Ryne is out on his first post-COVID trip and I am flying solo for the first time EVER with all three kids. And I’ll admit- it’s been much harder than I expected. On a normal pre-COVID day, Ryne and I have many plates spinning in the air at once. Between both of our full-time jobs, Quinn’ school, keeping the kids fed and entertained, and keeping up with normal house chores (hello broken sprinkler head flooding the lawn!) our schedule is constantly packed. Working from home is my norm, but doing it without the help of a spouse is a whole new ballgame that leaves me feeling like I can’t keep it together. With the ever changing landscape of life after COVID, many more parents are having to manage the juggle! Whether you’re flying solo while your spouse is away, or working from home is your new norm, here are my top five tips to help you keep it together while working from home:
1. Prep the night before. This is the single most useful tool I have in my work-from-home belt. Every night after the kids go to bed, I fill cups/bottles with milk for the morning. During the school year, I pack Quinn’s lunch for school. I set my coffee mug next to my coffee machine and get my banana, water bottle and headphones out for my morning workout (just kidding, I don’t workout). That way when my little minions come running down the stairs in the morning, I can get their day going without cutting too much into mine.
2. Wake up earlier than your kids. Ivy is usually up by 7:00am, so I am up and checking work email by 6:00am. It is so hard for me to get up at that hour, but it pays off! This allows me to get a jumpstart on my day and gives me the freedom to slow down and have breakfast with the kids without falling behind on my workload.
3. Set up activities for your kids. Nap time is a Godsend. Unless your kid is 3 and doesn’t nap anymore and you still need to get stuff done. I like to set Conrad up with a puzzle, a craft, or an activity book (something not super messy) to keep him entertained while I’m in the throes of Monday’s fires.
4. Get out. Can I suggest taking a break from work as a tip for working from home? Well I am. Take a break! Get everyone outside. Even a quick walk to the mailbox can give you a little more energy to tackle the day and allows your kids burn some off 😉
5. Call in reinforcements. When things get out of hand- Ask. For. Help! Call a grandparent. Hire a babysitter. An hour or two of support can be a game-changer.
When all else fails, lower your expectations and remind yourself that you are doing the best you can. At the end of the day, your kids won’t remember the mess or that you went un-showered (again). They’ll remember that you made them a priority! Tomorrow is a new day, with new mercies (and fresh coffee!)
