Caring for children while working from home can make productivity challenging, but there are ways you can boost it without needing outside help.
Utilize a timer to block off distracting apps during periods of concentration, and take breaks between each task (like with the Pomodoro Technique).
1. Plan Your Week Ahead
Experienced work-from-home parents understand the value of planning ahead. From meal prep and virtual playdates, to thinking ahead to your week’s events and tasks, planning ahead can help keep you focused and productive.
Ashley advises identifying high-energy times and scheduling tasks during those periods. Also be sure to allocate enough time for self-care and rest.
Make a plan taking your preferences and tendencies into consideration; trying to meet a deadline while caring for children may not be realistic. Give yourself plenty of time and experiment with various approaches until finding one that works well for you.
2. Set a Schedule
Even experienced work from home professionals may struggle to juggle both parenting and work-related responsibilities during an outbreak. Establishing a routine can help get them back on track and focus on their goals.
This could involve scheduling time exclusively for business-related tasks and sticking to that timetable as much as possible, or setting an alarm timer for screen usage and restricting apps that could become distracting.
Parents of younger kids may find it easiest to put them all in one room and let them play with toys while you work, with a dedicated workspace for yourself also offering additional advantages.
3. Set a Goal
Work from home (WFH) parents must set both short-term and long-term goals when working from home (WFH). Prioritize tasks accordingly and employ productivity hacks in order to stay productive.
One effective strategy used by many WFH parents is scheduling their most challenging tasks first thing each morning to reduce procrastination and get started on what matters.
Another strategy is to work in shorter bursts, ideally with your kids nearby, to meet deadlines more efficiently and meet them on time.
4. Set a Target Date
Setting a target date can help ensure you meet deadlines. It forms part of the SMART goal framework and helps determine if a task has been accomplished or not.
As an example, if you’re working from home during a pandemic and need to write a blog post, setting a target date for publication will keep you accountable and motivated as well as help prioritize tasks using productivity hacks such as time tracking.
5. Set a Budget
Work-from-home parents face unique obstacles when it comes to productivity. From piles of laundry that need folding, to distractions like an energetic child using your workspace as their new playpen, there can be plenty of things that take their attention away from what needs to be accomplished.
Make sure that if you’re working from home during COVID-19, be open and honest about your circumstances with your colleagues. Request early morning or evening calls, as well as tools like dictation apps that allow for working around children.
6. Pay Yourself First
Working from home can be challenging when you have children. Balancing deadlines with child care arrangements may feel impossible at times, but there are smart strategies you can use as a work from home parent that will allow you to be productive.
Ashlyn’s productivity hack involves planning her week in advance to meal plan and stay organized, which makes working easier when she has her hands full with family obligations.
Productivity means something different to everyone; so find what works for you!
7. Take a Break
As you attempt to balance work and life responsibilities, sometimes there just aren’t enough hours in a day to accomplish everything that needs to be done. Prioritize tasks accordingly and utilize productivity hacks for maximum efficiency.
Limit distractions by setting a timer, using the Pomodoro technique or working 15 minute increments with short breaks between. Furthermore, apps designed to block distracting websites during worktime may also come in handy.
If you find yourself too often watching television, try hiding the remote from yourself or asking your partner or roommate to do it for you. Disconnecting WiFi may also prove effective.
8. Keep a Journal
Stephanie has discovered that setting a regular routine has helped her stay productive while working from home with children. She suggests getting up early, preferably before your kids, and using that time either to finish off an important task or get organized for the day ahead.
She also suggests creating a time-blocked schedule and being realistic about your tendencies. If morning isn’t your preferred time of day, scheduling the most essential tasks there won’t work for you. A journal can be an effective way of unloading everything that’s on your plate onto paper while clearing away mental clutter.
9. Take Care of Yourself
Take care in taking care of yourself as a work-from-home parent is of utmost importance. This includes getting enough rest, minimizing distractions and interruptions, prioritizing tasks according to their impact and setting appropriate boundaries around what tasks should be undertaken and when.
If you find that number crunching is something you do well when working in an organized workspace, use the Pomodoro technique to manage your time and maximize productivity. It can help break through procrastination.
Reduce distractions by setting aside specific times for apps that bleep or notify you, and closing windows that don’t serve any useful function in your workflow.
10. Set Limits
Productivity is an intricate concept that encompasses numerous factors, from work environment and personal motivation, to hacks and productivity strategies marketed as quick fixes. Although some strategies might offer immediate results, real change requires dedication to alter old habits while being open to exploring various approaches.
One of the key components to improving productivity is eliminating distractions. You can do this using tools such as Freedom App to block specific websites or screen time management apps to keep yourself from getting sidetracked by social media or gaming, working in different locations can provide extra stimulation for the brain, etc.
