Tag: work life balance

How To Manage Work And Kids Together when Working from Home

Every working mom and dad knows the challenges of managing work and kids together and the best part is that a majority of us do pretty well. But the sudden outbreak of coronavirus has made us question our capabilities as we struggle to align the work-at-home culture with unexpected school breaks. So the concern that almost every parent shares today relates to managing work and kids together as we get quarantined for at least a few weeks or even months ahead.

Here are some suggestions I have for work-at-home parents with kids of all ages.

Create and maintain schedules- It will keep you productive and sane and the kids will feel comfortable and normal as well. 

Build a strategy with your partner- Don’t expect to handle the crisis by yourself, rather create a strategy with your partner. Consider working in shifts so that you can balance things as a team.

Communicate- You may be super-busy while working remotely but don’t miss out on communication with the children. Let them know you are always there for them, even when working on your full-time job. 

Keep the kiddos engaged– Art and craft makes an ideal pastime for the younger ones, while you can find some good apps and games for the older children. Still, keep a check on their screen time. 

Delegate- You can delegate the household chores to keep the kids busy and reduce your workload. Rewarding them for helping is a good way to keep them positive and motivated.

Find activities you can do together- Fun family activities like indoor games, preparing dinner together and yoga sessions every evening make a good idea. 

Set boundaries- Set clear boundaries for your children and let them know you will be working from home just like you did from the office. 

Try to have a separate work area- It would be great if you can allocate a work area away from where the kids spend most of their time. Ask them to stay out when you have a virtual meeting or conference call. 

Take breaks and pamper yourself- Be sure to get breaks and spend time pampering yourself because you will need to recharge once in a while

Take one day as it comes- You will not feel stressed about the future as it is hard to predict how long it will last. 

Most importantly, my advice is to be flexible and realize that you cannot be perfect in such an imperfect situation! 

Mantra for Work Life Balance – Do More, Live More

With the New Year just around the corner, it is time to gear up for the upcoming year by making positive resolutions for living better and being more productive in every sphere of life. It is vital to understand the value of high productivity, both personally as well as professionally, as it can enhance the quality of life manifold. Being more productive can take you closer to your goals and make you a happier and more fulfilled person, physically, emotionally and financially.

work life balance

Here are some tips that you can incorporate into your daily life and be more productive in 2017:

Use a tracking app – Mobile apps have ushered in a new revolution as they make things easier to remember and simpler to implement. Whether you are a fitness freak looking to lose weight or want to perform better at work, there is a host of apps available to help you out. Just install the right one on your mobile and get all that you want at a touch of the screen.

Just move it! – Be sure to make exercise a part of your daily routine as it can improve the fitness of the body and the mind. You can join an aerobic class, hit the gym or simply step out for the morning jog. Yoga and meditation are best for those looking to improve overall health and wellness. Whatever you do, just get moving!!

Feed your soul with good music – Listening to your favourite music changes your mood, makes you happier and ups your energy levels. Play your favourite music as you drive to work or have the best on your phone so that you can plug in your earphones during the lunch break. Good music is sure to pep you up when you feel low.

Don’t procrastinate – Procrastination is the biggest obstacle as it robs you of peace of mind and makes life more stressful. Avoid putting off tasks for later; getting done with the ones that challenge you first is a smart move as you won’t mind doing the easier ones once you are in full swing.

Don’t over-commit – Be kind to yourself as you take up tasks at responsibilities at home or work. Don’t over-commit or overbook your calendar as it can increase stress levels and hamper your productivity. Take one step at a time so that you can handle things to perfection.

Organise your paperwork – Paperwork is one thing that can be hard to manage as it loads up the pressure as well as makes simple things complicated. Have a day of the week allocated to organising your paperwork so that things are sorted out and planned for the entire week ahead. A few hours invested here can make all the difference in your productivity.

Organise your diary on the weekend – Maintain a journal and organise it on a weekly basis so that things are planned well in time. Inculcating this habit is sure to make your life much more productive, personally as well as professionally.

Get good night’s sleep – Being effective is not only about completing your daily and long run tasks ad goals, but charging you up for the same. A good night’s sleep plays a vital role in keeping your energy levels high so that you can jump into the next day with renewed vigour and energy.

Take regular breaks – Refresh yourself with regular breaks so that life does not become monotonous. Weekend trips to your favourite destination or even casual hangouts with friends can be great ways of relaxing and recharging.

Follow your passion – Whether it is cooking, reading, dancing or any other activity that you are passionate about, make time for what you love to do. Following your passion is going to bring positive energy and enthusiasm, making you live better and be a happier person.

De-clutter regularly – Make de-cluttering a routine…. with your wardrobe, home and office desk. Make “Less is more” the mantra of your life as it is easier to manage without redundant clothes, furniture and paperwork.

Invest in a good coffee machine

If you are a hardcore coffee lover, gift yourself a coffee machine this Christmas and add to your productivity levels. An excellent coffee is sure to pep you up for taking any task from the front and finishing it off faster and more efficiently.

Make a resolution to follow these easy rules this New Year and be a more productive person in 2017!!!