I find it funny how things happen sometimes. One minute, I’m getting tons of questions and e-mails about how I manage balancing all the things I do, especially being a homeschooling mom and running a business at the same time. The truth is, I’m not perfect at it. We’re stumbling along just like everyone else, doing the best we can.
We try different things. We keep what works; throw out what doesn’t.
And as I’m figuring out just how to share that part of my life that balances the many hats I wear on a day to day basis, I get a wonderful guest writer who offers to share some of what she knows when it comes to working and learning from home.
So without further ado, please enjoy this highly informational article written by Cherie Mclaughlin, from https://www.couchbasedbiz.com/
If you’re like me, a business owner wondering how to make starting or growing your business work in the midst of all the other hats you wear on a day to day basis– I highly recommend you check out her website. Chalk full of information in easy to digest chunks, it’s totally worth taking the time to explore her site.
This fall, many parents will be working from home while their children learn remotely. You may be wondering how to balance these distinct responsibilities and take care of your to-do lists while supporting your child’s education. The following tips will help you and your child excel in the coming months!
Create a Safe Environment
If your child will be working unsupervised for parts of the day, you’ll need to take steps to ensure that your home is completely safe. Take precautions by carefully storing any sharp objects in the kitchen, locking your doors, and keeping cleaning products and medications out of their reach.
Prepare for Your Week in Advance
Every weekend, take some time to prepare for the week ahead. For instance, you can spend an afternoon meal prepping so that you won’t have to cook during the week – Yummy Toddler Food recommends chopping fruits and veggies and batch-cooking meals that are easy to refrigerate or freeze. It also helps to block off a few hours to clean your home so that you won’t have to deal with messes in the days ahead. If it’s a bit overwhelming, consider working with a professional organizer for support in tackling all your organizational challenges!
If your child has any questions about an upcoming lesson, reach out to their teacher for answers before Monday. Finally, if your child still has unfinished homework when Sunday evening rolls around, sit down to tackle it together. SitterCity recommends using flashcards and practice questions to help them remember new information.
Establish Productive Routines
If you want to ensure that you and your children can tackle all of your daily responsibilities, you’ll need to stick with productive routines and set strict boundaries. Start by creating a morning routine for the whole family, which could include eating a healthy breakfast together and going over your plans for the day.
To establish boundaries during your workday, place a “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door of your home office when you can’t be interrupted. Try downloading productivity apps to help manage your schedule and stay on task. You could also leave some extra time to catch on work in a structured evening routine – after you put your kids to bed, you can take advantage of the peace and quiet!
Hire Administrative Support
Are you self-employed? Do you run a small business in e-commerce? If so, this might be the perfect time to hire an administrative assistant. This will allow you to spend more time working and helping your child – your assistant can take care of managing your inbox, sending invoices, providing customer support, and more.
Consider hiring freelance admin support through an online job board so that you can pay for their services as needed. Working with freelancers means you won’t have to worry about paying employee taxes, which is a nice perk!
Invest in Educational Technology
It can be tough for kids to pay attention to virtual lessons all day long and then do their homework on the computer. Turning learning into a game can help hold your child’s interest.
Perhaps your teenager’s teachers have incorporated Virtual Reality (VR) into their curriculum, or your elementary school-aged children are taking part in an online coding camp outside of school hours.
Make sure you have the right tech for these projects, like VR headsets or tablets for coding practice, and ensure that your kids know how to use these devices without your help! Of course, you’ll also need to double-check your Internet connection and be prepared to upgrade to a higher speed if necessary.
As a parent, you want to see your child succeed, but when you also have your own work to focus on, it can be hard to juggle everything at once. We’re all adjusting to this “new normal,” and it can take some getting used to. With structured routines and the right tools, your family will be able to handle everything that comes your way this fall.
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