How to Productively Work from Home When the Kids are There Too

I’ve lost count of how many days we’ve been home lol.

I want to say we’re starting our third week all together at home today.

To be honest working from home with kids around is both a joy and a challenge. We absolutely love the extra time with the girls and being there as they tackle some projects.

Like right now, they are making these short films and animations.

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The tough part – getting work done by the deadline when you have a five and eight-year-old.

Thankfully, I’ve been able to maneuver things a bit, but I still have client projects I need done every week and month.

It took a bit of time, but I think we found a rhythm that works for now.

Last week Andy Hill and talked about what we’re doing to balance kids and work on Thriving Families over on Facebook (come join us – it’s free!)

I also did a podcast episode years ago about it too.

Here are a few of my tips for those looking at running a business from home with little ones.

Create a Schedule

You don’t need to (or really want to) have things planned out minute by minute, but having a routine is a lifesaver for running a business.

With a podcast, I have to set aside time to do interviews and record shows.

After testing things out, I have a fairly set schedule where I can handle these tasks while the kids are napping or my husband is at home.

Shift Your Work Schedule

With remote work become a reality for many parents, you may find that shifting your schedule can allow you to remain productive with minimal disruption on your employer's side.

It's not an available option for all work places (I heard some employers are checking in login times to make sure schedule is kept), but it can be a handy option if okay with emp

Create (and Enforce) Boundaries

Many entrepreneurs who work from home say it can be hard to separate things. They’re checking email on the weekend in the middle or family.

My advice is to be clear with your clients about your availability. You also want to sit down with your spouse and your kids if they’re old enough and explain the situation.

My oldest knows that if I’m recording it’s a quiet time for her while she plays in her room until I come and get her. On the other hand, I respect that she’s a kid and I keep my recording session short – no more than 30 minutes.

Getting what I need to be done at that time means I have to be prepared and have already done my research for the guest, but it’s been worth it for me.

Communicate Regularly

To be able to stick to our schedule and keep those boundaries, Rob and I talk daily about what we have on our agendas.

We also loop in the girls, telling them which points at the day they need to be quiet.

As a reward, once we've finished that task, we'll take time to go outside with the girl, play a game, or give them one of their favorite snacks.

Connect with Me

Speaking of we've covered the topic of shifting schedules I’m doing some new stuff here.

While the podcast takes time to produce, I’ll be using Instagram and YouTube to create shorter, but more ‘in the now’ videos.

They may not so polished (I’m not a videographer ?), but I’d love to help you out any way I can.

Don’t forget to join us in our free Thriving Families Facebook group. We’re focused on helping one another our with our family and money goals!