It’s safe to say we are all suffering during quarantine, but it’s easier to say that working moms are the true heroes. After all, they’re juggling to raise a family with being successful at work, all without leaving home and being stuck inside all day. While we know being a mom is a 24-hours-a-day, seven-day-a-week-type job, when you throw in virtual learning and working from home, for some moms, it’s impossible to get through the day without tons of stress.
Luckily, there are some easy tips and tricks that can help a mom be both the best mom and employee she can be while ensuring her own needs are met during the COVID-19 quarantine.
Find a community online.
It is important to know that you are not alone during all of this, mama! There are millions of moms around the world that are dealing with the same daily stressors you are, and speaking to someone else who is going through the same thing can help you cope. There are plenty of online communities that can help give you answers and a sympathetic shoulder to lean on. One example of this is TrulyMama, an online community for new moms that gives advice, provides product reviews, and offers general parenting tips. You’ll be sure to find a group of like-minded mama’s here.
Create a schedule, and stick to it!
The most important thing that will help you make your work from home life mesh easily with your mom-life is to create a set-in-stone schedule and stick to it. Just because you are working from home doesn’t mean that you have to be the most efficient worker and the best mom all at the same time. It’s important to set specific office hours so you can work uninterrupted. Be clear with your kids that when you are working they must partake in an online school or another quiet activity. It’ll be even better for all of you if you have an actual door you can close, so you can adhere to the schedule and not get easily distracted throughout the day.
Call in the big guns.
There’s a reason our kids go to school, to be taught by professionals who are highly trained in specific subjects! So it can be overwhelming to all of a sudden step in as your child’s teacher, especially if you are unfamiliar with the curriculum. To prevent outbursts and save stress, while ensuring your children are grasping their material, hire a tutor! There are many options such as kids math tutoring, history lessons, and reading and writing classes that will supplement what they are learning throughout their virtual learning day. Plus, this hour or so will give you some time to focus on yourself!
Set boundaries with your coworkers.
It is easy to feel that you need to work all the time because you are working from home. So this makes it so much more important to set boundaries with your coworker on what hours you will be working so they know when you will be available. You cannot be expected to be “on it” the entire day, so it’s important to set a schedule (as mentioned before) and stick to it. One of the best things about going to an office is that you have strict hours, can leave the work behind you, and go home to your family. Think of these boundaries as the same thing — at the end of your work hours, you’ll be able to shut your laptop and focus only on your family.
With these easy tricks in mind, your life as both a mom and an employee during the COVID-19 quarantine will start to feel balanced, allowing you a sense of calm and serenity during these crazy times.
