- Call in reinforcements. It really helps to have a great, supportive partner. My wife is a high school teacher, so she needs to do a lot of work herself, so we take turns working at the computer while the other looks after the children. Take the kids outside, or take them to a park, or read to them, while your spouse does some work.
- Make the ideal office. May sounds obvious but you have the chance to work from home, so you need a good desk and chair, you need to be comfortable! Working from home gives you the chance to have the office that you always wanted and somewhere you will actually be able to work. By using online auction sites in combination with shipping sites like uShip you can find feedback rated transporters always looking for courier jobs, Therefore, making, assembling that perfect office at a cheap price and shipping it you easy and at an affordable price.
- Arrange playtimes. Your kids are more likely to let you work in silence (well near silence) if you make time in your work schedule to offer them your full attention in between bursts of work activity. Be entirely present for playtime for 20 minutes, and then ask them to cooperate with you when you return to work. When you’re done, reward them (and yourself-playtime can be a good way to leave the stress of work) with another scheduled play time.
- Utilize nap-times. Get work the most vital work done when the house is quiet because your children are sleeping. Try to work straight through nap times. You can also get a significant amount done if you wake up an hour before your kids and work then or if the idea of waking up early sounds too horrible, work an hour after their bedtime.
- Get a swing or bouncer or both! If you still have a baby then you know that movement calms fussy babies and if you find yourself up against a deadline with particularly cranky infant, that bouncy chair will become your new work friend! Swings are even better; just make sure it’s one that allows the baby to lie down since a newborn can’t sit up in a swing designed for older babies.
- Write everything down. Having to constantly switch between work and mom mode can leave you in a muddle, especially when it causes you to forget what you were doing. To avoid forgetting things, keep a notepad handy and write down deadlines, ideas and projects on it. It can also help to plan your day out ahead of time.
- Give your child a “mini desk” – My kids like many love to play pretend. They also love mimicking adults. You should make a small area in your office your kid with a desk and their own important “work” items. Only allowing them to play with these toys during work hours and only in the office, will prevent them from becoming bored with the toys. Not only can they ‘work’ with you, but also you can keep an eye on them too!
Sponsored guest post by Amar Patel
