The recent lockdown announcement has forced parents and carers to juggle working from home with managing family life. It is important that you speak to your employer to discuss working flexible hours, however, remember not to overwork yourself, as working outside of your standard hours can sometimes make you lose track of time.
Whilst working from home, it is vital that you establish a suitable place for working which also allows you to safely supervise your children. Younger children require a lot more supervision so you should factor this into your working day and do not feel guilty for having to take time away to care for their needs.
Adapting to these changes in working conditions can be very stressful, but it is important that you take care of your own mental wellbeing also.
Whilst it can be difficult to find a balance between feeling productive and supervising children, we have got some tips and advice to help you through these challenging times.
Communication
This term applies to both your work life and family. Whilst working, it is important that you communicate with your employer and colleagues about any disruptions that may occur due to childcare. For example:
- If you are on a conference call give those members on the call a heads up that you are caring for children.
- If you are working to a tight deadline or someone is reliant on you for work, then reassure them that you are doing it, but it may take longer than usual to do.
It is important to keep everyone in the loop to avoid any tension or issues arising. Many of us are in the same boat so your team members will understand the difficulties you are experiencing.
As for your children, make sure that you communicate with them that you are working. For those children that are slightly older then try to implement a do not disturb rule (except for emergencies) but make sure you still reassure them that you are there for them. Likewise, if you live with someone else then try to share the childcare responsibilities evenly, this technique works well for younger children and can help prevent interruptions in meetings etc.
Finally, keep in touch with friends and family. This can help combat those feelings of isolation and can take the pressure off you whilst you focus on work. You can set aside a regular time for a video call, schedule a reading hour with a family member and so on.
Be realistic
Set yourself realistic and achievable goals every day. The way that you work has been altered so you may need to scale down the goals that you set yourself. Big tasks might not be feasible whilst managing children who require constant supervision. Try to schedule your working hours around when your children are least active for example, naptime, playtime, or bedtime.
Do not be hard on yourself if you have not managed to complete as much as usual. Celebrate those small goals that you have managed to achieve in your day. If you feel like too much is being expected of you then speak to your employer and fellow work colleagues as they may be able to help.
Routine
Create a routine and structure to suit your family’s needs. It is not just parents who are having to adapt to working from home but children who usually attend school will be finding this new system strange and difficult too. The best way to combat this is to set a schedule for your day. Create a daily plan which establishes what time you will be having breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Set aside time for exercise breaks and breaks away from schoolwork that align with your work breaks.
For further information and support please contact our HR team who can advise further.
