Working from Home with Children

As a two-time veteran of working from a home office as my primary work space, I can say definitively that working from home can be difficult. This is especially true when toddlers are involved, which is the case with my situation. Although my manner of working from home is far from perfect - and in a constant state of evolution and re-evaluation - there are some general rules that I think will make things a little easier for people who have never done it before.

Set a Firm Work Schedule

If you are accustomed to getting up for work and leaving for your daily commute, complete with a familiar routine, breakfast and what not, then working from home is going to be a bit of a shock to the system. The perceived advantage of not having to go through the familiar motions can present difficulties right from the start. Once an established routine is compromised, things can start to unravel quickly. If at all possible, I strongly advise maintaining as much of your previous pre-work routine as possible, even "leaving for work" at the same time if it is reasonable to do so.

Your spouse and your kids may not quite understand the rigidity, especially if you're simply going into another room to "go to work." But the reality is that you'll require some structure in order to focus on the work tasks at hand, when chaos may be unfolding around you. The initial implementation of your work-from-home schedule is likely to be met with some resistance and you may have the urge to abandon it or bend it beyond recognition. If you want to stay ahead of the game, stick with a schedule and treat it as though you are still leaving the house for work everyday.

Establish a Working Vocabulary

In my situation, I work from home out of our basement in what is essentially a makeshift workspace. I'm separated from my beautiful wife and children by only a thin, but well-constructed hardwood floor that really amplifies the screams and the footsteps. A pleasant working environment, to be sure. But as far as the children are concerned, as soon as I descend the stairs, "Daddy's at Work." Those words are important to remember when you're trying to establish a routine for your children and a means for them to understand that - even though they may know you're merely a few steps away from them - you are not reachable at this time.

By establishing the concept of being at work, the kids will eventually accept it and it won't be an issue - at least most of the time. Obviously, there will always be the moments when a little guy or gal is just not ready to part with their Mom or Dad, regardless of whether they're going to work. That's one of the perks of working from home. Every now and then, you can take a minute to give your kids a little extra hug, re-direct them, and head off to work.

Plan with Your Spouse

The person who is going to have the most impact on your ability to work from home is your spouse. Even if your spouse has a full-time job outside the home, it's important. But if your spouse is a full-time stay-at-home Mom or Dad, then it's especially important. In order to make things work in a home office situation, the spouse is going to be the key player. In order for you to have the time and the environment necessary to work efficiently from home, your spouse is going to have to make some adjustments and likely some sacrifices to make it happen.

Adjusting child care schedule and re-thinking daily routines are just a part of navigating the difficult waters of the home office. With a little upfront planning and some patience, it can work. It will not always be easy and sometimes you may feel the need to escape to a quiet place to clear your head. I always advise doing that at least once every couple weeks. A public library is always a nice stop, as is a park or a quiet coffee shop, if you can find one. You don't even need to do any work there. Just think about work a little while you absorb the peace and make plans to get back to the office.