The World Health Organization announced the coronavirus outbreak a pandemic and turned the lives of every individual around the globe upside down.
Things are changing rapidly and consistently, and a large section of us have seen our daily monotonous schedules flipped around. An ever-increasing number of workplaces are permitting or requiring remote work, while schools and daycares are closing, “social distancing” restrictions and lockdown imply that entire families are abruptly spending a whole lot more time at home together.
That suggests that many working parents are confronting an exceptional circumstance: telecommuting and working from home with kids and without access to the camps, babysitters, playdates, and even Grandma dates that you may normally depend on to get through a school break, holiday or a snow day. While most parents have worked from home with their kids for the occasional sick day or weather-related school closure, the prospect of doing so for weeks on end amid long-term school closures is especially intimidating.
Working from home with kids stuck inside due to lockdown for an unexpected period is still unchartered territory. It is scary and we all are still figuring it out. It will not be smooth or perfect or easy, yet there are a couple of strategies you can use to make your new situation somewhat simpler and productive. We have put together some real-world tips from telecommuters and remote workers who have adjusted to successfully balancing their career and children in close proximity to help you get through this tricky and challenging moment.
1. Be clear with communicating your expectations and problems
Clear communication and correspondence are, evidently, an essential part of any activity or job. Face to face or remote, letting your boss and your team know what you are working on and what you are battling or, rather, struggling to balance with can help make your activity somewhat easier and simpler.
Be that as it may, when you add children to the blend, suddenly work is not so easy. Ensure you proactively communicate with your boss and team that you have children at home and that you cannot guarantee that each discussion or conversation will be sans interference. With any luck, you can work smartly so you can help your children when they need you or your help and work when they are occupied with their own activities or games.
Additionally, do make sure that when you are talking with anyone—inside or outside your organization—you give them a heads up at the start of the call. Thus, when an argument about the remote-control work situation gets somewhat out of control, no one is surprised at the ruckus your children might be making in the background.
2. Be upfront with your children
Communication with your children is also very important in these circumstances. Before starting your work discussion or meeting, have an upfront conversation with your kids. Make sure they understand that you would be busy for a certain period and would prefer if they maintained silence or discipline till then and only reach out to you if they need your help.
If your children are too young to understand your situation, then either put on their favourite television cartoon channels or games to keep them occupied. If this trick does not work, then maybe the next tip might be helpful.
3. Be creative and split your schedule
Take a look at what you have that is generally most essential to not be hindered or interrupted for and plan to schedule your most engaging/dependable activities for the children to be all alone on their own during that time.
In case you have got a partner, the chances are pretty good that your partner is also home with you. What is more, on the off chance that you both are working from home, you are both facing a similar issue. How and where you complete your work when there is not enough workspace and too many individuals are now depending on how you split your schedule to accommodate each other, your kids and your work. You might consider switching to working in shifts so that one can look after the kids while the other works for four to five hours and vice versa. When the kids are tucked safely in bed, then both of you might get little more work done.
Although it will likely be uncomfortable and difficult to at least some degree, it’s worth the challenge, and we appreciate your effort and commitment.
ABL Recruitment team
