4 Things Parents Working From Home Need to Remember to Stay Sane
Trying to work at home with children all while maintaining some semblance of sanity? If so, you deserve a medal! Parenting is hard enough without a lockdown and pandemic thrown into the mix. Before you throw your hands up in defeat, try putting a few of these work-life balance tips from Just Add Cloth to work in your self-isolating household:
More Screen Time is Perfectly Okay!
If you’re like most working parents, your kids are spending more of their time staring at screens. But you shouldn’t feel guilty about that! In fact, here’s what the experts say:
- Quality matters more than quantity when you allow your kids to use screens in lockdown.
- As long as your kids are learning or playing educational games, more screen time is fine.
- Of course, you’ll need a powerful internet connection that can handle the extra work.
- You’ll also want to follow APA recommendations and restrict screens for younger kids.
Dedicated Work and Study Spaces May Help
Screens can keep your kids busy so you can stay productive. But it can still be hard to focus when kids are playing in the same room. Here’s how you can minimize distractions:
- Set up a home office in a room with a door to provide separation from distractions.
- If you don’t have an extra room, you can set up a living room workspace against a wall.
- When you can’t escape the kids, a good set of noise-canceling headphones can help.
- You may also want to create a study station for kids who are trying to learn at home.
But Clear Boundaries are Even More Effective
Even if you have a door, there’s nothing to stop your kids from running into the room and interrupting your Zoom meeting, right? That is, unless you use these tips to set boundaries:
- To prevent interruptions from your children, start by establishing a schedule.
- Think about writing down your family’s schedule to remind your kids of the rules.
- Also set boundaries with your employer and let them know when you’re unavailable.
- Last but most certainly not least, give yourself boundaries for more work-life balance.
Self-Care Shouldn’t Be Negotiable Right Now
When you’re balancing work, kids, home school, and a global pandemic, self-care is essential. You also have to find ways to fit self-care into a packed schedule. Try using these tips:
- Remember that there are several different types of self-care and each is crucial.
- You can practice physical self-care in lockdown by preparing nourishing meals.
- Reaching out to a friend or loved one for support is a form of emotional self-care.
- Planning some quality time with your family is a great way to enrich relationships.
It’s tough being a working parent right now. You can make it a little easier by planning out your routines, creating dedicated focus spaces, and establishing clear boundaries around each. Also, remember that letting your kids use screens is okay, and giving yourself time for self-care is crucial. Most important of all, be kind to yourself! You’re doing the best that you can.
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