Top 5 Tips To Help You Cope
With Young Children While Working From Home
Are you trying to run your own business from home around one or more children? Or is this something you want to do and are looking into?
Well hopefully I can be of some help as I'm a mum and just about managing to cope with a toddler and a new-born while working from home!! I'll give you a few tips I've thought of!
So as you'd expect it's not easy, so just let that make you feel a bit better! Even if some mums look like they're perfect in every way, I'm very sure they're not!
My 8 week old baby (yes 8 weeks already! Therefore she had her first jabs today which were pretty awful. So horrible to see her so upset. My mum came along to help me as had my toddler too, who very sweetly kissed her injected leg and was concerned about her crying), I digress!
I'll start again! My 8 week old baby girl normally has a lay in after feeding a few times through the night so I get to give my toddler boy attention after making his breakfast by playing with his trains or puzzles. He does love his iPad so sometimes I think I could be getting on with some work like listening to training webinars or writing my blog while he watches it, but I'd feel too guilty. Also the main reason why I want to work from home is to get to spend more time with my children so if I'm working then I'm doing the opposite of what I want to be doing!
Plus when you play with your children you need to give them your full attention, they do notice if you're casually looking at your phone. So it's best to be in the moment with them and cherish that playtime as you won't get it back!
Yesterday was one of those mornings where little things kept going wrong such as porridge over spilling in the microwave (which was actually handy because I gave it a good well needed clean!), breaking a bowl, the floor getting really wet and so on that my favourite word that morning was the 'F' one! So I had to be careful not to use it when Tommy was about as he copies now!
Beforehand I would have been more stressed because I'd feel if I'm not playing with the children then I should be working on my business, but after reflecting on things I've chosen to not let myself get stressed because it is unnecessary, not good for me or the children.
So here are my top tips that I now use!
Tip #1
Work when they're sleeping as then they don't know you're not with them! For instance I am writing this blog now as they're snoozing on me on the sofa! This isn't a regular occurrence however so mostly I blog in the evenings when toddler in bed & baby asleep on me!
Tip #2
On a weekly planner (can get them online or from WH Smith) write down times when you can spend some time on your business, for example listening to training in the car, while babies are sleeping, on your lunch break (if working) etc. OK your results might not come so quickly if you don't spend hours and hours a week on your business but they'll still come. It's called the compound effect, success is built on doing little things consistently.
Tip #3
Get out of the house! I find days where we do stuff easier and more fulfilling. If you go to playgroups your toddler can happily play and socialise while you look after baby, or if you have made friends at groups they love to hold your baby while you interact with your toddler! Children learn and take in lots while being out and about so it's good for babies as well as toddlers! Then also you have experiences which can help with your business, such as networking or having topics to blog about.
Tip #4
Use video. Video marketing is fantastic for your business whether it be or Facebook Live or a YouTube video. It's quicker than writing and you can do it anywhere! It might be daunting at first but just have a few practices and you'll soon get the hang of it! I did a 90 day video challenge within the online business I do where only other members see them and we'd give each other feedback!
Tip #5
Just wing it! Basically just BELIEVE you can do it and you will! You may think you're failing and how can you possibly do all this - look after children, take care of the house and work a business from home - but you can! It's your life you've been fortunate to live, so have fun, make mistakes, learn new skills and just go with the flow. It is overwhelming but as long as you keep trying and keep going, you'll be successful, in home life and business.
Bonus tip #6
Wear baby in a sling! Last night I made the dinner, bathed toddler and got him ready for bed all whilst carrying baby in the sling! Handy when you need an extra pair of hands!
I hope my tips have been helpful to you!
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com
Author: Lisa Hartley
