JUGGLING WORK, HOME SCHOOL AND FAMILY IS A CHALLENGE
A month ago, when we were suddenly faced with schools being closed and working from home, we all made adjustments. For me, I have found myself struggling between the demands of family, home school, and work. Having spoken with many clients, I know I am not alone in this. As states announce that schools will be closed for the remainder of the year, finding balance and a sense well-being is critical. As a mom of two elementary school age children (and re-learning 5th grade math!) here are some tips I've found useful and wanted to share with you:
Be flexible – Set realistic expectations for yourself and don’t get discouraged if you aren’t able to accomplish everything. Your six year old will still go to college even if she doesn’t learn all her sight words today. Now is the time to cut yourself some slack.
Stick to a routine – Both kids and adults benefit from having a routine each day. Sit down with your family in the morning and create a schedule of what the day is going to look like and pin it to the wall or refrigerator so older kids can refer to and understand what other priorities you might be juggling. In my experience, doing that each day reduces conflict.
Have a workspace –Having dedicated workspaces for you and your family will help everyone focus. Use that space solely for work.
End your day- It can be hard to unplug after work especially when you aren’t commuting or entering and leaving a physical office. Find an activity such as taking a walk or going for a run to close the day. This will provide clearer boundaries to the workday. (for more on this see our blog from last week: https://www.reidnco.com/blog/how-are-you-using-your-commute-time
Juggling work, kids and home life during this time can be difficult for everyone. Know you are not alone. Don’t be afraid to share with friends and family how challenging it is. The more we are honest about the emotions of how this is impacting each of us, the easier it is. Just as you offer support to others, allow them to offer it to you. With day to day planning, flexibility, and whole lot of communication and empathy, you can weather this COVID-19 stint at home with your family and still get your work done.
