Finding a good balance as a remote working mom should be one of your top priorities if you want to reach the peak of your productivity while still having and enjoying as much quality time with your family as possible. Here, we’ll explore how to find balance as a remote working mom so you can work towards the ideal working situation.
Communicate Your Needs With Your Employer
The first thing you should do is ensure your needs are clearly communicated with your employer. You should make them aware of your situation so that you can then let them know if there are going to be any hold ups for genuine reasons. Many employers are understanding and will be flexible, but you need to get comfortable communicating with them first.
Optimise Your Stamina
Optimizing your stamina is key if you want to be the most energetic, productive, happy version of yourself. Try to eat for energy as well as enjoyment, rather than just convenience. Eat foods that nourish you and make you feel good. Pay attention when foods make you feel sluggish and avoid them. Prioritize your sleep, too. This can be tough with kids, but trying to get a solid 8 hours a night is hugely beneficial and should not be underestimated.
Know Your Mental and Physical Energy Patterns
Knowing your mental and physical energy patterns is a must if you want to have the most productive and enjoyable days. You can then create a schedule based on this, taking into account any deep work you need to do that requires hyper focus, as well as exercise you’d like to get done. You will probably also need to take into account nap times and the energy patterns of your children if they are home, so keep this in mind. Creating a schedule can help but remember, you can still stray from it a little if you need to. Being able to stay flexible is key.
Set Clear Boundaries with Your Family
Make sure you have clear boundaries with your family. For instance, make sure they know that if your door is closed, they shouldn’t disturb you unless it’s a real emergency. If they don’t respect your boundaries, it’s an opportunity for you to figure out how you make sure they know you are serious. You can’t make yourself available to everyone all the time. You’ll spread yourself too thin.
Give Yourself Time
It’s going to take some time to find the right balance, so give yourself time and be kind. You may still be learning how to right click on a Mac or screenshot – it doesn’t matter. You’ll get to where you need to be eventually. You won’t get there any faster if you beat yourself up and try to rush!
Be Realistic About What You Can Get Done
Make sure you’re realistic about what you can get done. To do lists can be helpful, but if you add too many things then you will end up demotivated when you (naturally) don’t get it all done. Prioritize three things for the day, and make sure they are the most important things. Anything you get done on top of those things can be seen as a bonus. Don’t overstretch yourself or agree to things that you don’t think you’re going to be able to handle. This is a huge issue that many remote working moms face.
Create An Ideal Office Space
Having a great office space at home can make a difference to your motivation, outlook, and productivity. Try to have:
- A tidy, uncluttered space where you can focus.
- A desk and comfortable chair (ergonomic will ensure your posture doesn’t suffer).
- Natural light.
- Artwork and pictures that inspire you.
- Plants to purify the air and beautify the space.
- A door that you can close.
In some cases, you may not have the space available to create a home office. If this is the case, a pair of noise cancelling headphones and a quiet corner of a room can work wonders. You may even want to invest in a room partition so that the feel of a door being closed is still there. Do try not to do your work in your bedroom or on the sofa, as both can create relaxed feelings and leave you in a lazy state. To get focused, you need a space that makes you feel that way.
Get Out Of The House Where You Can
It may be helpful to get out of the house, if you can. If you have a partner who can take the kids for a bit, or even if you can ask for help from a family member occasionally, take advantage of that. If the kids are at school, you may still want to get out of the house. A change of scenery can do a lot for your productivity and motivation, helping you to get more done. See if you can find a hot desk or work in your local library/coffee shop. It can be a good idea to do this if you often find yourself getting distracted by household chores and tasks. Without them in the way, you’ll be able to focus on your work.
Get Dressed and Ready For The Day
Many people believe that a perk of remote work is working in your comfies or pajamas. Don’t do it! You’ll never be able to get in the right state of mind for deep work, and you’ll likely give up early and start watching Netflix. Remember, how you dress has a huge impact on your day.
Forgive Yourself
Forgive yourself, whether you’ve not completed your to do list, missed a deadline, or got impatient and shouted at your kids. Everyone makes mistakes, you just need to make sure you learn from them and figure out what you can change. Sometimes, there won’t be anything you could have done differently. Don’t beat yourself up!
How are you going to find balance as a remote working mom?