Finding a Balance as a Work-at-Home Mom or Dad

I won’t lie to you. It’s not easy, and even though I have had some sort of routine since my 19-month-old son was born, it’s still difficult to achieve work and life balance in my days. Working at home while raising your kids will never be easy unless you get a schedule set that includes time management skills, scheduled naps and independent play.

If Mom’s and Dad’s want to be able to keep working while raising their little ones, they must organise their days like a drill sergeant. Things you might want to accomplish in your days are time for exercise, work and of course, time with your little cutie. If you want your days to flow easier and still find time to make money to your family, you’ll have to use some of these tips and tricks.

Create a Schedule

It is essential to your well being (and your kids!) that you start every week with a schedule and keep to it. If your child is not in school yet, then make time for play in the mornings such as a playgroup or activity that releases a lot of their energy. Then set a nap time at a specific time every day.

When your kids nap you can sit down to get your work done. (I personally get two to three hours a day depending on how my little guy feels that day). After they wake, spend more time together and get out of the house. If your child does not nap any longer, it might be best to have a babysitter for two to three hours a day to help you while you complete your work for the day.

Set Boundaries to Prevent Distractions

Set your own boundaries. For example, if your child naps at 11 am every morning, make that the exact time that the TV goes off, phone is turned off and if you work from a computer, Facebook, Twitter and Ebay are not available to you. Nowadays, we have distractions left and right. For the little time you get to work, make it productive.

Let Go

When we take on any new responsibility, we usually have to let go of one. If you dreamt of a bigger career and workload before your little one was born, you might have to reevaluate that goal. You are a parent now and it is the largest responsibility a person can have during their lifetime. Know that there is nothing wrong with changing the direction of your goals… whichever way they may go.

Always Get a Good Night’s Sleep

I can’t say this enough. The better we sleep, the better parents and workers we are. When your week gets messy and your schedule is disrupted by an illness, heavier workload, school meetings and doctor visits, make sure you get your sleep. Go to bed early rather than later and allow yourself the recovery period of a healthy eight hours a night. Sometimes this cannot always happen due to your little one if you are night feeding or if they are having nightmares, but you can strive for it every night.

Working from home while raising children is possible, and it will always offer its challenges. It also has many benefits. Being able to make some extra money at home while your partner is making money outside of the home is fantastic, and having the option to spend more time with the kids is something many parents dream of.