desperate! I definitely agree with getting out of the house at least once a day, even if just to the supermarket. It breaks up their day and gives them something new to look at.
I don't get much done after midday but then when I pick my step-daughter up from school at 3.15pm they entertain each other so I get a bit more done then before witching hour begins. But yes it is normally 7.30pm when kids are in bed that I get a solid chunk done.
I have just quit my job after 12 months mat leave to work from home and as much as I am finding the balance a struggle, I would not want to go back to the office if you paid me 😉
Chantelle I totally know how you feel and unfortunately I don't think there is a magic cure…. I remember when I nannied and I couldn't understand how these parents didn't have time to put their washing away or do the dinner dishes I mean seriously how long can it take , I always had there houses spotless when they came home with dinner on the table and happy bathed children, well now that i work from home and have 2 kids of my own I laugh at how naive I was….. My house constantly looks like a bomb went off, dinner is never organised, we run out of groceries all the time, my most used line is “in a minute” which really means maybe I will get to it sometime this week if you are lucky, my kids are watching tv far more than I would like and generally I am running around trying to be super woman which I am definately not!!!! (unfortunately).
So this week I decided to ease my stress i have hired a cleaner, i am hoping that is one less thing I have to do and it might free up some more time for me to be a better mum/wife….
being a mum is super hard and add in work is even harder so i guess you just have to do the best you can and take all the help that is offered some days you will get heaps of work done and other days well they might not go so well but you have to do what works for you…. good luck i hope you find a magic cure. xx
Sorry to say I have no tips either… like the other girls, my work start when the boys are in bed – and on kindy days… I get the odd coupla emails done while Mr 4 is watching Diego but that's about it!!!! Craziness! X
I have no idea how you do it!
I have to actually be 'at work' or nothing would get done. I find too many distractions. I did my degree while my first son was a new baby and I would find myself cooking, cleaning or blogging instead of doing assignments.
It's a juggling act but I am sure you'll take it all in your stride. 🙂
Some days I do it well.
Some days I miss the mark.
You're not alone. xx
I know exactly what you mean and I kind of feel like I am giving everyone half of what they need. Thankfully my 2 older ones go to daycare 3 days a week but still it's really tough!
Chantelle, I work from home and I think it's by far the hardest thing I have ever done. I tried to follow all the sensible advice – you know, set aside time, get babysitters for 'work time', get dressed properly, etc. But for me, my full 'work day' seems to constantly shift, and the work creeps into every other day too – 20mins here, an hour there, a quick urgent whole morning there. So I don't always bave a babysitter, and the daily chores don't usually get done. I've also fallen into the trap of getting back on the computer at about 9pm and stumbling to bed bleary eyed after midnight just to get it all done so that I can *try* to have some quality time (un-conflicted!) with my babies the next day. It is so so hard. And every day I ask myself if I'm just making it worse for me, for my babies, and for my once clean and harmonious home. You'll get there though – you'll find some sort of groove that works for you. xx
I am a house kitten (or what my partner calls me). I am in charge of all that goes on while he goes and earns the cash. I have decided on this once we have agreed on our big life changing plan (moving countries for better opportunities for him). I have to say I enjoy it. I do get myself so busy sometimes I forget to eat. Or forget to do many of the things on the list. But then again tomorrow is another day, and I always do my tasks in the end….. and enjoy it 🙂
Both my husband and I work from home and it is a big challenge for both of us to get our work done each day. Generally one of us is with the kids in the morning and one in the afternoon, but that crams all our work into a few hours which isn't always the greatest. I think the hardest thing is to switch off. I feel like I'm always trying to squeeze a few minutes here and there in of work or getting something productive done in the house while instead I should be having some mom and kiddo time.
I have no tips other than just keep chugging along.
I feel your pain.
LOVE this image!