How to Work at Home and Manage Your Toddler
The best way to work when your toddler is around is by getting as much work done as possible when they aren't up.
This means setting an alarm an hour or 2 before they are up for the day. If you do your best thinking in the morning, tackle your biggest projects sans distractions during this time.
But if you're not a morning person, getting up early can still be useful. Have a cup of java and use this time to arrange yourself, respond to fast email requests, and plan out the rest of your workday.
Take Advantage of Nap Time
Working at home has obvious benefits for many parents, but it is not always easy. Leaving work behind physically isn't possible, and it can be tough to let it go emotionally as well. But if your toddler is trying to get your attention, chances are, he is not going to stop until he succeeds.
But having your home be your office can cause problems--especially if your toddler is home with you during work hours. In fact, trying to be available to work when your toddler is about might be more difficult than any other stage--your little one needs near constant attention, but unlike a baby, your toddler is portable. But it can be done: Here are seven tips for working from home with toddlers.
Encourage Independent Play
Independent play is important for toddler growth and should be encouraged. For working parents, independent play can give mom or dad some much needed time to get work done. Busy bags are a wonderful way to entice your toddler to play by herself. They're exactly what they sound like: bags of simple activities designed to keep toddlers busy.
Hire Help
Sometimes, if you want to work from home successfully, hiring help is crucial. It depends on your situation, but all types of arrangements exist--from a full-day nanny to a parent's helper that comes for a few hours a couple of times a week--and setting up a regular routine with a sitter can help ensure you've dedicated time each week to get your work done.
Take Help
Preparing a babysitting swap is a win-win-win! A swap basically means that one parent chooses both kids for a few hours so the other can operate, and then the parent returns the favor. Besides getting some much needed time alone to put your nose to the grindstone, your kids get a fun playdate.
Get Your House Baby Proof
Baby proofing the house means that your toddler can move around in a safe zone without your constant attention. May be you can set a pack n play for her to contain her near you, so that you can focus better on your work.
Set your to-do list aside, log off the computer, and give your toddler the attention he needs and deserves. Set boundaries and make sure there are loads of work-free times through the day. After all, the biggest perk of working from home is spending time with your toddler--so make sure you take advantage of it.