80c94c09453dfe07681fde78e769353f.jpg){kind=logo}
Many of us moms find ourselves working in one capacity or another at home. Some of us work for an outside employer, others are freelancing or in business for ourselves, and still others manage family finances and the seemingly endless paperwork it takes to run a home and raise a family. So in this spirit, we wanted to address a few frequent problems that arise and offer creative ways to handle them. Here are a few Mom Central tips on making your work more efficient, productive, and much less stressful:
Finding privacy and a noise-free zone
1.) Set up your desk or office in a part of the house from which the sounds of your baby’s crying, children fighting, cartoons on TV, or the dishwasher running is not distracting you or overheard by business callers.
2.) Carve out a separate space for your office -- a spare bedroom, den, basement, attic, walk-in closet, hallway, or even a part of your bedroom.
3.) If your child is being watched at home care by someone else, have a door that locks to avoid unexpected pop-in visits and demands while you are concentrating or on an important work phone call.
Arrange for classes and activities that take your children out for fresh air or on new adventures.
Fielding interruptions from your child
1.) Explain the importance of your work, and the difference for you between play time and work time to your child if he or she is 4-years-old or older.
2.) Have your child draw an "At-Work" sign for the door to your home office.
3.) Tell your child that when your office door is open, you welcome interruptions, and when it’s closed, you cannot be disturbed.
4.) Keep snacks and drinks close to your work space if going to the kitchen means your child will see you and clamor for your attention.
5.) Arrange your work day so that the work you do while your child is home or awake is conducive to interruptions, such as catching up on reading or filing.
6.) Tell your child that your desk and computer are off-limits as an art or play space, unless you say otherwise. Childproof the area if you have a younger child whom you will be allowing into the space, or put up a gate or lock on the door to keep your child out of your work space.
7.) Decide whether you will allow playdates over to the house on the days or times that you work, and where the children need to play to keep the noise down.
8.) Explain to your child that office supplies like your tape dispenser, scissors, or stapler, cannot be taken off for a project elsewhere in your house without first asking your permission and then ensuring their prompt return.
About the Author:
Stacy DeBroff is the founder and President of MomCentral.com, one-stop web resource dedicated to providing busy moms with smart household and parenting solutions.
