Technology has changed how the world works. The Internet has made it possible for people to work from home. Many companies are starting to embrace the idea for their workers to remotely work when possible.
The thought of working from home often focused on the pleasant aspect, but many don’t consider the challenge of the work/life balance. It can be even more complicated when you’re a mom. Juggling working at home remotely and being a mom can be challenging, but it’s not impossible.
We interviewed our team member, Juanita Casas, who is our Head of Operations to learn more about her superpowers of being able to work from home and be a full-time mom. Here are her tips and tricks to help you become the superhero of your own remote work story, no matter if you’re a new mom working from home with an infant or are just starting out working from home with older children.
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1. Don’t Panic
It can be exciting and overwhelming to consider working at home while also being a mom. You may start to panic, trying to figure out the best way to handle both of your worlds as they collide. The key is to try not to panic, but focus on how you can go about taking care of both work and kids without neglecting yourself.
2. Getting Back Into Work Mode
Mondays can be particularly hard after being able to focus entirely on being a mom during the weekend or other extended time off. You have to adjust back to being able to put your working hat on while also tending to your little one. Understanding that it can be hard to get back into a working mindset is the first step to getting the balance you need.
3. Understand the Benefits
When you feel like it’s too challenging to balance these two worlds, you should think about the benefits that come from working remotely. For Juanita, it’s being able to enjoy meals and break times with her son. The joy of being able to do that makes it a worthwhile effort.
Plus, for her, it’s the peace of mind of knowing that she’ll be there if there is ever an emergency. Understanding the benefits that you get as a mom in being able to be home can often help to reduce the feelings of frustration or upset that can sometimes happen. It may not make it easier to cope when you feel like you’re at your breaking point, but it’s one way to help refocus your mind on why you’re doing it.
4. Coworkers Can Help
Company culture can play a significant role in how you’re balancing act of being a mom and a coworker goes. For Juanita, she has coworkers that understand that she may need to hold her son during a Zoom call or that there may be crying or other kid noises heard in the background.
Reaching out to other coworkers that are in the same situation can be another way to better balance. It’s nice to know you’re not alone. Plus, they can be a great place for advice on what’s working for them. You never know, you may be the one that helps them with their remote working efforts.
5. Create Your Own Structure
It can be essential to create your own daily structure that makes it possible for you to focus on your work while also being a mom. Try to find ways where you can build in time for what’s vital for you to do with your kids during the day while also carving out sufficient time to get your remote work done.
Juanita points out how important it is for her to give her son his morning bath to start their day. It’s a great time to bond and be together with her focus on him before she starts to work. Then, she’s able to put her attention on her work until it’s time to break for lunch, where she can go back to focusing on spending time with her son. Once lunch is over, it’s back to getting her work done until it’s time to unplug at the end of the day.
Creating a structure that you can follow can assist you in making the most out of your time working from home. What works for you may not be what works for others, and that’s okay as long as you’re staying healthy, spending time with your kids, and getting the job done.
The key takeaway is that it’s crucial to create a schedule and routine that works best for your situation while building in a support system with your peers. You may find that what works perfectly for Juanita may not be exactly right for you, and that’s okay. Use these tips to find your remote work/life balance where you take care of yourself, your family, and your work.
