One of my dear mentors, Tara Marino, recently shared that life has a way of throwing at us "less than ideal situations" when we're going through intense periods of personal growth.
Since I've recently signed-up for an additional coaching certification as part of my development, it's no wonder that the Universe sent me an unexpected little lesson at this time!
My 2-year-old daughter has been unwell with the stomach flu, so today I decided that it was best for her to stay at home with me rather than spending her day puking at daycare.
It also happens that I had two important conference calls scheduled in the afternoon that I could not postpone... So the question running through my mind was:
How can I work effectively from home with my toddler in tow?
As a mum-entrepreneur, many people think that it's easy for me to juggle work and parenting responsibilities. But while I enjoy greater flexibility now than I did in corporate, let me tell you that raising a young family and running a business is still a challenge!
Finding the time and energy to work on your company when your kids are so small requires willpower, creativity, a good amount of discipline... and knowing when to ask for help.
So how I did I manage to change multiple nappies and soiled sets of clothes, while holding two conference calls with minimal interruptions and writing the article you're reading right now? That's what today's blog post is all about.
Here is my 5-step process for working from home while taking care of your kids.
1. Prioritize essentials
First, get clear on your goals. What are your top three objectives in your business or life for the next 30 days?
Jot those down, then have a look at your calendar or to-do list for the day. Are all the tasks that you planned in alignment with your most pressing goals?
Assign the letter 'A' to any task that must get done today. Assign the letter 'B' to any task that can be accomplished later this week or the next. Assign the letter 'C' if it's something you don't really need to do or can easily delegate.
2. Reschedule what you can
Now that you're clear on your priorities, it's time to reschedule or delete any non-urgent, non-essential tasks. Free-up your calendar as much as possible the day or days that you know you'll be looking after your children.
If you need to inform other people of your change in plans, handle those communications first thing in the morning, so that you're free to focus on what's most important during the rest of the day.
3. Create diversions
While I don't advocate using the television as a surrogate babysitter, if you need some quiet time to take calls or get urgent things done, a nice cartoon selection can prove very helpful.
In our home, we've created a few Youtube playlists of baby-friendly videos that are non-violent, very instructive and that our daughter really enjoys.
Another option is to time your children's naps around your appointments so that they're asleep when you truly need some undisturbed time.
Today, I've resorted to both strategies and they worked like a charm!
4. Ask for help
I see so many high-achieving women wear themselves too thin trying to be superwomen. But to have it all, we cannot do it all. We need to get smart about our schedule, learn to delegate, and actually open ourselves up to receiving support.
Your spouse, friends and family can be an excellent source of help when you have a domestic emergency and can't find a nanny at the last minute.
As expats in the Netherlands, we cannot rely our parents for help, but my husband and I make a pretty good team, I find. For example, today I asked him to come home early from the office so that I could take a client call at 4:00 p.m. and finish writing my blog. He was home five minutes ahead of time!
5. Graciously receive
As modern independent women, leaning onto someone else can makes us feel vulnerable or even guilty. But what we often fail to realize is that when we ask for and graciously receive someone's help, we're gifting them the opportunity to do something nice for us and feel good about themselves.
This was perhaps the greatest lesson that I learned from yesterday's challenge, and one that I shall keep in mind when managing my business and relationships from this day forth. I invite you to do the same if you desire to enjoy a more beautiful and balanced life.