A frequent question I’ve received is, how did I run a business from home with a toddler? Well, while I certainly don’t think I was an expert at this, over the year and a half that I had it this way, I was able to find a groove that worked for me.
Here are some things I found to be the most helpful:
- Schedule any and all calls around your little ones sleep schedule. When Parker was sleeping I made sure to not fuss with anything else, except work. No laundry, dishes, etc. This was my work time! I also ended up designating only Tuesday’s and Thursday’s to taking phone calls. When I had them spread out throughout the week, it felt way too hectic for me.
- Get as much as you can done first thing in the morning. I wish I could tell you that I wake up in the morning, meditate, go for a workout and have quiet time before I get my day started. But the truth is, I am most productive when I wake up and hopping on my computer with my coffee is just the way I like to do things. I take my break to walk, exercise or have some quiet time mid-day typically. Especially if you have a spouse or partner that leaves for work, getting as much as you can in before they leave for the day is super helpful. But as with anything else, do what works best for YOU.
- Keep a weekly schedule, but let your daily schedule be flexible. I couldn’t for the life of me keep a daily schedule because as you know with a toddler and work, things can be all over the place! I did have my parents to help with Parker though and the best thing I did was designate days that they had him. They would have Parker from 9am-4pm on Monday’s and Wednesday’s, which was SO helpful. Having him out of the house to give me focus time was KEY. I also had my calls designated to Tuesday’s and Thursday’s like I mentioned before. Having that weekly outline was key!
- Keep your kiddo busy. I am going to be honest here and just say, there were days where I would literally bring a bean bag chair in my office and have Parker sit there with his tablet for an hour. I KNOW this isn’t ideal, but sometimes I didn’t have another option. And you know what? I still feel like he only uses his tablet in moderation. Sometimes when I was by myself, getting flooded with work and nothing else was keeping him occupied, it was a lifesaver. Also, around 3, Parker got really into hot wheels for a bit, so when that was the case, I made sure he had PLENTY to play with. Those kept him busy for a good chunk of time. Figure out what can keep your kiddo busy, playing on their own. This will allow you to a least have a solid 45 minutes to get some work in.
- Create dedicated time to your kiddo each day. One thing that was REALLY important to me was giving Parker some undivided attention each day. We’d go to the park or just simply play together at the house. This time was really important for me to show him that he gets me, fully. No phone in hand, no emails in between playing, just us, together.
- Utilize childcare at a gym. This was so helpful! Most gyms, classes or clubs have childcare and luckily, Parker loved going! It’s also quite affordable. This helped me get my time in each day and also gave him some good playtime.
- Be reasonable with your workload. If you can control your workload, know that between the ages of 2 and 4, a kiddo is a lot of work. I mean, at any age it is a lot of work but in that range they are generally more active and not napping as much. Just know that it’s not easy for anyone, but instead, try and soak up as much time with your little one as possible. This time goes by so quickly, so if you can control it, try and ease up on work for the time being. More free time is coming soon!
- Utilize your resources. At 3.5 years old we decided to put Parker in preschool. I just felt like he was ready for the socialization and structure and I was ready to put more focus on my business. I started my own company to give me more time with Parker, so we only opted for 3 full days a week, which was perfect for us! On the days he’s home, I feel like he’s so great at keeping busy on his own. I sit at the kitchen table and work from my laptop while he paints and colors, etc. I also enlist him to help me with a lot of things! He loves being a part of anything I’m doing. Giving myself 3 full days was the absolute best decision and truly, I feel like it’s kind of when the overwhelm finally stopped.
- Great an office area that you love. I rearranged our office 3x until I finally figured out the layout and feel that felt great. Maybe it’s just me, but having a space that really felt like an office I wanted to sit in and work in, has helped me tremendously work more efficiently at home.
Working from home can come with challenges, but over time it all falls into place! You figure out your groove through trial and error. Most importantly, if you are working from home and have a little one around, just remember that you will get through it all. I remember a time when I felt like the worst business owner and a terrible mom because neither area of my life could get my full attention. I promise you though, it all works out! Create as much structure as possible, but remain flexible. Try not to take too much on. xx
I love answering questions about this topic. Feel free to write me in the comments below or send me message on Instagram!
