Photo by kike vega on Unsplash
If you are having trouble finding ways to fill your time throughout quarantine then take a look at our suggestions below.
Start a journal or blog
If you like writing, then why not think about starting a journal or blog. Writing down your thoughts and feelings can be very therapeutic. If you have an interest or hobby that you think other people would love to hear about then creating a blog online for people to read is the way forward.
Balancing work, parenting, and sometimes, even schooling at the same time can take a significant toll on work-from-home moms. The pressure to remain relevant in uncertain times, such as the pandemic season, is real and challenging. According to the US census department, working women make up 32% of all employed mothers in America. As significant as this is, it doesn’t take away the fact that you need to adopt measured strategies to remain relevant. Fortunately, we’ve created this list below to help.
Be up to date with technology
For most women, the best technology is knowing how to operate a smartphone and a computer. If that is you, you’ll need an immediate paradigm shift on what technology is and how it influences your performance as a work-from-home mother. Make a deliberate attempt to get a basic understanding of digital systems and procedures used in the office, which aided your previous career. More importantly, now that your office setting is the home, apply this knowledge to enhance your performance.
Furthermore, because technology continues to evolve at lightning speed, you cannot afford to be left behind. Besides, there is a possibility your current status may change and would require going back to the office to work. There are simple but effective ways you can stay abreast with technology. For example, instead of using the traditional way (pen and paper) to record your expenses, try Google Sheets to input your monthly budget and track expenses.
Secondly, you can back up your phone’s operating system to cloud storage and learn the ins and outs of this digital method. The objective is to find innovative ways to optimize your knowledge in technology and digital systems.
Enroll in professional development classes
This shouldn’t be too difficult to do, especially when you understand why you must do it. Staying at home to work does not in any way take you out of the labor force. The only difference is where you operate from, even though that includes keeping your toddler from punching your computer’s keypad. Staying relevant in your profession is almost synonymous with self-development. Education is a continuous process; this explains why people who look forward to upgrading their skills prioritize further learning.
Fortunately, several universities and colleges in the US have made a significant commitment to moving some courses online. Some examples are:
Baylor University (Texas)
Simmons University (in Massachusetts)
University of Denver (in Colorado)
Courses such as digital marketing, business writing, design, communication, and languages are useful in your career development. Another virtual course currently making waves is the Masters’ in social work program. If you have a passion for helping people and communities, then maybe you can learn more about an online msw program. The universities listed above (and more in the US) offer this program, and you will find it convenient to study at your pace.
Set realistic goals for yourself (daily, weekly, monthly)
Wouldn’t you have set daily targets for yourself if you were working from the office? Then working from home shouldn’t be any different. Targets are meant to guide you and prevent you from losing focus. So, whether you have to hook your tiny tot to the hip and type your work to meet deadlines, that’s what you’ve got to do. Nonetheless, take it easy on yourself by planning your day and setting realistic goals. How can you do this?
First, make a list of every important task you need to complete in a day. Remember to group them in the order of ‘important and urgent’ and ‘important but not urgent.’ This guideline will set the platform to tackle urgent tasks while making time to finish with those that aren’t. Admittedly, this is not easy to do with kids in the home.
However, if your significant other is available, plan with them to help you both fulfill your work and home responsibilities. If it’s just you, you could consider starting your day several hours before the kids wake up in the morning. Whatever works for you, the fundamental principle is to minimize or eliminate non-performance.
Take needed breaks and set flexible schedules into your routines
Not everyone can control their work hours and keep it strictly free from interruptions. For work-from-home moms, you may need a magic wand for that. This is when you should build some flexibility in your work schedules. Without it, you have a higher chance of losing focus on work and affecting your relevance as a professional working from home.
A flexible schedule should include using your breaks to attend to pressing home and childcare responsibilities. For example, feeding the kids, doing the dirty dishes, or other chores you deem necessary. Indeed, taking breaks from work gives your brain a chance to rest and rejuvenate. It creates the needed balance you require to be effective in your professional life.
It is not an easy path to take, but with your tenacity, you will be happy with your achievements. Avoid getting into a routine that downplays your importance and renders you ineffective, especially in your career or side hustle. Hopefully, these points will help you stay relevant as a work-from-home mom.
Working and having a family is a big job and responsibility to undertake. You do a lot for others during the week and have many tasks you need to complete and take care of professionally speaking. It may feel overwhelming at times, and you might look forward to having some free time over the weekend for yourself.
Get your spouse to help out with the kids and commit to following through with some or all of the below ideas after a long week. You’ll be glad you did and can return to working and taking care of your kids feeling re-energized after you’ve had some time to yourself.
Moving home can be time-consuming and expensive. Juggling the end of one tenancy and the start of a new one or both the sale and purchase of two properties is often stressful. You might not be able to take any time off for it, and you have a lot of things to do to get it all sorted. Moving with kids or pets can complicate things further, and it's especially tricky if you're moving a longer distance. Forgetting to do a number of tasks is easy, but it could put you at a disadvantage. So what should you remember to do when planning and carrying out your move?
Compare Moving Quotes
Booking movers isn't something that you want to do too soon, especially as you want to make sure you know how much you have to move. But you also don't want to leave it too late if you want to save money and get everything organized. Comparing quotes from several companies is the right thing to do if you want to avoid spending too much. You can either go straight to a company like Allied Van Lines for a quote or use a comparison or quote service to get several quotes at once. Don't leave this task too late. You want time to make a decision and book your movers.
Image from Pexels - CC0 License
Create a Schedule and To-Do List
Creating a schedule for your move isn't necessarily something you have to do, but it's definitely going to make your move a lot easier. You'll know when you need to be out of your current property, when you can move into your new one, and when you have to start packing. A to-do list will give you all of the tasks that have to be completed so that you can schedule them on a timeline that suits you.
Easily Accessible Items for Your First Night
When you arrive in your new place, you don't want to have to hunt around for plates, bedding or other important items that you'll need on your first night there. Once you've got everything inside, you probably don't want to start packing or assembling furniture right away. So be sure to have easily accessible items for the first day or so, including things to eat and drink from and everything that you need to go to bed and get up in the morning. That could include your shower stuff, a change of clothes, and breakfast items.
Notifying Important People and Organizations
Moving home means telling a lot of people that you're moving. While most people do remember to do this, they often leave it until the very last minute - and there might be some people you forget about. Make a list of everyone you need to tell, from friends and family to bill companies, work, your kids' schools, and anyone else that might need to know your new address.
Don't forget about these important tasks when you move home if you want to keep your move as organized as possible.
