Jobs working from home for moms may sound absolutely delightful at first! You’d have all the time in the world to spend with your little bundle of joy and not have to worry about the commute. No more worrying about having to impress coworkers, pumping every so often so that you have a supply built up, or stressing about not being with the baby! But as wonderful as all of these perks are, jobs working from home for moms are not as simple as they sound.
The first few weeks of your maternity leave will likely feel like a blur. You’re just getting into a daily routine and recovering from labor. Introducing work on top of that can feel extremely overwhelming, but there are tons of tricks to help ease your stress!
9 Tips and Tricks for WAHM’s
Get into a routine
If you don’t already have your baby set on a routine, start establishing one immediately. According to PBS, “Consistent routines, activities that happen at about the same time and in about the same way each day provide comfort and a sense of safety to young children. Whether it is time to play, time for a snack, a nap, or a loved one to return, knowing what will happen next gives babies and toddlers security and emotional stability. It helps them learn to trust that caring adults will provide what they need.”
Once you have your sleep and meal routine down with the baby, you can incorporate independent playtime where you can get work done while your child works on an activity.
Make a to-do list
Now that you have established your routine, you can make a day to day to-do list based on the times you are available. If you get the majority of your work done while the baby is down for a nap, make sure to have what you’re going to do outlined. This will allow for a smooth transition from putting the baby in the crib to jumping into work mode.
Read More: Prep for a Successful Week with Weekly to-do list
But don’t stop at your day-to-day routine, you can also plan out projects for the month. With jobs working from home for moms, things are bound to pop up, but knowing what you have to accomplish ahead of time will ease the stress of having to get things done right away.
Set up an office (and baby play space)
Having a workspace will help your mind get into “work mode”. You can keep everything organized in this area and not have to worry about where the baby took your notebook. You can also set up a baby play space right next to your own desk. Depending on the age of your baby, this can range from an area with a bouncer to a small desk for your toddler to color and do their work.
*Bonus tip: Dress for the job you want, not the job you have! Ditch those pajamas when you sit down to do your work and put on a nice blouse! This will separate work from home and get your mind in the right place!
Time management is key
While there will be those times where you have to work throughout the entire day, try to stay dedicated to the time slots you have made. When you’re interacting with the baby, try not to multitask work on top of it. Giving your baby your full attention during certain times can help separate mom time from independent playtime, encouraging the baby to be more independent when you need them to be.
Independent playtime is a wonderful thing
Stressful jobs working from home for moms can make you feel that you have to do both jobs at the same time. Although you need to make sure your child is safe and healthy all the time, you don’t necessarily need to spend 100% of your day making sure they’re entertained.
Parents says that “while interaction with adults and peers is vital to a child’s development, experts say it’s just as crucial for babies and toddlers to have time by themselves. Solo time provides a baby with a variety of learning opportunities — he can explore his environment at his own pace, become self-reliant, focus his attention, and learn from his mistakes. An added bonus: All of these experiences boost a child’s self-esteem.”
Get outside the house
It’s so easy to fall into the routine of staying at home. According to the Child Mind Institute, “Recent studies have exposed the benefit—even necessity—of spending time outdoors, both for kids and adults. Some argue that it can be any outdoor environment. Some claim it has to be a “green” environment—one with trees and leaves. Others still have shown that just a picture of greenery can benefit mental health. These nuances aside, most of the studies agree that kids who play outside are smarter, happier, more attentive, and less anxious than kids who spend more time indoors.”
Making the time to get a breath of fresh air for both you and your baby will make working from home feel a lot less lonely.
Read More: Nature Scavenger Hunt
Meal Prep
The last thing that you want to think of doing while juggling work and the baby is what you’re going to eat during the day. Dedicate one or two days to meal prep for the entire week. This way you can simply pop a meal out of the freezer and not spend hours in the kitchen every single day.
Read More: Tips and Tricks for Preparing Freezer Meals
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Whether you’re a new mom or you’ve been working from home with your baby for a while, it can be hard to ask for help. Reach out to your significant other or a close friend when you’re feeling overwhelmed. More times than not, your loved ones are more than happy to jump in when you need someone to vent to, a hand in cleaning up, or a baby sitter.
Read More: 25 Ways to Calm Baby when Mom needs a break
Consider hiring a part-time nanny
When you make your to-do list, you can see if big meetings or projects are coming up. During those times, you may not be able to squeeze in your work during naptime. Consider hiring a part-time nanny to come in and watch your little one during those big moments.
Although jobs working from home for moms can be exhausting, remember not every parent is able to spend these moments with their children. Make sure to soak up every moment you have with your little one, and use these tips to ease the juggle of working and being a full-time mom.
WANT TO READ MORE?
Need some uplifting words from other moms? Be sure to check out A Letter from a Working Mom to a Stay at Home Mother and vice-versa.
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Photo Credits: Lauren Benson Photography
Sources: Parents | Child Mind Institute | PBS
