Let’s face it, working from home is not all peaches and butterflies, especially when you have 1 or 2 toddlers running around the house, creating chaos! But there are things that can make make working from home easier for mom’s life.
I started working from home as soon as my son was born 2 years ago, and trust me, I’ve shed a tear or two, questioned my sanity, and even hid in the bathroom for a moment of peace. I wondered if there was something I was doing wrong. But I wasn’t. On the contrary, I was doing everything RIGHT. I just needed the right guidance. If this is you, you’ll be happy to discover the key things to make working from home easier.
1. Roomba Vacuum
If you’re a mom who works from home, you know how difficult it can be to keep your home clean while juggling a ton of other responsibilities. We are aware of how important it is to clean away dirt, crumbs, and pesky dust bunnies to keep things clean. Having a tidy workspace is critical to your productivity.
Plus, there’s the added challenge of toddlers putting anything and everything in their mouths if we don’t clean up in the blink of an eye – not the healthiest scenario. So, how do you manage to keep the floors clean while juggling work deadlines and chasing after your adorable little tornado?
Behold the Roomba! I’ve had my eye on this little piece of wizardry for years, wondering if it might be the answer to my cleaning problems. I used my Dyson to sweep and clean several times a day. “Hey, sorry about the floor, but I think we’re just filthy and I don’t have time to vacuum” I would frequently say to guests. Now that I’ve bit the bullet, I’m sorry I didn’t purchase a Roomba earlier. I can now go around my house barefoot without worrying about a hundred small crumbs sticking to the bottom of my shoes. I’ve never enjoyed a cleaning gadget or appliance as much as I love this one.
The eufy BoostIQ RoboVac has excellent performance, value, and cleanability. This thing is a serious workhorse that is well worth the price, picks up a ton of additional dirt, and is easy to empty and clean the hairs off the rollers. Make working from home easier with this gadget.
Another great option is the iRobot Roomba 692. With its exceptional performance, the robotic vacuum cleaner is incredibly easy to use. Features include Wi-Fi connectivity, self-charging, personalized cleaning recommendations, working with Alexa, and being good for pet hair. This one is less than $200.
2. Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Ever been on a conference call, you’re about to speak, and bam! Your baby decides it’s the perfect time to start a screaming concert in the background? If you haven’t had this happen to you, consider yourself lucky.
I swear by my noise-canceling headphones, they drown out all background noise, including baby screams. They’re total game-changers. Whether I’m in a virtual meeting or trying to squeeze in some tasks while my little one naps, these headphones are a lifesaver. They help me tackle work and focus like a champ – nothing can distract me when I’ve got these bad boys on.
My pick is the TOZO HT2 Hybrid Active Noise Cancelling Headphones. It’s performance, sound quality, appearance and comfort are all outstanding. The headphones have great pitch and tone, and the volume level is excellent. I adore their modern style, excellent construction, and low price point.
3.Meal Prepping
Meal prepping is essential in the array of things to make working from home easier for mom’s life. Having wholesome meals ready, saves you time from being in the kitchen and hustling during those crazy work hours. By having a game plan for meals, you’re nourishing yourself and the little ones and buying yourself some sanity.
Additionally, meal planning helps you manage your money more wisely because it simplifies your everyday schedule. Meal preparation and planning ahead of time help you purchase more thoughtfully, stay within your budget, and minimize food waste. Plus, the ease of preparing meals ahead of time lessens the need to order takeout or eat unhealthy snacks during demanding work hours. This relieves the burden of having to decide what to cook every day, which is good for your mental health in addition to your physical health.
4. Grocery Services
When your day is a chaotic juggle of a million things, who has time to deal with the grocery store chaos, right? This is why I love using Instacart– my go-to grocery delivery service. You can get all your shopping done with just a few taps on your phone and choose when they drop it off. If you sign up for Instacart+ you get unlimited deliveries, zero fees for orders over $35. It’s $99 for the year or just $9.99 a month.
For a no-cost alternative, Walmart’s grocery pickup service is a game-changer and makes working from home a whole lot easier. You can shop for all your groceries at your local Walmart store online anytime, anywhere. Then, choose a convenient pickup time when they will load your groceries in your car the same day. Doing this has saved me so HOURS of my day – I wish I had done it sooner.
5. Make A Schedule
You might have come across this advice in other blogs, but trust me, the hype is real – making a schedule is the real key when it comes to surviving the work-from-home chaos with kids. Everyone talks about it because it’s true. Schedules are the foundation; both parents and kids thrive on them. A well-planned schedule is your key to successfully juggling work and family obligations.
Here’s the exact system that has been working for me:
6:00 – 7:30am: Begin my work day (get on the computer and work until baby wakes up)
7:30-8:00am: Baby wakes up, eat breakfast
8:00-9:00am: Have play time (I use this time to continue working while my toddler is entertained with toys and activities).
9:00-10:00am: Go on our morning walk + playground time
10:00-10:30am: Reading time
10:30 – 12:00am: NAP TIME (this means I go back to work.)
12:00-12:45am: Lunch + clean up
1:00-2:00pm: One hour of screen time (I then again, use this time to continue working)
2:00-3:30pm: Go to the park and have playtime
3:30-5:00pm: NAP TIME (work, work, work!)
5:00-5:45pm: Family dinner time
6:00-6:30pm: Playtime
7:00pm: Bedtime routine + bedtime
7:00-8:00pm: I use this time to finish up my last hour of work
6. Self-Care
Last, but not least. You become mentally and physically weary at the end of the day when you work from home with kiddos. Amidst all the chaos, finding those moments for self-care becomes one of the essential things to make working from home easier for mom’s life.
Working from home often blurs the boundaries between professional and personal life, making it essential to intentionally set aside time for ourselves. Engaging in activities that bring joy and relaxation, whether it’s reading a book, taking a bath, practicing mindfulness, or enjoying a hobby, can help recharge mental and emotional energy.
At the end of the day, I love having a warm, steamy bath. My method for creating a unique at-home spa experience is with shower steamers. With the help of these shower melts, you may de-stress in the evenings and start the day with a positive attitude and lots of energy. Cheers for restful sleep and productive mornings.
The Wrap Up
To all the work-from-home mommas out there, a virtual high-five for doing an outstanding job – because let’s face it, being a mom is no easy job. These tips are just a few of the things to make working from home easier for mom’s life. Getting the ideal work-from-home schedule with toddlers requires accepting the trial-and-error method with an abundance of patience.
Evelyn is a dedicated working mom and blogger who has spent the last decade navigating the world of parenting and entrepreneurship. As a proud momma to a wonderful boy, she has gained invaluable insights into effective parenting practices, particularly through the Montessori method, which she passionately shares with other parents online. Evelyn defies the notion that having children limits your potential, proving that it’s possible to achieve greatness while raising a family.
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