10/20/2011
Seven Tips on Working From Home With Small Kids Underfoot
1. Invest in a laptop: I know that this is not possible for everyone, but my
productivity has increased dramatically since I got my laptop. However,
I am looking at getting my son his own mini computer as he has developed
a bad case of ‘laptop’ envy. I like that I can write anytime of the day, without
having to run into the office every time I want to check my e-mail or work on
my website.
2. Use those pockets of time wisely: Nobody needs to tell you what to do
while the baby naps, but what about when he’s playing quietly in the living
room, or when the older siblings are there to entertain him?
3. Go low-tech: Leave notebooks and pens within reach throughout your
house. Just make sure to put them up somewhere high so that the toddler
doesn’t rip all the pages out or end up with a self-inflicted moustache. And
make sure that the older children know these are YOUR notebooks otherwise
they will be moved, stolen, colored in etc.
4. Get a Portable Office: I implemented this idea so long ago that my
office-in- a- basket has become a part of the furniture in the living room. The
baby doesn’t touch it, which is good as it’s on ground level. I have a large 2
foot by 1 foot wicker lined basket (the kind you can pick up anywhere) filled
with current writing magazines, binders and file folders containing articles I’m
working on, and library books, cds, pens, etc.
5. Prioritize daily and weekly: Take a few minutes each day and at the
beginning of the week to make a list of all that you have to do. Motherhood
is an all-consuming job, and working at home means that we have to be that
much more diligent.
6. Share childcare with a neighbor/friend. If you can’t afford to get a regular
babysitter while you work, consider trading childcare time with a neighbor.
I am lucky to have a neighbor close by (I live in the country) who will watch
my son for a couple of hours a week. I find that I can get writing done with
him around, but when it comes down to crunch time, I like to give my work
the undivided attention it deserves.
7. Get a MP3 player with Voice recording feature: They’ve come out with
a device that plays music while you’re at the gym and doubles as a voice
recorder? Brilliant!
