There are so many advantages of working from home especially to mothers. Apart from being more productive, cutting out commuting time and costs, mothers are privileged to take care of their children. Most mothers who are already working from home agree that working and still getting a chance to take care of their children is super amazing.
Although there are challenges that come with working from home especially when your children are still small, the pros are way higher than the cons.
If this is something you are contemplating on doing or you are just starting out, then you need to give yourself enough time to adjust to your new lifestyle. You will probably earn less than you were earning out there but with hard work, commitment and determination, you may even find yourself earning more than you were earning in your previous job. Besides, this time around you will be earning some money while taking care of your kids. Costs such as commuting fare and daycare won’t be a reality to you anymore.
No one is disputing the fact that working from home with kids can be overwhelming. Fortunately, if you plan your days accordingly, most of those challenges are easier to overcome. Other than being focused, dedicated and flexible, here are tips to help you make your work at home job thrive and at the same time, be a great mom to your adorable children.
Designate your working space
A lot of people assume that working from home means working in any place you feel like. While you can still work and deliver even on your bed or your kitchen countertop, this is not something you will do for a long time. If you try it, you will soon realize that your performance has reduced and most of the time you are not in the mood to work. Plus, you won’t be able to plan yourself accordingly. If you don’t have a working table and a chair, you might find yourself suffering from back and neck pains.
The best way to work from home is to designate one place as your working station and make it clear to other members of the family including the children. A room would be perfect but even a small space at the dining area, bedroom or the corridor will work just fine. If your working space is close to a high traffic area in your home, then get yourself some good-quality noise cancelling headphones. The headphones can help you focus even when the kids are playing or watching their favourite cartoon.
Let your clients know you work from home
Some mothers are afraid to admit they work from home because they think they might lose clients but most people don’t have a problem with that. For most clients, if you can deliver what they are looking for, then the rest is your personal life and they have nothing to do with it.
The good thing about being honest with your clients right from the beginning is that it will save you the trouble of explaining yourself just in case your child decides to burst into your work station during a video call. Therefore, save yourself the embarrassment of explaining yourself when a child cries or the dog barks and let your clients know you work from home. This won’t affect your relationship with your clients, your quality of work will.
Keep your children busy
If your kids have not started school yet, then you need to look for creative ways to keep them occupied as you work. Kids get bored quite easily. You need to make them a list of activities enough to keep them engaged for a considerable amount of time. The activities must also be age-appropriate, safe and fun too.
If you don’t have a babysitter or an adult in the house, set up a place for your kids to play near your working space so that you can keep an eye on them as you work.
Don’t be surprised or get overwhelmed if the kids decide not to corporate at some point. As a work at home mum, you need to be very flexible with your working hours. Kids are kids and if they decide to cling on you for attention, there is nothing much you can do other than be the mom they know you are. Don’t be too harsh to yourself or the children. You can give them the attention they are looking for and get back to work when they calm down or take a nap.
Have a plan
Even if you are now your own boss, you still need to have a plan on how you are going to perform your duties. Every home’s set-up is unique and you are the only one who can know the best time to work. Plan your days in such a way that you can maximize your working hours. For instance, you can decide to wake up early in the morning and work before the kids wake up or you can spare some hours after they retire to bed. The essence here is to balance motherhood and work. Then stick to whichever plan you find appropriate.
Invest in a sling
This is for mothers with toddlers. Babies are usually not interested in toys. Instead, they want to be held all the time. So, what are you going to do in such a case? Use a sling and wear your baby. This way, your baby will be happy to be close to you and your hands will be free to do other things such as typing. More so, when the child is not crying, you can concentrate on your work. However, all babies are different and this option may not work for you. Be patient as you try other means to keep your baby calm. You will soon come up with an idea of what your baby wants. The good thing is that toddlers sleep longer than older children. Make sure you take full advantage of their nap time and do as much work as you can.
Be realistic
If you are unable to work as much as you would want to, don’t feel like you are a lazy person and that’s why you aren’t earning much. Keep your expectations on check and appreciate that this is just s season and it will pass. Besides, what you are doing is great. Parenting is work and even if no one is paying you to do it, the joy of seeing your children happy is enough.
Conclusion
The advantages of working from home as a mom goes beyond saving daycare expenses. You get time to bond with your kids and at the same time, build your career. Don’t let anyone discourage you that it is impossible, just make good use of these tips and you will soon begin to wonder what you had been waiting for.
