Tips For Working From Home When Your Children Are Home

When you work from home, you have to take every opportunity that you have to get some work done. However, when you have children, this becomes even more important. You may try to work around your children when they are younger, and long for the day when they go off to school! This may be your first chance at some uninterrupted time to work.

Then, you get used to having time to yourself to work on your business, and before you know it, they are going to have days off of school. Then, you find out that it is summer and your children are home all the time! Your productivity may go down due to the simple fact that your children are home with you again, though it doesn't have to be this way.

Here are some tips to help you stay productive, even with all of the interruptions that may come your way.

Consider buying a laptop so that you can work no matter where you are! My business took off when I bought a laptop. I take it everywhere! I work outside while the boys play in the sandbox. It goes with me to the park, as I sit by the playground. I have even taken it to vacation bible school to work while the boys had class. It has even gone to the stream, while the boys were busy "fishing" and playing.

Hire some help. Even though you may have decided to work from home so that you didn't need a babysitter or to put your children in daycare, the truth is that there are going to be times when it is necessary. You might have some important phone calls that can't be interrupted, or you may be facing a deadline that you can't miss.

Ask your family and friends to help. Your parents may love to spend some quality time with their grandchildren. You may even be lucky to get a few days to get some quality work done.

If you have friends that have children, you may be able to find a way to share some of the responsibilities. You may be able to keep someone else's children for a few hours so that they can do the same for you! A few hours with some extra kids may give you the same amount of time to focus on your business.

Rely on your other half. Though you may be the primary caretaker during the day when your other half works, you may be able to work in the evenings and weekends when he or she is home. You (and your business) may need to be flexible when your children are home.

Don't be afraid to ask your children to help. Depending on their age, your children may be able to help you with your business. They may be able to help you organize your paperwork and mailings.

They may even be able to do some phone calls for you. Not only will you get the help and the chance to spend some quality time with your children, but it can also get them interested in starting their own business too (or join yours when they get older).

Camps and other summer activities can be a lifesaver! If you can afford to send your children to a camp (or even just a day camp), you will have some uninterrupted time to put toward your business.

Though it can be hard to work around your children, you can still keep your business running when they are home. You may need to buy a laptop that you can take wherever you go!

You may also need to hire some help (or swap favors with some of your friends). Your spouse may also be helpful if he or she can watch the children while you work. You may even want to look at some camps and other activities so that you can have some uninterrupted time to work.

Previously published on Medium.