Working With Baby: 8 Tips For WFH Moms
Last year it felt like everyone who could began working from home. The COVID-19 pandemic sped up already common work-from-home trends, and many parents found themselves suddenly balancing it all.
If you’re still working from home, there are things you can keep in mind to balance your work life and make sure that your baby or toddler is thriving. As a mother myself, I know firsthand how hard it can be to juggle work responsibilities with motherhood.
“If you’re still #WFH, there are things you can keep in mind to balance your work life and make sure that your baby or toddler is thriving. #motherhood #workingmother”
The United Nations reports that both “on the frontlines and at home, women are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.” The pandemic has been detrimental to the economy and many were left jobless in its wake.
More than this, it’s widening the gender wealth gap that sees women earning less than men and falling into poverty at a higher rate. The UN also claims that for every 100 men that will experience extreme poverty in 2021, 118 women will. Worse still, by 2030 the ratio could be 121 women for every 100 men.
The problem that compounds the gender wealth gap is the fact that women also perform unpaid labor in the home, sometimes doing most of the house work and childcare. If you are one of many women who both works from home in a corporate sense and does the bulk of household work and childcare, here are eight tips to make it all go easier.
“If you are one of many women who both works from home in a corporate sense and does the bulk of household work and #childcare, @Takeleadwomen shares eight tips to make it all go easier. #genderequity #workingmothers”
1. Invest in a play area. You want to add a space to your office or workspace where your baby or toddler can be entertained while you’re working. For a baby, you might have a swing for infants. For a toddler, perhaps you set up a corner with toys they can use on their own, without much help or supervision from you. Having this space close to where you work means you can keep an eye on your child even while you’re doing other things. Encouraging independent play for toddlers won’t just help you get work done—it’s also important developmentally.
2. Work when you can. The good thing about working from home is that it often comes with a sense of flexibility. Unless you have to follow a set schedule, work during the times that are good for you. For example, if you’re a morning person and seem to be at your most productive, set some time aside each day before everyone else is up. Maybe, on the other hand, you like the evenings after your baby has gone to bed. You may also find certain blocks of time throughout the workday that allow you to maximize your productivity. This could be during nap time or maybe right after your baby or toddler has been fed.
“Work when you can. The good thing about #WFH is that it often comes with a sense of flexibility. Unless you have to follow a set schedule, work during the times that are good for you. #parentingtips #childcare #workingmother”
3. Have a separate work space. Even if your “office” is just a corner of your house, it’s important that you have an area designated for work. This is because it allows you to mentally separate who you are as a professional and who you are as a parent. Then, when you’re done with work for the day, leave your workspace entirely behind.
“Have a separate work space. Even if your “office” is just a corner of your house, it’s important that you have an area designated for work, as it will allow you to mentally separate who you are as a professional and who you are as a parent. #parentinghacks #motherhood #WFH”
4. Don’t shy away from screen time. Babies aren’t going to use screen time, but toddlers will and if you have an important deadline coming up and you need to get work done, it’s okay to let your child have screen time whether that means time with an iPad or maybe a movie. For instance, one hour a day is perfectly safe for toddlers.
5. Follow a routine. Babies and toddlers do well with a set routine or schedule, and you probably will too. It may take some time to experiment and find what works for you, but once you get into that groove, try to stick to this as closely as you can, at least during the week. Within that schedule, put aside time where you’ll give your baby or toddler undivided attention throughout the day. We’re programmed to think multitasking is optimal, but it’s often not. Set boundaries for both your work and the time you’re dedicating to your child, and focus exclusively on the task at hand as much as you can. When you’re setting a schedule, you can create office hours. These might be the hours when your baby or toddler typically naps, for example, and your clients, employer, or coworkers can know that these are times you can do things like take or return phone calls or participate in virtual meetings. When everyone you work with can manage their expectations, then things will run more smoothly overall.
6. Don’t feel guilty. Mom guilt is very real and can be mentally destructive. Maybe you feel guilt about your job and not being as productive as you think you should be, or perhaps you feel that you’re not giving your baby enough attention. If you’re like many moms, there may be a combination of both. Let go of this guilt. You’re doing the best you can, and working from home with a baby is no easy feat. Give yourself grace, and find what works for you.
“Don’t feel guilty. Mom guilt is very real and can be mentally destructive. You’re doing the best you can, and working from home with a baby is no easy feat. Give yourself grace, and find what works for you. #momguilt #parenting #workingmom”
7. Be OK with unpredictability. It’s ingrained in many of us that unpredictability is inherently bad, and then when something doesn’t go the way you hope or plan for in your workday, that can be upsetting to you as a result. When you’re a work-at-home parent, unpredictability is par for the course. Yes, you want to try your best to have a routine or schedule, but don’t freak out when things don’t go according to plan because it’s inevitable.
8. Consider a work swap. Finally, if you have other neighbors with young kids who are working from home, see if someone wants to swap babysitting. Maybe you take the morning shift, and your neighbor takes the afternoon shift. You could also swap days so that you each have a time where you can focus solely on work. You might also look for low-cost childcare options that can come to your home for a few hours when you need help the most. This way, you aren’t paying for full-time daycare or childcare, but you’re still getting help on an as-needed basis.
Though working from home in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic is stressful, there are plenty of ways to feel less overwhelmed. Good mental health is one of the cornerstones of surviving this difficult period and it’s important to practice self care and be gentle with yourself.
“Though #WFH in the wake of #COVID19 is stressful, there are plenty of ways to feel less overwhelmed. Good #mentalhealth is one of the cornerstones of surviving this difficult period and it’s important to practice #selfcare and be gentle with yourself. ”
Rae Steinbach is a graduate of Tufts University with a combined International Relations and Chinese degree. After spending time living and working abroad in China, she returned to New York City to pursue her career and continue curating quality content.