10 Tips to Manage Working From Home With The Kids Around

During school holidays or sick days when childcare isn't an option, looking after children at home is no easy feat - you're living entirely for them, having to plan each day meticulously around their timings and their needs. It can get overwhelming, even on the best of days. No matter how many toys and activities you prepare for them, most of the time all they need is you, and nothing else. Sometimes it's difficult to even figure out what exactly they need!

Throw in a job on top of this, and suddenly you're also having to work around managers, colleagues, and often clients' timings and demands too- a total recipe for disaster.

Thanks to the pandemic, flexible working is now much more widely accepted, and it's been so useful to have the option to work from home and tend to your children at the same time. Having said that, the rise of remote working has also made it much more difficult as sometimes, we end up putting pressure on ourselves to 'do it all' - resulting in a feeling of being neither here, nor there.

I still haven't mastered the art of working from home with the kids (will I ever?), and there are often days when I need to take a step back and let some things go, but over the years I've learnt a great deal about what to do on the days when I need to be a stay at home mum and a working mum, all at the same time.

Here are some of my best tips:

1. Simplify your day

It sounds like a no brainer, but this really is the most important tip I can give you - go through every single thing you 'need' to do each day and question whether it is absolutely necessary. Forget anything that can be done the next day or week when the children are back at school, and cancel any meetings or calls which aren't pressing or reliant on your attendance. Have realistic expectations about how much you can accomplish, celebrate the little wins and forgive yourself if things don't go to plan!

2. Communicate

Communicate with your manager and your team, being open and honest about your situation. Bring your whole, most authentic self to work and don't try to hide the fact that you're looking after your children. It will only come across as unprofessional if they suddenly hear your kids in the background of a meeting! Most people are very understanding when it comes to working from home with children around, particularly after the pandemic.

Communicate with your little ones too, explaining to them why you need to work and tell them that there will be times when you'll need to take some calls during which they should try and play quietly for that time - sometimes children just need to be involved and genuinely want to know what is happening.

P.S. This approach might not work as well with younger children and babies, but the more you involve them and talk to them from a young age, the earlier they will understand it and allow you to have that time when you need it.

3. Block out time for the children

When the children aren't at nursery or school, particularly when it's an unexpected (and inconveniently timed) sick day, it's so easy to expect them to magically fit around your work routine, independently play all day and allow you to carry on with your day as normal.

In practice, this never happens and you probably know by now, that these tiny humans don't stop until they have what they want. I've found that 'special time' really helps my children to feel like they are getting quality time with me, and that I'm not just half heartedly with them while working at the same time. The more your children feel connected to you, the more secure they will feel, and the more prepared they will be to let you focus on other things (albeit very briefly!). Remember: Connection breeds cooperation.

4. Don't be shy to ask for help

You've probably seen this tip in plenty of parenthood related blogs, but it's essential to understand that you are not alone. Look for all opportunities to make your life easier, and use them. Help can come in SO many different forms, whether it's from the Uber Eats delivery driver, a cleaner, or your parents coming to look after the kids for an hour.

Let go of any guilt or unworthiness that may come with asking for help- it doesn't make you any less capable, or less of a mother if you do so. If anything, it's a huge sign of strength, and one of the most valuable things we can demonstrate to our children- that we all need help sometimes, and it's okay to ask for it.

5. Pick your battles

It's going to save your day, trust me. On a day when you need to get work done, it's not the time to do anything that is out of yours or your children's comfort zones, e.g. potty/sleep training, making them eat any new foods, or cutting down on screen time etc.

If it means you having an easier work day and getting things done, let them have their screen time, let them have cereal for dinner, and whatever else it is that will take a load off your day- as long as it's something that you and your children feel comfortable with. This is temporary, and it will pass- don't beat yourself up for the way you manage difficult days. The most important thing is to get through the day and to fulfil your commitments at work, whilst also keeping your children happy. If both of these things get done, that's a win!

6. Have a designated work space

If you're lucky enough to have a separate office area in your house, this is ideal. It creates a boundary and gives your children a visual indicator of when you are doing your work and don't want to be disturbed. If having a separate room isn't an option, don't worry! There are still so many ways in which you can create a home workspace.

Here are my personal essentials:

• Choose somewhere with natural light and a clear background for video calls
• Work at a desk or table (NOT the sofa!) at the correct height and free from clutter
• Invest in a good quality, comfortable office chair
• Away from the loudest areas of the house, e.g. near a TV or washing machine
• Make it your happy place- plants, framed prints, stationery, anything that brings you joy and reminds you why you do what you do.

7. Set up an emergency activity

Have a fun activity planned or a specific toy that needs minimal supervision, and will only come out when you really need it, e.g. when your toddler walks in mid meeting and decides they've had enough.
Even if it's something really simple, it will provide a few minutes of novelty and distraction while you really need to focus or take an important phone call.

8. Make a lunchbox or snack buffet

When my children are home, I make them a lunchbox and a snack box in the same way that I would when they're at nursery/school. It saves me from constantly tending to their endless appetites, and it also makes them feel like they have autonomy to eat at their own pace with lots of variety.

One of my favourite snack boxes that gets me major brownie points is this one. You can fill it with dry cereal, nuts, fruits, chocolates, sweets, whatever you like- the compartments are small enough for them not to go overboard on the sweet stuff, and there's enough storage space to keep them snacking for a while.

9. Work in short bursts

All the best productivity experts swear that working for short bursts is far better than tirelessly working long hours. Taking frequent and well deserved breaks every so often is essential not only for your mind, but also for your body. Not to mention, working in short bursts fits in with mum life so much easier than long stretches!

A supposed magic formula for productivity is to set a timer for 48 minutes, work with absolutely no interruptions or distractions during this time, then to rest and take a break for 12 minutes. Of course, it's probably unlikely to have 48 minutes of completely uninterrupted time with children in the house, but it's a great guideline to have, particularly if your children are older and more independent.

10. Be flexible

I'm definitely not an advocate for working long hours, but depending on your job, it may be necessary to adjust your schedule slightly to accommodate for your tasks. Whether you're an early bird like me, or a night owl, be prepared to make up for any lost time while the children are asleep. Knowing that you have this time will allow you to prioritise your tasks and make the most of any pockets of free time during the day with the kids.

If your role is customer facing or team based, and working outside your contracted hours isn't an option, perhaps use the time to catch up on any housework. Get dinner cooked early, put a load of laundry on, or pack lunches for the next day. Do anything that your future self will thank you for, and trust me, she will!

And there you have it, my top 10 tips on working from home with the children around! There are so many different ways you can be productive while remote working, but remember that each family is so different. What works for you and your children may not work for others. But once you figure out what the magic formula is to managing both children and work at the same time, you'll be able to thrive so much more in both your work life and your home life.

I'd love to know what your top tips are for working from home, let me know in the comments!