TIPS for being a Successful Work-From-Home Mum and Dad!
Balancing a successful work and life for stay-at-home mums and dads has become a highly sought-after skill these days, some might call it a super power!
Whether it’s the itch to get back into the workforce or just wanting to get ahead – we’ve come up with a few tips that we’ve found helpful to manage having children while earning a stable income from home, all at the same time.
Firstly, you’ll need a job that allows you to choose your own work schedule. The key here is work flexibility when juggling kids, chores, and family life. For example, there are many exciting opportunities to teach English online from home – and thanks to the time difference with overseas countries (usually China) – you have the option of working in the early morning, afternoon, or night. This will allow you to set your own hours, as well as, the days you would like to work – you’re practically your own boss.
Secondly, finding a plan that works for you is important, so we’ve come up with a few combinations that work best for selecting a time slot. Keep in mind most mums and dads only work 2 – 3 hours a day. And the age of your children will vary your options.
1. Teaching in the early morning before anyone is awake, then dropping the kids off at school / day care / playing mum and dad with the rest of your day.
2. Teaching in the afternoon or early evening, while the kids are at after school care / keeping busy with homework / playing with friends.
3. Teaching in the evening when the kids are asleep (or at least entertained).
Perhaps there’s a friend or family member who lives close by that could babysit? Either way, there are many options you can play with to suit your needs.
Thirdly, make sure you have a dedicated home “office” that is as professional as possible. For maximum focus, turn it into your dedicated working environment – create the space and own it! It’s time to decorate it with a table ornament here or some flowers there to make it your own with a quick trip to IKEA. If you don’t have a home office we recommend just a tidy room where there is minimal noise – we know it’s not always possible to be completely soundproof and that’s okay!
Finally, it’s important to maintain a healthy work-life balance because the last thing you want is to burn out. So during the day, why not do some exercise when you can, a short walk or run will boost levels of your positive endorphins, helping you to stay calm and focussed throughout the day. Or, arrange a coffee with a bestie at your local cafe once a week, just to get out of the house. But, if you’re feeling a little tired, just schedule less hours that week, so you can put your feet up and unwind. In any case, you’re in control of your hours.
Keeping all these tips in mind will help you to successfully be a work-from-home mum and dad! If you’d like to learn more about teaching English from home as a mum and dad, contact us today:
