Dear EDN,
I have been fortunate enough to be able to work from home, but I also have young children. It is saving our family a lot of money, since we don’t have to pay for daycare, but my husband still has to leave for work and my children are young and require a lot of attention and playtime. They both aren’t school aged, so I am struggling to keep them entertained and engaged, but also complete my work tasks every day. My husband helps at night, but it has been tough. What are some ways I can balance my work duties, but still be there for my kids.
Dear Supermom,
What you are experiencing is something many parents are struggling with during this time. Regardless of your children’s age, they require time and attention. Adjusting to spending most of your time home, managing your household and trying to balance your work duties can be difficult.
Work-Life balance
Yes, you read that right! Even though you are working from home full-time, work-life balance is even more critical. It is easy to get distracted when you are working from home, so it is important to plan your work day out. Take time out to determine your duties, goals and/or projects for the day and allot a sufficient amount of time to reach your daily goals. Also plan time out for breaks. Many agencies and companies are allowing individuals to adjust their work schedules as needed. If your job offers this option, plan your day around what works best in your household. Our readers also recommended looking into care support programs and other options that may be offered by your employer.
Planning Activities
Since your children are not school aged, you want to make sure that you are engaging with them. Figure out activities that are age appropriate and allow you to spend time with them. Plan on having lunch together and taking breaks to play with them. Also, plan the bulk of your work during their nap times and when your husband arrives from work. If your job allows for flexibility in your workday, try working a couple of hours in the evening when your children are sleeping. The hope is that breaking your day up will allow you to spend time with your children, get your work done and have some time with your husband in the evening.
Self-Care
Self-care is an important aspect of dealing with stress. Be sure to take time to take care of yourself. Pick a day of the week where you want to dedicate time to yourself. Self-care can mean doing beauty treatments (e.g. masks, doing your hair, painting your nails, soaking your feet etc.) or it can mean taking care of your mental health. Many mental health professionals are seeing individuals virtually and this could be a great tool to help you cope with any stress you may be feeling.
Support from loved ones and Social Networks
Many of our readers recommended working with your spouse to determine how you can balance your schedules out. If your work day will be particularly heavy during a certain timeframe, your partner may be able to help you with the children during that time and vice versa. Also, look into social groups such as Eritrean Mama Tribe, which serve to support mothers and their children. Many women are experiencing the feelings you are and our readers wanted to remind you that you must be kind to yourself. There will be days where you are supermom and days when you are “Employee of the Month”, and that is perfectly fine. Be open to leaning on others for support in your times of need.
We are all trying to adjust to this new norm, but know that you are not alone. Hang in there, this is not a forever circumstance!