Over 10 million people in the United States are either stay at home moms or dads.
This is a large portion of people who are trying to adapt. Getting work done while also keeping their older children on task and tending to a baby can get overwhelming.
If you have recently started working from home and have a baby in the house, there are a couple of things you can do to make life easier for everyone.
Continue reading to discover all of the best tips for working with a baby from home so that you can be productive!
Change What Doesn’t Work
The first thing that needs to happen when working with a baby is to change and stop doing what doesn’t work.
Think about your current schedule. Are you staying up late and regretting it in the morning? Many moms and dads struggle to get sleep at night because of the baby, this is hard on new parents, but it becomes even more challenging while trying to work.
If you have a hard time focusing on work in the kitchen or living room because of all the distractions, look for another place to work. Even if you can’t think of a solution, write it down and get back to it later.
Set Goals
Once you have identified what isn’t working in your life, you can set large and small goals.
The goals you make should be attainable and reasonable. Try setting goals to get to bed early so that you can be refreshed in the mornings. You should try spending more time working throughout the day and finding solutions to keep your child content.
Every day, take time to write down tasks that need to be accomplished. You can work through the most important tasks first and then focus on minor details if you get the chance. By making daily goals, you can stay on task and avoid falling behind.
Create an Office Area
If you have space and the option to do so, it may help to create an office area for yourself.
Many people work better when they are sitting at a desk because distractions are limited and they are surrounded by what they need to get done. Clean off your desk and set it up like you would in your work office. This room will also be a perfect spot to take conference calls and video meetings.
Many people recommend installing a baby monitor to keep track of them while you work. You can check out these baby video monitor reviews to see if they will work for you. The best part about them, you can monitor your baby resting while getting paperwork done!
Move Around Your Schedule
Many parents are having to change up their schedules to get kids signed into virtual school and up for the day.
If you are noticing that your standard 9-5 day is being extended or starting late, you may have to adapt when you get work done. Sit down and think about all of the chunks of time that you have throughout the day, use these to get work done.
Although business hours may have ended, you can still take time after your normal ending time to catch up. Change bedtime or morning routines for your kids if you need to, but always be understanding that you will have to make adjustments as well.
Find Time for Yourself
Often, people working from home feel that they don’t get any time to themselves, which is likely true.
If you feel like you are waking up to either work or take care of a baby, and nothing else, you should put aside time for yourself. Neglecting to take care of yourself can lead to burnout and frustration. Both of these can impact your work and parenting. Talk to your partner about taking time for each other each day so that it is uninterrupted and restful.
Always remember, you must first take care of yourself before you can care for others.
Participate in Meetings
Working from home makes it difficult to communicate with other team members.
By opening up chats with them and communicating in meetings, you can all get on the same page and hold each other accountable. If you know other employees that have children too, you can talk to them about the advice they have with work from home.
The more alert you are on these calls, the more informed you will be about the status of your work. It is easy to fall behind when you don’t monitor the progress as a whole team.
Spend Money Wisely
As a new parent, you are likely to spend more money on toys and devices for your baby.
Instead of getting the most trendy boots for your baby this winter (when they can’t even walk), purchase a baby carrier or camera. Having a good baby seat is important. You can put them in the same room as you while working, without having to worry about them squirming on the floor.
Spending money on a camera or toys that keep your child distracted is also important. By getting quality items, you can monitor your baby and let them quietly play next to you.
Become a Pro at Working With a Baby From Home
Working with a baby from home has its challenges, but if you are prepared, you can make it work.
Baby monitors are perfect because you can watch your child from the office, but you should also invest in a baby seat so that they can be in the same room as you. Don’t feel guilty if your work schedule changes. There are many opportunities throughout the day for parenting and working, don’t forget to take care of yourself.
Try your best to get work done while the baby is napping or content. Over time you will be able to adjust to this new way of working.
Be sure to check out our blog for more articles about working from home and taking care of your family!
