Due to the pandemic, many people now find themselves working remotely, from home. With everyone in your family also sheltering in place, completing tasks may be difficult versus the office, where you are on your own. However, despite the challenges, there are ways to overcome the obstacles.

The Office

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In order to remain productive and on task, you should have a quiet place, separate from the family in which to work. If you have space, creating a typical office setting will benefit you. Pieces of home office furniture such as a sizable desk, an ergonomic chair, a computer or laptop, and basic office supplies are essential. The good news is that, with the internet at your disposal, you don’t have to leave home to obtain these items. 

Multitasking

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Many parents now find themselves doing double-duty. They’re working for their employer and teaching their children’s’ school lessons. This can consume many hours a day to perform both, especially if you have several school-aged children. Thankfully, many of the teachers are also helping their students by hosting weekly virtual meetings. Using a whiteboard to create a daily schedule that includes time slots for parents and kids, will allow you to maintain order and stay on track. 

Family Meeting

It’s in your best interest to have a family meeting and establish rules and guidelines. Using a closed door or a sign, you need to identify the times when you are at work. This way when you are working, you will be able to focus your attention on the tasks at hand instead of other things going on in your home. Only in the event of an emergency is someone to bother you during your work sessions. 

Fresh Air

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During your lunch break at the office, you often take a walk to get a bit of fresh air, clear your head, and regroup. Working from home is no different. You still need to take breaks to restore focus and remain energized. Your children also need breaks and with the nice weather underway, it creates the perfect opportunity to get your family outdoors. It will help build a strong family bond and let them release bottled up energy. 

Independent Activities

You typically work an 8-hour day at the office. With children working only a few hours at home, there are a number of hours to fill in order to keep them occupied so that you can continue with your work. Finding independent activities such as arts and crafts, puzzles and educational programs and playtimes will allow you to get through each day without mounting piles of stress. 

Home Chores

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Maintaining a neat indoor environment will help you avoid distractions like doing the laundry, making beds, and cleaning the kitchen. However, with everyone at home, keeping it clean can present challenges. One way to achieve it is to assign chores each day. Have children pick up their toys and make their beds. After dinner, let everyone help with the kitchen and you can do the laundry over the weekends. 

Remaining Healthy

You may need to stay at home now, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t still get in a workout. As a matter of fact, you can use the pandemic as a way to practice healthy eating habits and get everyone involved with exercise. If you have a fenced-in backyard, it’s the perfect place for doing stretches, jumping jacks and laps. Switch up your exercise sessions to keep them fun and rewarding. At night, serve healthy home-cooked meals and satisfy midday hunger with nutritious foods such as fresh vegetables and fruit. 

You can work at home during the pandemic and enjoy quality time with your family too.