Like several other parents around the United Kingdom, Simone Wayne, a marketing manager and mother of two boys aged 6 and 7, worked from home during the lockdown. One day, an inspiration hit. She said her goodbyes to the children, exited her home from the entrance door, proceeded around the main house, and managed to walk inside through her home office door.
She explained, “[My boys] have almost no clue I’m home, I have a lovely hubby who assists me in hiding if I want to work.”
In the age of COVID-19, developing innovative techniques to have your jobs completed while one kid is clinging on your leg and the other is sobbing in the hallway has become the new reality.
“There isn’t really a blueprint, even for professionals who are acclimated to working remotely,” said Alice Phillips, creative director of RemoteVille in Cambridge.
Liz Heinrich, a journalist for Birmingham Post in Birmingham, England, predicts conflict amongst partners and couples who both work remotely now.
“It’s a serious problem to put too much pressure on oneself to get back to normality. A big adjustment has to be made.”
Here’s how Simone Wayne managed her work from home and kids homeschooling during the lockdown.
Outdoor Play Area
Creating a garden outdoor play area, which is enjoyable for children of all ages, can inspire creativity and intellectual curiosity resulting in hours of peace and quiet for work-at-home parents, even when their children are there.
Collect items from budget stores and thrift shops and use them to create a play area in my garden. “Swing, reclaimed wood or composite decking board, unused bookcase, sandbox, Big truck tire, woodblock and trampoline are examples of items used to create a play area in my backyard. Of course, with a little help from my husband.”, says Simone.
Share Childcare Time
Do you have two grown-ups at home? Or an older sibling who can watch the kids for several hours? If that’s the case, we recommend alternating shifts because it’s impossible to expect to conduct business on a regular eight-hour day.
“Together with my husband, I usually review my work schedules as a team beforehand to see who has less work to do at certain times of the day. This helps to allot babysitting time.”, Simone explained.
Consider exchanging babysitting time with neighbours who are in a similar scenario. Throughout the mornings, you look after their children, and at noon, they babysit yours.
Setting Up a Workspace
Look for a comfortable room; ensure it has a door that you can easily close. A bedroom or dining table will do.
Simone said, “I purchased an ergonomic table for my dedicated workstation. Since my kids can make quite a lot of noise, I have my noise-cancelling headset handy.”
For mothers with toddlers or babies, you can choose to set up your workspace near the play area or the child’s room.
Leave kids alone
“Sometimes, I let them be!” Simone said, “Since I had already taught the kids how to busy themselves with literature, games, gardening, or outdoor play, I don’t really see the need to supervise and control them every time.”
Pack a fruit basket, so they don’t have to depend on you. Simone keeps a lower fridge shelf stocked with beverages, cheese crackers, and other light snacks.
Set Simple Guidelines
Avoid getting tangled up in a free-for-all. “Setting an alarm daily can help,” Simone said, “Preparing meals early and giving the kids some sort of structure that can help them understand it’s not a day for relaxation or a ‘saturday’”.
“I always remind my kids that I have tasks to do and they may make things easier by being silent. Also, when handling urgent tasks or holding conference calls, I endeavour to keep a label that reads “open” or “closed” at my desk, “She added.
Stick to what works for you
It doesn’t matter if you work late at night, early morning, or when the kids take their siesta, as long as you get the job done. “I tend to take the kids for a short walk for an hour or two,” Simone said, “In the afternoons, I do a couple of exercises in my bedroom.”
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