As I write this article, my daughter stamps her feet going upstairs, because she needs my work laptop for a school assignment, my youngest asks from the toilet if I can help him and I just helped my middle son with a long division (“oh yes that long division, uhm”).
As an online NiceDay psychologist, working from home is nothing new and I enjoy the flexibility that working from home gives me. However, after the schools closed due to the Corona outbreak and my children are at home, there is a whole new dimension to working from home.
We are now two weeks in and I dare to say that we have found our way. I would like to share my tips as a mother and as a psychologist with you on how to deal with being an employee, parent and teacher in one!
- Peace and regularity: both children and adults benefits from this. Make a schedule, in which it is clear to everyone when work is done and when there is free time. Also, take a break every hour or so. In addition, just like normal workdays, get up at set times, get dressed and have a breakfast as a clear start to a new day.
- Agree on a schedule with neighbours. For example, the neighboring children are in class at the same times and all the kids can play at the same time in their free time. Make sure to agree on this with one or two neighbours. This way you keep the group of children small and limited, so that the chance of the virus spreading remains small.
- Be selective in the information you process. In addition to your work mail, you will probably receive school assignments, instruction videos, extra school newsletters, via various mail addresses, school apps, group apps and online portals. Not to forget the many daily messages from parents with fun craft assignments and other challenges for your children. All sweet, but processing all this information in itself is already a day’s work. Don’t read everything! And remember, what’s the worst that can happen?
- Work smarter, not harder. An American study showed that we work effectively for 2 hours and 48 minutes on a working day. So plan the time that you can work smart. For example, take two hours to work when your children have finished their school work and are playing or in the evening when the children are in bed. The latter should,of course, not become a habit, but in today’s situation it can help to give you a little more rest during the day. In addition, agree on weekly tasks with yourself instead of day tasks. This way you keep an eye on the bigger picture, where what doesn’t work today might go tomorrow.
- Finally, my most important tip: be gentle with yourself. When I ask my children if they miss their friends and teachers, they naturally confirm this. And at the same time they say that they don’t mind being at home. They secretly enjoy all the extra attention they get from their parents. And my advice is to enjoy them too. How frustrating it can be at times, the reality is that there is only 24 hours in a day. So be gentle with yourself, do the best you can and don’t forget to take care of yourself and each other 🙂
