Business Mums Share Their Innovative Approaches to Balancing Family and Work at home.

It’s difficult enough to run a company without the extra stress of a full-fledged economic downturn. There are always fires to put out, whether it’s pressures from stressed-out clients or customers, trying to stay productive when every day feels the same, juggling personal and business expenses with fluctuating income, or obtaining a small business loan at a time when many lenders are reluctant to lend.

However, many entrepreneurs are now working from home while their children are still at home, putting them in the position of full-time teacher, coach, counselor, and more.

Eight small company owners who work from home while their children attend school at home discuss the coping tactics they’ve devised, including turning off the television!

Balancing Rules For Work At Home

1. Have family gatherings.

Celina M Berger, entrepreneur and mother of one.

We began having Sunday meetings to plan and arrange the week (first my husband and I, then the rest of the family). We talk about our upcoming obligations—jobs, needs/schedules, food, exercise, work/study, chores/cleaning, and self-care—and create a weekly priorities plan. This has helped us concentrate when we don’t have a lot of outside distractions (school, teams, parties, etc.).

Having this planning time (where the plan is written out and then placed on the fridge) has been critical to our home success in terms of job, family, and education. I hope we all continue to gather on Sundays after the epidemic; I feel much more prepared for the week now. We wanted to be predictable so that it didn’t seem so random at such a terrible time, and we also recognize that we all need to keep excellent solid work habits and get together for some much-needed family relaxation and play during this most unique time.

2. Set aside time for clients.

Deborah J Tabor, the company’s founder and CEO

Mother of three

Deborah J Tabor has a unique set of challenges as a military wife whose husband is only home for a few days every few weeks.

Before COVID, My kids were at daycare and school all day while I worked from home. In light of the present situation, we’ve made the following changes:

Mondays are free of client-facing activities so that I can focus on helping the kids get ready for the week without the stress of meetings and other obligations.

I schedule my babysitters such that they only come for a few hours a week to keep the kids occupied, and I schedule all client-facing activities around those times.

The older boys (11 and 9) practice reading by reading stories to the 4-year-old, which not only keeps them occupied but also enriches their knowledge.

3. Turn off the television.

Margaret R. Barone is the founder of the company and a mother of two.

When school turned virtual, the first thing my husband and I did was turn off all the televisions in the home. While most parents consider television to be a lifesaver, when it comes to keeping their children entertained, I believe it has a significant detrimental influence on their conduct.

When the televisions were still in the home, I had to deal with the following difficulties on a daily basis:

Both of my children would constantly follow me around the house, begging to watch television. I’d eventually give in to obtain some peace and quiet.

The boys would battle over the remote control after approximately 10 minutes of viewing any cartoon. Despite the fact they are just two years apart in age they never want to watch the same programs.

They were irritable and emotionally unstable whenever my husband or I asked them to turn off the television.

Getting rid of the television not only resolved 85 percent of the conflict I was having with my children, but it also enabled my two sons to interact more than ever before.

Unless they’re doing schoolwork, the kids don’t get much screen time at home. 

The following are some exceptions:

They both like singing karaoke, so I’ll let them use my laptop to access a music playlist that displays the lyrics on the screen.

My husband enjoys making remote control aircraft so the boys will each get 15 minutes to fly the planes using a simulator application on the laptop.

We have found that giving up screen time has been the best decision we have made for our family!

4. Take turns teaching.

Sharon R Powell is the founder and director of the company.

Mother of three

My two oldest children were in school prior to COVID-19, and the youngest was easily cared for by my husband and I. However, the schools are using virtual learning and my husband’s job is from home. We are struggling to balance parenting, teaching, and working full time with five people constantly under one roof.

We’ve had to figure out how to schedule our weekdays so that one parent monitors the kids’ schoolwork while the other does work-related duties like phone calls and Zoom conversations. This implies we have to make up for our work days later in the evening, after the kids have gone to bed, or at the weekend.

5. Think about making a change

Rita M Harris is the co-founder and chief of staff of the company.

Father and mother of two children

I lived in a two-bedroom apartment until the end of May. It was ideal for my modest family until it became our universe’s centre. I moved into a new neighbourhood to be closer to my parents and support network after a few months of working in my walk-in closet and eating all of our meals at the breakfast bar. In quarantine, I’ve started getting up a bit earlier so that I can enjoy my coffee in peace and catch up on emails before the kids wake up.

