Working from home can be a great option for parents who want to give their children the best possible opportunities in life. But it can also be difficult to balance work and family. It’s a bit strange to think right? Even though there are positive working from home stats, it’s clear that working remotely, such as at home, doesn’t quite solve the issue of balancing work life, home life, and parenting. So, how exactly can it all be managed? How can you juggle remote work and still be a good parent? Here are some tips for working from home as a parent without losing your mind.
What Are The Pros and Cons of Remote Work for Parents?
If there is a positive to anything, there’s going to be a negative too. So, as a remote worker, who’s also a parent, what exactly are the pros and cons of it all?
The Pros:
– Flexibility: Remote work allows employees to take care of their needs without having to commute in order to get things done.
– Work/Life Balance: Working from home can help reduce stress levels, especially for parents who are juggling multiple roles at home and at work.
– More time with family: Whether your partner is working remotely, or the kids are arriving home early from school, remote work allows the parent to stay home and have quality time with everyone.
The Cons
-Less engagement: You’re sitting at a desk all day having video calls.
-You’re needing to entertain your child, such as utilizing coloring pages to keep the little ones busy
Of course, it’s going to vary from person to person on how they see all of this.
How To Manage Working Remotely And Parenting?
This is something that of course needs to be taken into action as well. When you’re home with the family, there are going to be more interruptions, maybe even more stress too. But there are some things that could help.
Set boundaries
If you have a home office, utilize it. Make sure you set clear boundaries with everyone in the household that you cannot be disturbed unless there are dire reasons for it. Create this boundary and stick to it.
Be realistic about what you can achieve
Can you properly parent your children, especially the little ones, while juggling eight hours of work each day? Is the schedule flexible? Can you manage meetings? These are all the things you need to think about.
Make sure you have support
You have to have a support system. If you have a partner, make sure that they’re helping with the children too. Even if you’re co-parenting, then the other parent has to help out. You can also consider daycare or even ask other family members for assistance.
Take breaks when needed
One issue that tends to happen to remote workers would be the fact that they often skip out on taking breaks only because they’re in the comfort of their own homes. You should absolutely embrace those breaks! It gives you the chance to spend time with family, do chores, eat home-cooked food, or even take a short nap.
