{"id":6163,"date":"2020-05-07T05:37:36","date_gmt":"2020-05-07T01:37:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/krisp.ai\/blog\/?p=6163"},"modified":"2024-07-04T15:40:29","modified_gmt":"2024-07-04T11:40:29","slug":"how-to-work-from-home-with-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/krisp.ai\/blog\/how-to-work-from-home-with-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Work From Home With Kids and Stay Productive"},"content":{"rendered":"

COVID-19 has put many parents in the difficult position of trying to figure out how to work from home with kids – without going completely crazy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Due to school closures and social distancing, everyone is cooped up in the house together – and many are finding it incredibly challenging to get work done.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re in this situation you might be feeling frustrated and overwhelmed trying to balance childcare, work and everything else on your plate. It\u2019s time to stop, take a deep breath and make a plan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Although it is difficult to be productive when you are <\/span>working from home<\/span><\/a> with kids, there are practical steps you can take. It IS possible to work from home with kids and stay productive!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The trick is to be proactive and take control. Here are some tips that will help:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Things You Can Do Yourself<\/span><\/h2>\n

First, let\u2019s look at the things that YOU can do to squeeze more time out of the day – and make yourself more efficient in that precious time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Focus On The Big Picture<\/span><\/h2>\n

Do your best to focus on weekly goals rather than daily goals, as the day can be unpredictable. On some days, your kids will play together quietly, you\u2019ll get lots done and you\u2019ll feel focused and relaxed. On other days, you\u2019ll find yourself mediating sibling fights, mending scraped knees and pleading with your little ones to stop using the pots and pans as a drum set.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking at the week as a whole, rather than measuring your progress daily, will help you feel less stressed out about the odd unproductive day. If the kids are restless, you can take a break and play outside without feeling pressure. You\u2019ll make up for it on other days, so just trust that everything will even out in the end.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Have a Clearly Defined Office Space<\/span><\/h2>\n

Work in a room where you can close the door and let your kids know not to interrupt you. It can be a <\/span>dedicated home office<\/span><\/a>, or simply a spare bedroom with a desk in it. The most important thing is having a lock on the door.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If your children are old enough to play unsupervised, let them know that they should only knock on your office door if there is an emergency. (An emergency more serious than wanting a cookie, or a turn with the TV remote.)<\/span><\/p>\n

\"how<\/p>\n

How you set up your home office really makes a difference as well. Working on a bed or a comfy chair is a big mistake. There\u2019s a risk of work time accidently turning into nap time. A desk or a table where you can sit upright will help you focus and avoid back and neck pain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Also, get yourself a pair of headphones that will help you <\/span>tune out noise<\/span><\/a> during work calls. The Krisp app is incredibly helpful for parents working at home, as it uses AI technology to cancel out background noise. Even if your kids are watching Frozen for the 5,694th time and singing along – no one on your conference call will hear a thing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

[demo-new]<\/p>\n

Work In Small Bursts<\/span><\/h2>\n

Divide your work up into small tasks that can be done while the children watch a TV show, or take a nap. You might not be able to work on a large project for three hours interrupted, but you\u2019ll be able to get chunks of work done throughout the day.<\/span><\/p>\n

Small tasks don\u2019t seem like much at the time, but they will move you forward. A great way to take advantage of small periods of time is to use the <\/span>Pomodoro Technique<\/span><\/a>. Developed by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s, this time management method has been shown to improve focus. It requires you to decide on a task, set a timer for 25 minutes, then work only on that task for the designated time.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Working on one task at a time in such a focused way will make you more accountable, and minimizes the time you spend procrastinating. Many people find that a task that might have taken them an hour when unfocused, can be completed within a 25 minute \u201cPomodoro\u201d session.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Look for Time-Saving Measures in Your Work<\/span><\/h2>\n

Since you have less time than usual to work, this is the time to employ any possible productivity measures that will save time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some useful apps for making your workflow more streamlined:<\/span><\/p>\n