Working remotely from home with kids around

When you’re working from home with new office mates (your kids!) your day will be structured differently. Here are some tips for adjusting to this change. Each family is different so take what works for you. 

Plan one day at a time

Try starting each day (or the night before) by mapping out your daily schedule for yourself, or discuss with your partner or in-home childcare support. Review your workload, urgent meetings, or any flexibility. This will help you feel prepared for the day. When unexpected things come up, you’ll know what's a high priority to address when you’re able to return to focusing on work. 

Stick to a routine

Make coffee. Exercise. Have a lunch break. Establish parts of your workday that feel normal and routine just like you would if you were in the office. Establish similar routines for your kids, especially older kids. This will give you a sense of normalcy, keep you productive, and even reduce some anxiety. 

Clearly establish expectations on your time, like letting your kids know what time you’ll start and end each workday, and if you’ll be available to have lunch with them. It’s ok to keep some flexibility within each day, but these practices help kids know what they can expect while also creating space throughout the day for you to interact. 

Use nap time to your advantage

When kids are napping it’s a good time to take a break for yourself, or use that time to focus and finish work that needs your full attention. Do what your energy and focus need - whether it’s time away from your screen or doubling down during downtime. If your kids are not napping, try to have “quiet time” every day at the same time. 

Minimize interruptions by taking advantage of regular breaks 

Try to take a break with your kids for 10 or 15 minutes every hour or two. This will help them feel more connected and reduce interruptions. You may find that if you plow through your day without taking a break, your kids are more likely to interrupt in search of attention.

Set visible boundaries

Consider carving out areas in your home that are just for you. Maybe you work from the bedroom while your kids are in the kitchen or the spare room. If you don’t have a separate office space, or if you are the primary caregiver, you’ll need a way to signal to your kids that you are in ‘work’ mode. 

Create a visible signal, prop, sign, or boundary your kids can see. Such as: :

• Signs on your door (rotate between available, do not disturb, and quick question) 
• A “STOP” meeting sign
• A closed versus open door

Practice ‘No interruption” behavior with your kids

With kids who are able to understand work boundaries, you can practice “no interruption” behavior. 

• First, decide what times of day or work activities are most important to avoid disruption. For many this will be calls or video meetings.
• Next, discuss with your kids about what they should do if they notice you’re doing this activity. 
• Give them specific instructions depending on who else is at home to help.
• Pretend to take a call or have a video meeting, and see how your kids react. 
• Repeat this drill several times

Give them positive feedback and a reward when they start to do it right, and give them some gentle guidance when they don’t. The more practice, the more likely they are to catch on. Some interruptions are unavoidable, and most people today understand that a kid joining on a virtual conference call is just a part of working from home with kids. 

Proactively communicate about your availability 

Communicate about your availability with your manager, peers, and stakeholders, so people know when the best times to contact and collaborate with you. 

• It will likely feel vulnerable, but it is important to be candid with your boss and teammates about your circumstances. Reiterate how committed you are to the company and to your work but also be honest about the obstacles you are managing too.
• You want to avoid anyone making assumptions about what you can and can’t do. This is especially true for working fathers. Gender bias might give people the incorrect perception that dads have fewer responsibilities at home.
• It’s ok to be honest and transparent about what you’re juggling. For example, if you’re on a conference call, it’s okay to sometimes say, “Hey, I just wanted to let you know that one of my kids might come into my office and I’ll get right back to you.” 
• Create norms about ideal response time and communication channels. Discuss if you need to let each other know when you’ll be offline, for example, taking a play break with your kids. When in doubt, over-communicate at first with quick slacks or notes that let them know you’re offline.