Not everyone will choose to work from home with their newborn or young child, but for some, it’s the ideal way to balance parenthood with their careers. However, there are some important things to remember if this is the route you choose to go down; doing so will keep you productive and happy.
Forget Set Hours
It’s much more important to look at the results you hope to get rather than the hours you hope to work. When you have small children to look after, sticking to set hours can be difficult, if not impossible. There is no 9 to 5 anymore, especially when you are caring for a newborn. You may need to schedule in naps, or time to play with your child, for example. It’s a good idea to invest in a baby lounger so that they can be in your office with you as much as possible; that way you can multitask if you have to. If you’re not sure which baby lounger to choose, take a look at Parent Guide for advice. There are lots to choose from, and getting the right one can make a real difference.
Light Work And Hard Work
There will be times when you need to tackle challenging projects and other times when lighter tasks are more manageable. Save the harder, more time-consuming work for moments when you know you’ll have minimal interruptions-perhaps when your partner is taking care of the baby. If you are struggling to find the time, consider contacting a nanny agency and arrange for childcare, even for a short period. Some people find that working early in the morning is effective, but it’s important to pace yourself and avoid burnout. To stay focused, try pretending you’re working in a distant office, so only true emergencies demand your attention.
Only Say Yes When You Really Can
If you find that you attend a lot of meetings, you’ll also find that your time is stolen away from you quickly. Be as picky as you can with your meetings because if you are in too many of them both your work and your child may be found wanting. Make sure that you really do need to have a meeting and that you can’t deal with the issue over the phone or via email. If you do go to a meeting, let everyone know that you have a definite time limit and that all work needs to be completed within it. Stick to it. That’s the most important thing.
Stay Local
Just because you work from home, it doesn’t mean that you have to stay in the home all the time, especially if you have flexible hours. Make sure you go out for a walk with your child and get some fresh air; it will be good for both of you. You’ll need to stay local, though, on work days. This is so that you’ll worry less about being out of the office for an hour or longer. If you go further afield and constantly worry about what you should be doing at work you just won’t enjoy it, and your child will certainly pick up on these feelings.
