Work from Home Effectively with Children at Home This Summer

If you work from home you know you have enough distractions without worrying about your children being home from school this summer. But balancing your work at home can make it hard to focus on your children. Now that they are out of school for the summer, you need to be prepared for a whole new set of challenges. You need to focus on your work, but you always want to spend time with your children. You don't want to miss all your children's fun summer activities. After all, isn't that why you work at home in the first place? Below are a few suggestions to help you find a system of balance.

Start with specific time limits and allotted work times. It helps to know what work you need to do each day. Have a list of items you want to complete, and stick to it. Let your children know that, now that they are home for summer, they will have to spend some time entertaining themselves. Tell them what you need to complete and that you will be able to spend time with them once you have finished the work you need to do. This works easier if you can do your work in small chunks. Maybe you are used to working 8 hour days, but your children are not going to entertain themselves for 8 straight hours! Consider getting up early with them and working while they are distracted with breakfast and early morning cartoons. Better yet, consider getting up a couple of hours earlier to have quiet time to work. I am a night owl, so after I put my son to bed is when I am able to be the most productive and get the most work done.

Take time to play games with them, too. If your children are begging for your attention, eventually you are going to have to give it to them. If you are at home, take the time to stop and play a quick game. Or head outside for a quick walk or a quick trip to the library. Let your children know that when you return you have to get back to work. Suggest summer activities that they can do in the mean time (until you are ready for another game break).

Enroll help! This may be the hardest step but it is also the most crucial! Having some alone time with the kids away may really open up your creative or business juices. There are just some things you will do better (and faster) when your children are not sitting at your elbow. Babysitters cost money and most work at home parents are on a tight budget, but consider some of your friends that may work at home or stay at home. Do you know someone who works part time or is off on a certain day of the week? Would they be willing to trade babysitting favors? My mom is off on Tuesdays and she takes my son running around with her when she runs errands. It's not all day, but it gives me a few quiet moments to myself so I can concentrate on my work (and my son enjoys getting out of the house).

Even though it is summer, you still need to work, but your children aren't going let you sit still for very long. However, if you plan out your work and the take advantage of the time you have, you can still be productive even with a houseful of children home this summer!