As Zazzlers, many of us work from home (at least while Zazzling) and this includes the Zazzle team since the Pandemic. I have been working from home for the last 19yrs (since having my children) having moved from a very busy, social working environment with long hours (Health Management setting). I've created this tips guide based on my own experiences and lessons learned. I hope you find it useful if you are new to Zazzle or new to working from home. Please add your own advice, home working experiences, funny anecdotes!
These are crazy times, aren't they? Many of us are now living in isolation and working from home for the first time. How do you work when you have a toddler and cat on your lap, a teenager gaming in the background, and your other half trying to hoover under your feet?
Let's just say there's going to be a LOT of compromises, routine and forward planning to make it work. But don't worry, where there is a will there is a way and despite the odds, it can be done!
From experience ...
Since becoming a mum 19yrs ago I have worked from home doing one thing or the other and so I am very well acquainted with the pros and cons. If you've got a baby or young children at home the challenges can be immense because unlike older children they do need constant supervision.
With that said teenagers are no picnic! Being in each other's space day in day out will bring its own challenges. Sibling rivalries, having to share devices / TV/gaming equipment. Boredom creates its own amusement with petty squabbles and acting out.
Tip - Space at this time is all-important. Try to work out a 'zone' (if not a room) for each family member to escape to which only they can occupy. This is more important than you might realize now but as time in working from home goes on, you'll appreciate it more and more.
How to do office work when your home is now your office
1. Firstly and most importantly - don't try to be perfect at everything
You're flesh and blood and cannot be expected to perform everything to the highest standard even if that's what you are used to. Don't aspire to be the world's greatest parent, housekeeper, cook, breadwinner. If you set yourself up for greatness you will fail because it's physically impossible. It is exhausting, thankless (often), and has the potential to make you ill.
If you want to survive working from home, cut yourself a LOT of slack.
I've been there done that and know what I'm talking about. You need to work to put food on the table. At the same time, your children and partner want and need attention, love, and acknowledgment. The household needs feeding, the house needs cleaning. There's washing to do, the dog to exercise, the room to finish decorating, the car to MOT ... the list becomes endless and daunting when you realize you also now have to work amidst all this chaos.
Being able to separate work from 'life' is how we manage to focus on work. Bring the two things together and this becomes seemingly impossible. But you're going to try .. believe me, you are going to try to be brilliant at it all.
And then it starts...
Feelings of guilt swallowing you up for not being a perfect perfect parent; for being snappy and short-tempered, for not having enough time to do 'anything' properly. Feeling like a failure because you can't figure out how on earth you're going to juggle home and work life and still stay sane.
Advice - Just do the best you can do while making your health and sanity a priority. If you're a primary caregiver in your family home, the rest of your household can't afford to be without you, so taking care of YOU is all-important. This means, eat, sleep, rest, play, and don't overdo the self-sacrifice. No one wins in that situation. What I'm going to aim to show you here is how to gain some control over this situation with your health and your family's health a priority.
2. Ask for help and accept help
Allow others to help you. You are at home BUT you are 'working'. Have other family members step up and not only fend for themselves but ask them to make your lunch (hopefully they'll offer) bring you a cup of tea/coffee, attend to basic household chores.
If mum and dad are worn out, exhausted, stressed with no way to 'escape' and release the tension due to lockdown and isolation orders, everyone suffers. The most important thing for your sanity and general health is that you get enough breaks, sleep, eat, and can work relatively uninterrupted. Make these things a priority because if you're not well or happy, your children won't be either. Happy parents = happy kids!
3. Create a routine - do split shifts
Find a shift pattern that best fits around your family's immediate needs so you are functioning as normally as possible and without burning yourself out!
4. Try to have mealtimes together with your family
Try to keep a sense of family unity and togetherness and normality for the children and your partner. Having meals together is one way to ensure this. Even if you've never done it before, now is a great time to start!
Devices OFF, everyone sharing in the meal preparation and then eating it at leisure together and everyone helping to clear-up afterward. Ideally, you will be exempt from cooking/cleaning up in recognition of the fact you're 'working'. However, if that's not possible, just make it a family 'event' and get everyone even the little ones to play their part. Emphasize the 'team' spirit part of it.
5. Set activities for your children to do nearby and within sight.
You will be tempted at first to be in a separate room because that is how you're used to working. If you don't have another adult to supervise this isn't wise. Not only will you have constant interruptions, but your kids will be getting very busy with paint pots, breakables, felt tips, and all manner of things you've seen in memes on Facebook! This is where you find out every little darling is capable of being a little devil!
I am no child expert but I'm sure I'm right when I say children will much better behave and be less attention-seeking if they can see their parent/caregiver. This is not ideal and if you're working from home for the first time will take some adjusting to.
Make it easier by setting activities for your children, which have an end goal and which require concentration (thus a level of quietness is assumed). Having a target to work toward will give the children a sense of satisfaction and you can discuss their progress and the end product with enthusiasm. They're 'working too'. Children like to copy their parents, help them to feel productive and useful with mini tasks they can manage. ie. Folding clothes .. it won't be perfect but does it have to be?
6. Take a 10min. break every hour
Use this 10mins. to give your children your undivided attention. Explain to them that if they interrupt you in your 'work minutes' that the time will be deducted from their quality time with you. This should help ensure fewer interruptions while you work.
Tip - Using a timer will help them and you to stick to this arrangement. It will give them something to look forward to!
Ten minutes each hour is 40mins over a 4hr period so it is in NO WAY at all excessive. But if you choose to work 2hrs flat out and then break for 20mins, your children will likely be interrupting you and feeling your absence. And if you think this isn't enough time with your kids ... don't forget you have three mealtimes of full-on togetherness and more time again in the evening and you have to work!
Don't forget if your children can still see you, they're still technically 'with you' and that will ensure they feel secure and safe. If you have very small children to look after, you may find it easier to get them into a good 'nap' routine and work during their naptimes.
7. Organize your workspace
Everyone will have a different amount of available space for working. From having to squeeze onto the end of a kitchen worktop to having a home office complete with your own coffee-making machine. For most though who are new to working from home, it's more likely to be the former!
Find a space that allows you to connect to the Internet or other equipment you may need to do your job. Make this a 'no go' area for the rest of the family. It's your space, no touching or messing with your stuff allowed! Set things up for your comfort and ease of access.
8. Equip your home office
You may find you're missing some things which you took for granted while working away from home. Things that you can easily and inexpensively order online to use at home. Here's a list of things you may find useful to equip your new home office.
- Dry erase board / Whiteboard
- Notice board
- Post its
- Stapler
- Hole punch
- Paper / Files / Folders
- Desk Calendar
- Pens / pencils / highlighters
- Ink for the printer - a printer!
- Homeschooling items
- Shredder
- Laptop stand
- Back pillow
Things you don't need but would be totally awesome!
- A home office desk nameplate
- Personalized Post its
- Personalized Clipboard
- Home office wall clock
- Your own 'work from home mug! Hands off fam!
- A personalized pen that the kids cannot borrow
- Notices about noise control and 'home office' rules.
- Family Photo Paperweight
- Your own award
- Personalized journal, planner, diary.
- Homeschooling bits and bobs
(all available from Zazzle of course!)
That concludes my tips and tricks for working from home!
Please DO share your home working tips and anecdotes in the comments below.
I know zoom has added a whole new level to working from home. Upper half-dressed for the office, lower half, pajamas or less! Cats stealing the show, rabbits chewing through internet cables... it is all going on. Let's have a laugh - tell us your story!
