Working from home can be a huge benefit for moms. Enabling you to bring in extra income without having to leave your kids, it can provide the perfect work-life balance. Well, at least it can in theory!
The truth is, working from home when you’ve got kids isn’t easy. This is especially true when you’ve got a hyperactive toddler on your hands. Trying to get work done when you have to keep breaking off every two minutes isn’t fun, and it can lead to a lot of stress and frustration!
So, how can you tackle the challenges of entertaining a toddler when you’re working from home? Here, you’ll discover some awesome tips and advice to help make it easier.
Wake Before Your Toddler
This tip may not sound overly appealing, but it can help you to get a real head start on the work you need to do. Even waking up just half an hour before your toddler can help you to enjoy a peaceful cup of coffee while you catch up on emails. Ideally, you’ll want to aim to get up around an hour before your toddler if you want to be able to get a chunk of work done before they wake up.
If you really can’t function when you get up earlier than you do now, you could always switch to working a little later in the evening instead. A lot of work from home moms tend to work more after their toddler has gone to bed. Splitting your workday up can make life much easier, as well as give you a better work-life balance.
Set Up A Toddler Proof Play Area
It’s a good idea to set up a dedicated play area for your toddler. It should be a safe space where you know they can’t wander off or cause any mischief. That way, you’ll be able to place them in their play area for a while, enabling you to get on with work in peace.
If you are planning on trying this, it’s crucial you give your toddler a lot of distractions and things to do. If they get bored, you’re definitely not going to get much done!
Give Them Something To Build
Toddlers love to be creative and build stuff. So, if you haven’t already, invest in some construction-based toys. These require thinking as well as doing, so they’re going to keep your toddler busy for a longer period of time than standard toys.
Think LEGO, or those specialized construction kits you can buy. Just ensure you’re choosing a construction kit to fit your child’s age.
Have A Toy Rotation System
All toddlers have short attention spans. This is bad news when you’re trying to work during the day. If they have access to all of their toys, they’re going to get really bored very quickly. So, consider using a toy rotation system.
This involves only giving them toys on a certain day, or at a specific time. That way, your toddler will be much more interested in the toys when they are introduced, giving you more time to get your work done.
Embrace A Little Technology
There’s a lot of debate over how much technology our kids should be exposed to on a daily basis. While too much screen time is undoubtedly a bad thing, that doesn’t mean to say you can’t use it at all to keep your toddler entertained.
There are a lot of educational and developmental apps you can take advantage of when you want to work. Giving them a tablet with educational games to keep them occupied for a while will benefit them just as much as it does you. Alternatively, you could allow them to watch a film which is sure to give you plenty of time to get some work done.
Prepare The Day’s Snacks And Meals In Advance
Getting your toddlers snacks and meals together each day can take up a surprising amount of time. So, why not make it a little easier by preparing them in advance? You can chop up fruit and veggies the night before, as well as meal prep the night before to make cooking the day after much easier.
Head Outside
On sunny days, you could take your work outside. Your toddler can enjoy exploring the yard, while you enjoy working in the fresh air. This also helps to increase the amount of time your toddler spends outside. Outdoor play is crucial for their development, so you’ll be helping them as well as yourself with this clever tip.
Conclusion
Overall, working from home with a toddler isn’t easy. There are a lot of challenges you have to face, and it can be really frustrating at times. However, the tips above can really help, especially working earlier or later to fit around your toddler’s schedule.
Are you a work from home mom? How do you manage? Let us know in the comments below!
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