10 Tips On Balancing Being a Working From Home Mom
There is many things to juggling being a mom and working from home. Sometimes it is difficult to navigate how to successfully complete your work but also keep up with being a good mom. I put together some tips that have work well for me with staying on task.
- Time Management. Set your working hours each day and communicate them to your family or others who need to know. Set the expectations of what happens when you are working that way everyone can be on the same page about what mommy does all day. I like to keep both a google calendar up to date with hours I will be working and a paper calendar. I am very diligent on following through on that being the designated time I work.
- Capitalize on naptime. Thank goodness for naptime. I am able to focus without getting torn away. I try to maximize this time best I can and pump out my to do list.
- Get out of the house. Get some fresh air and take a break. It is important to still take a break during the day. Run a quick errand, go to the gym, take a walk, just get out of the house for a bit. It will help to break up your day and make it flow better.
- Find a balance between home life and work life. This one is hard for me, I always feel like I need to be working on work and feel guilty when I am not. Since, your home is your workplace sometimes it is hard to seperate when to work and when not to. Find a spotting point or time each day and really stick to stopping.
- Stay connected. Working at home all day can feel lonely. Make sure to stay connected to fellow co-workers or if you don't have any of those, set time for your friends. Allow yourself to be social and enjoy yourself.
- Do work on your phone. This has helped me so much. Sometimes I am pulled away for a bottle feeding, but I can still get work done on my phone. I will always sometimes do work when my husband drives us around to run errands. I maximize my time the best I can.
- Get help with the kids. If I have a really busy day lined up, I have a mom watch my daughter. It could be worth it to invest in a babysitter during the work for a few hours a day.
- Have a set workplace. Make a space that is yours. I have a desk that is neatly organized with pictures, notepads and pens. I feel I am able to focus way more in my own space.
- Listen to podcasts/music. I often have something playing in the background to make it not feel so quiet. It makes my day better when I listen to upbeat music or my favorite podcasts.
- Be fully present at what you are doing. If you are working then try your best to focus on work. If you are playing with your kid, don't work and play at the same time. Your work and your fun time with you kid will both suffer if you try to do both as the same time.
- Give yourself grace. You are doing an amazing job!! It is okay if the dishes aren't done or their is laundry that needs folding. There are plenty of days I can't possibly fit everything in, but that is okay!
Working from home might feel a little overwhelming at first, but you will get into a groove and find what works best for you. Take it one day at a time and don't forget to cuddle your little one in between work sessions.
Kelsey Glynn is a blogger and owner of Social Graces, a business to support others in their social media needs. She is a contributing blog writer for East Valley Moms Blog, a social media content creator, and an avid photo taker. You can catch her adventuring around AZ and living the mom life on Instagram.