Thanks to a global pandemic and a worldwide virus, we’re all getting to spend a little more time at home. Okay, a lot more. Too much, even.
While everyone has been impacted by this year’s insanity, working parents have had the unique (and often headache producing) experience of balancing remote jobs and educating their children. As one of them, I know how hard it can be. But I’ve found that with a little planning and a lot of humor, you can manage to get most everything done.
Develop a schedule
You know this. I know this. And yet we all seem to put it off.
Having a set schedule will take all of the time-consuming guesswork out of your day. You won’t have to decide what tasks or chores to do next because they’ll be decided for you.
The only schedule that works is the one you’ll follow, so spend a Sunday afternoon time blocking your week in a realistic way that allows you to stay on top of your responsibilities.
Top 3 tasks each day
I’ve tried a lot of different schedules and planning methods in my day, and I always come back to this one. Not only is a realistic expectation to get AT LEAST three big tasks done a day, but it also really helps me prioritize and stay on top of deadlines.
You can plan your top three days for the next day at the end of every workday, or you could lay them all out the week prior. Whatever works for you.
Make room for imperfection
When you’re setting this schedule, do yourself a favor and leave room for error. Nothing will ever go the way we plan it to (especially when we have kids in the mix), so save yourself some frustration by allowing imperfections to arise.
For me, this meant not getting mad every time my son came in to say hi on a Zoom call. Instead, I let him wave to my clients, give him and hug and we both go on our merry way. It’s much easier to accept that life is a little chaotic right now and we’re all doing our best.
Lead with dignity
It’s so easy to over commit ourselves and get overwhelmed. When this happens — and believe me, it will — lead with dignity. Be honest about your limitations and let people know if you won’t be able to turn something in on time.
Disappointing people sucks, but it’s much better than going M.I.A. on a project and leaving people hanging.
Give yourself grace
Above all else, remember that you’re human and you’re doing your best. No one expects you to be a superhero, so don’t be afraid to ask for help and take a little rest when you need to. Self-care seems like a luxury right now, but trust me when I say that it’s a necessary habit to help you navigate this crazy time.
And if you need any additional help, click here to schedule a call with me so we start implementing strategies to get your biz running on autopilot.
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