05 Nov Work at Home Mom Survival Guide by Brittany Nelson
Toddlers are adorable and sweet. They love to explore and get into everything. They also unexpectedly meltdown and have tantrums at the most inconvenient times.
Because of this, working from home with toddlers can be quite the experience, but is definitely doable. Will you worry about them screaming during an important meeting? Every single day. But you also get to experience so much just by being with them, watching them grow and learn, and getting all the hugs and kisses while you can. It’s totally worth it!
I moved to a part time role in my company and started working from home about a year and a half ago. It’s a challenge and I haven’t perfected it, but here are a few tips if you’re considering working from home.
- Utilize nap time – My toddler usually naps for 1-2 hours in the afternoon, and I use that time to work on projects that require complete focus or to make important phone calls. It’s amazing how much you can get done in one hour when you don’t allow any distractions and you know your time is limited!
- Complete projects during “off” hours – Sometimes it can be hard to get projects done when you have a needy toddler climbing all over you. If your job allows flexible hours, consider working at night or early in the morning when your kiddo is in bed. I’ve done this numerous times when I’ve had big projects. I’m always surprised how much work I get done on a Saturday morning if I stay in the bedroom while my husband enjoys uninterrupted time with our son.
- Take breaks and get outside – When you spend quality time with your toddler, they are much better about playing alone afterwards so you can get some work done. Fresh air also helps put everyone in a good mood and wears them out. Win win! We love going for walks and to the park daily when the weather is nice.
- Rotate toys and activities – Toddlers are easily bored. Give them the same toys and activities all the time and they will quickly be unhappy. Outside of regular toys, I like to rotate different crafts, puzzles, blocks and play dough.
- Have snacks ready – I have to admit I’m not always good at prepping snacks ahead of time. But when you’re in a call or trying to work and your toddler gets hungry, you better have a snack quick! Having snacks prepared for easy grabbing keeps everyone happy.
Do you have any tips on working from home or getting chores done when you have a toddler?
Brittany Nelson is the co-founder of GWG. After many years of volunteering in international ministry, she became excited about helping other young women discover their passion. Brittany is a Jr. HR Generalist at a consulting firm in the DC area. She spends her free time exploring DC and going to Washington Wizards games with her husband, Paul.
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