How to Cope with Working From Home and Homeschooling
Maintaining a healthy balance between work and family is typically an ongoing struggle for most working parents. However, in 2020 things have taken a completely different turn and with that has come a new challenge. Due to the pandemic, people have had to adjust to working from their homes and kids are now attending school virtually which means they as well are at home.
With your child being at home all day with you while you work you may have found yourself being a part-time homeschool teacher. That also means your work may be affected because you need to split yourself in half. Between attending meetings, answering emails, making phone calls, to making sure your child logs in to class, completes homework, and studies you may be having to spread yourself thin.
Although doing both things at once can be quite overwhelming and exhausting, it is not impossible. Check out these tips we have put together at KAFY Limitless Minds to help you find a healthy balance between work and homeschooling.
1. Maintain A Consistent Schedule
Even if you're not a fan of having a schedule and you rather do things on the whim trust me, this will simplify your life greatly. One of the best ways to find a balance is by creating time blocks for work, school, self-care, and family time.
Create a calendar that works best for you and your family. This can be a large calendar posted on a wall at your house, a small calendar on the fridge, or an electronic calendar like the one offered by Google. Planning time for work, teaching, and fun keeps everyone focused and motivated to accomplish each task accordingly.
Although things have now transitioned to being at home, you have to look at things this way: if you create a daily routine and stick to the schedule, it is very similar to what your child already did at school and what you did at work. You were at the office during specific hours just like your child was at school during those hours as well.
2. Split Work Hours With Your Partner
If you are fortunate to have your significant other or spouse working from home as well, consider working a split schedule as long as you get approval from your supervisor. This means that while one parent is focused on homeschooling, the other can tackle work and vice versa. If you feel like this won't work, talk to your boss about having a more flexible schedule a few days a week or consider doing some homeschooling during the weekend or during non-working hours.
3. Create The Right Environment
Since your child is attending school from home, it can be hard for them to concentrate and take it seriously because they are at home and not in a classroom. Try to get a personal desk for them in their bedroom or an area around the house and set up a learning space for them.
Allow them to also add their own personal touch by taking them to buy school supplies or things to decorate their area. You can also add an area in the kitchen personalized for them like a snack corner or a refreshments section. Any little thing can help motivate them and make them comfortable in their own little learning spot.
4. Accept What You Can't Control
Life is not perfect and neither are you. With everyone working, learning, and living under one roof things can and will definitely go wrong at some point. Chores can become a little backed up, the house may be messier than usual, the internet may be down, and your child may be too unmotivated one day to do anything school related.
Embracing this chaos and even finding humor in these situations can help you get through the rough patches. Find a lesson in everything rather than seeing it as an obstacle or a deterrent. Moments like these can teach you and your child valuable lessons.
5. Focus On The Positives
There is a lot of negativity going on in the world at the moment. Some people are not as fortunate as you so it's important to count your blessings and take in those moments of gratitude. Think about it this way, you are now spending time with your family which you weren't before.
You actually get to have breakfast, lunch, and dinner together. Everyone is getting in that extra quality time that most working parents lacked because they lived at the office. Although these are challenging times, you have also been given extra time with your loved ones which once seemed impossible to do and was perhaps tearing your family apart.
6. Find Time For Yourself
In order for you to function properly and release everyday stress you need to still make some time for yourself among the chaos. Go for an early morning jog or walk, read a book, meditate, or cook a hearty breakfast to get your day started. Taking that time to practice self-care and focus on yourself will not only make you a better person but will also help those around you.
7. Adjust As You Go
While these tips will help you get on the right path and find a healthy balance for you and your family, the reality of the situation is that you will still have some imbalance here and there. Remember that you are not perfect and neither is life. The most important thing is that you have plenty of patience and determination.
Just like there will be good days there will also be bad ones. Remember to focus on the positives, learn something from those lessons life throws at you, and maintain a grateful spirit.