How to Survive as a Working Parent
/The physical environment of the workplace has a significant effect on the way that we work. When our space is a mess, so are we. With so many of us working parents where our home has become our new office during this pandemic (and is still the case in 2021), the clutter from home life is now bleeding into our work life. So the question is, how do you survive this being a working parent?
Based on the Harvard Business Review article, “The Case for Finally Cleaning your Desk” notes “cluttered spaces can have negative effects on our stress and anxiety levels, as well as our ability to focus, our eating choices, and even our sleep.”
At the beginning of the pandemic, how many of you felt “Yay! Shorter work commute!” but now months later are saying “Omg...I’m working in and around clutter all the time. The mess is stressing me out!” 16 years as a corporate professional, 6 years as a mom and now Certified KonMari Consultant at Tidy Warrior, I’m here to help you manage your new work life at home.
Here are 7 quick tips to consider:
Photo credit: additudemag.com
1. Create a dedicated workspace or work corner. Make sure your workspace is away from distractions. Whether it’s in your master closet or a corner of your bedroom, knowing there’s a designated space for your “work life” is key to trying to keep it separate from your home life.
2. Your “office rules”. If you have to share your workspace, communicate clearly to your kids/spouse your office rules. One idea a colleague shared with me was that she created a “STOP” sign so that when her kids would walk in on her during a conference call, she’d flash it up so they knew “Mommy is busy...come back later”. Or set boundaries with family members by noting “if the door is closed, please do not disturb.” Setting clear ground rules can help.
3. Reduce clutter around your work space. Keeping your desk space clear of clutter at the beginning of the work day and at the end of the day is important. If this is too ambitious, try tidying up at the end of your work week so you can start with a "fresh" on Monday. Less clutter = less stress. Tidying up your desk space helps give your mind an indicator work is done for the day. See below my home office (thanks to Shelter in Place) and how a simple "decluttering" can help make your space look "calmer".
4. Create “zones” for your kids if you have young ones at home. For those of us still homeschooling kids during the pandemic (in the Bay Area, some school districts already started opening up for in-person), the key is to designate your spaces into “zones”. School zone, toy zone (let’s be honest...it’s more like a perimeter!) eating zone and bedtime zone. An area that is a “no kid” zone in my home is my master bedroom suite. I make it clear to my kids, 4 and 6, that my space should be clutter and toy free :). This honestly has worked 90% of the time. When kiddos start having their toys creep into my bedroom, I give a "talk" about "toys should be in the toy room" and "clutter does not spark joy for Mommy." You can see the lightbulb click when I give them these friendly reminders!
5. Make tidying fun if you have kids and involve “Alexa”! The key to keeping a tidy home with kids is to make it FUN! We as working parents might be tired from a long day at “work”, but taking 10 minutes before bedtime to see how fast Bobby can clean up vs. Zach is a game in itself. Involving Alexa to set the timer helps, too. I find most kids can be quite competitive when a timer is involved and will want to "win" before it goes off!
6. Remember to give yourself some slack! With many of us working from home (and some permanently), there's a lot to deal with that's more than normal. It's okay if there are days where toys are still on the floor and not in the toy chest. Or by 12 noon, you’re now 3 mugs of coffee to get through a rough day and forgot to bring them downstairs. I know I personally have had those days. But in general, trying to keep a habit of tidying as you go or maintaining those "dedicate spaces or zones" will help get you through this marathon.
7. And lastly, if you feel your clutter is out of control or need some guidance, consider hiring a professional organizer for a virtual tidying session. Sometimes it’s easier to go through the decluttering process with a 3rd party who can help you make minor tweaks that will change your life forever. I’m here to help and love decluttering for a happier work AND home life! Follow me at Tidy Warrior to see how I'm helping working parents declutter their home and workspace.
By implementing these work and home life tips, they will help you manage your new (and hopefully temporary) world where work blends with home. Consistency is key for a "tidier" lifestyle during this pandemic. We're all in this together!