For as long as I’ve been a mother, I’ve always juggled school and/or work at the same time. Especially in light of the changes occuring due to concerns around COVID-19, the coronavirus, here are my tips on how to work from home with keiki too.
I’d also like to add that I’m a mother a four, and most recently, my husband has also been working for home. We are an ʻohana of 6 living in a 2 bedroom apartment. There is no separate room for an office. I’m a nerd when it comes to learning new ways to be productive, how to be more efficient, and getting work done more quickly. With my kuleana as a māmā, personal goals, and work, efficiency is a necessary for my life. I’ve also shared in a prior blog post when I was reading the book, Essentialism.
I definitely don’t have it all figured out, but I have been successful in completing assignments and work on-time , if not ahead of the due date.
Tip #1: Be flexible. You can plan your day to the “T,” and then something comes up that requires a change of plans. And I’m the planner-type! When you’re working from home with keiki in tow, unplanned things coming up happens more often than not. This doesn’t mean not to have a plan, but more so be prepared for plans to change.
Additionally, be flexible in the sense that you don’t (unless otherwise required) need to stick to your normal office hours. More on this in Tip #3 below, but perhaps this means breaking up your work hours so that you can get a couple of hours of work in when the kids are napping.
Tip #2: Communicate your needs and where/when you need support. Communicating your needs and asking for help is a common recommendation for parents and those working from home, but it’s also often overlooked. Communication is so important and can make all the difference! Communicate your needs to your partner, those in your village, and also your keiki.
Tip #3: Plan your day strategically. When you are planning your day, this will typically include appointments/meetings, and also tasks to be completed. Depending on how much time or you will need to complete a task, be sure to schedule when you will do that task that reflects the time and energy required. As an example, if there’s a task that requires you to be super sharp and will likely take a couple of hours, be sure to schedule this first thing in the morning (as opposed to when we typically have less energy at night). Similarly, prioritize your tasks or work to ensure you expend your energy where it will get you closer to your goals.
Planning your day strategically also includes planning activities or time with your keiki. Scheduling dedicated time to do activities, homework, or just giving you their attention will tend to help when it comes time for you to do your work. There are a variety of ways to do this—this may look like assigning your keiki to do something while you work on something, or possibly you and your keiki doing something together for a period of time.
Tip #4: Don’t forget about self-care. Especially when working from the home while also caring for keiki, it doesn’t take long until you feel like you’re working 24/7…because you are. So even more so, it is important to prioritize and schedule self-care regularly.
Tip #5: do what works for YOU! This tip, I’m fairly certain, that this isn’t news to you. But like Tip #2, remembering to check-in with yourself and do what works for you is often undervalued. Seriously, this is what it’s all about! If none of these tips work for you, that’s fine! Rock on and do what works for you.
This is a simplified list, but I hope that it may be helpful to you. I’m also always looking to improve and find ways to be more efficient and productive. So please share with me your tips on this topic. Help a māmā out!