At Neocova, we’ve instituted “summer hours,” which are chunks of time without meetings. I use it as a chance to spend time outdoors with my children or go for a solo stroll. Self-care is more vital than ever before, especially for working mums. Finally, despite all of these tactics, none of us are flawless and cannot accomplish everything. I strive to be flexible and will cancel a meeting if necessary.

6. Accept the fact that you’ll get less done.

Suzanne J Skidmore is a co-founder of the company.

Father and mother of two

I really feel that we are all trying our best during this epidemic, so it’s critical to concentrate on priorities and accept that you will get less done each day—and that’s OK. Pre-COVID I used to tick five to seven tasks off my to-do list each day, but now that COVID-19 is here, I’m OK with one to three, so I’ve pushed myself to develop shorter checklists. I stopped feeling awful once I realised this and began rewarding myself for minor victories: Hey, Starbucks drive-thru!

I’ve also discovered that self-care is critical to maintaining my work-life balance these days. Every morning and evening, I devote time to my beauty regime. I really feel that as you invest in yourself, your appreciation develops, and you become more capable of investing in others.

It’s a trying time. However, I must admit that spending time with my family is invaluable.

7. Stick to a routine

Nettie H Cox, the company’s founder and owner

Parent of a 13-year-old

Make a timetable for the whole family that is based on, but not limited to the school class schedule. Monday to Friday, for example, I get up at 6am., drink coffee, and check emails until 7:30am when I wake my son. Because his Zoom sessions begin at 8:15am he has time to make his bed, have breakfast and get prepared before logging in.

So no one has to question which class he is meant to be in at any given time of the day. 

I have his schedule posted on a huge whiteboard in his room and on my Google calendar which I also share with my husband. We have lunch around 12:45 to 12:45 pm and my son normally has about an hour after school ends before heading to golf, guitar or baseball (all outdoor lessons).

After supper and schoolwork he enjoys free time on his devices till bed/shower at 9:30pm. Every night lights are turned off by 10 pm. Electronics are a continual source of distraction for my son and deprive him of sleep so I have to take them away from him before bedtime. Even his school laptop so he can sleep.

8. Take a vacation from it all.

Betty J Crouse is a mother of three and a business owner.

Repairing is one of my coping techniques for working from home with three busy and boisterous kids around during a pandemic. This frequently manifests itself in the form of activity, most often dancing which is immensely therapeutic. However, it often involves being outdoors and on the water as much as possible—paddle boarding, fishing, and canoeing with my husband—as well as going for walks. I simply need that break to be more patient and productive with my children. I know that this is more difficult to accomplish with smaller children but it’s all about getting it done—in 30 minutes or less. Also allowing a helper to come over and play with the kids while you enjoy some well-deserved downtime.

Then get a fantastic business coach or therapist. 2020 has been designated as the year of hard effort. So why not use this time to improve myself for my development and create the groundwork so that when life returns to normal I am a healthier parent, wife, and entrepreneur!

Finally, be kind to yourself. You’re doing the best you can with what you’ve got. Allow yourself time to slow down or take a break when you’re feeling irritated. Work when you’re enthusiastic and motivated. Reframe your thoughts to see this forced pause as a chance to be more present with your children. Instead of hurrying about, take it easy, enjoy picnics, play games. After all we may not get this opportunity again!

How We Can Help

At Home Based Business Expert we are dedicated to searching for the ideal additional income solution best suiting the nature of your current situation and purpose. We can discover your solution after completing this short questionnaire. 

It’s a progressive income always growing for you in the background without your effort and taking time away from your daily schedule.

Home Based Business Expert Consultant does not charge you for this service nor will we at any future stage. Our aim is to create a thriving community of people with a common interest in creating abundance for themselves.

How We Can Help

At Home Based Business Expert we are dedicated to searching for the ideal additional income solution best suiting the nature of your current situation and purpose. We can discover your solution after completing this short questionnaire. 

It’s a progressive income always growing for you in the background without your effort and taking time away from your daily schedule.

Home Based Business Expert Consultant does not charge you for this service nor will we at any future stage. Our aim is to create a thriving community of people with a common interest in creating abundance for themselves.

How We Can Help

At Home Based Business Expert we are dedicated to searching for the ideal additional income solution best suiting the nature of your current situation and purpose. We can discover your solution after completing this short questionnaire. 

It’s a progressive income always growing for you in the background without your effort and taking time away from your daily schedule.

Home Based Business Expert Consultant does not charge you for this service nor will we at any future stage. Our aim is to create a thriving community of people with a common interest in creating abundance for themselves.

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