We’re now 36 days into our second round of working from home partnered with home schooling (but if we're being honest, it feels like we've been playing homeschool for approximately 15 years) and as much as it’s become somewhat of a routine, it’s still no mean feat.
The minute you think you’ve found your balance walking the tightrope between supervising, learning the new ways to do maths, providing unending snacks AND holding down a full time job, you find yourself right back in the home-learning trenches because someone touched someone else’s foot under the table.
If you can relate you’ll want to check out the 10 step guide below created by Sinead Norton, mum of 7, multipreneur and founder of the online networking group for female business owners and entrepreneurs Mums At Work which boasts 4000 members.
TIP #1 MAKE TIME FOR YOUR HOUSEHOLD WORK
Spend half an hour every day doing essential home cleaning maintenance and don 't let it take up more than that daily. Then do a purge or a de-clutter once a weeK. It' s not possible for the house to sit like a palace with everyone in it and trying to keep it like this is fire fighting and a waste of time and resources.
TIP #2 CREATE A WEEKLY MEAL PLAN
Don 't waste time running to the shops. Or standing looking inside the fridge hoping for inspiration. Know what is for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day and prep it in advance so it can be quickly made.
TIP #3 CREATE THE HOMESCHOOLING PLAN
Create the plan for kids work, the essential serious stuff, the arts and crafts, music and dancing, exercise, online quizzes etc
TIP #4 CREATE YOUR WORKDAY TIMETABLE
Create your workday timetable. Do you have calls you need to make? Or a zoom meeting? Do you have a presentation to make? Align the face to face stuff with the homeschooling timetable - Use the time YOU know your OWN children will be most occupied to do the calls. This will be different for everyone.
TIP #5 USE SCREENS
It can 't be all work all day for kids and for it to work realistically, you can consider sticking on a game, or a movie if you have calls to make or meetings to attend. Make sure to have the snacks handy! As long as you have the homeschooling work part of the day covered, does time really matter? Needs must!
TIP #6 PICK YOUR QUIET TIME
There are some things that need to be done in complete peace and quiet! So this means either sitting up past bedtime, or getting up early in the morning. Or waiting for a partner to come home from work to take over. You just have to resign yourself that this is what it is going to take.
TIP #7 MOVEMENT AND RELAXATION
Both you and your kids are going to need time when you get fresh air and exercise. So if this means a quick walk around the block or dancing in the back garden, make sure you fit it in so you don 't get cabin fever. Give yourself regular breaks through the day, drink water and have a switch off time in the day for normal stuff!
TIP #8 BE KIND TO YOURSELF
Be kind to yourself. This is a learning curve. There is no perfect way to do this. Get the important stuff done first and then anything else is a bonus. Once you have settled into a routine, then everything else will slot in too.
TIP #9 CHUNK TASKS
If you do all the same kinds of tasks together, even with your kids, then you could be more productive! Or at least feel like you are getting somewhere. Leaving lots of things half finished will make you feel unorganised and flustered. And then you feel like you are getting nowhere!
TIP #10 THINK OF THE POSITIVES
Keep reminding yourself that this means:
No more wasting money and time on commuting
No school run rush in the morinings
No more snacks at the shop on the way home
No money wasted on takeaway coffes & lunches
No extra time spent getting dressed up to get out the door
