Learn my top tips and tricks on how to work from home with a baby!
Be Flexible
Flexibility is key here and you need to adapt to changes in schedule. While getting routines together is GREAT; the reality is, things don’t always go to plan.
Practice being adaptable to changes in your day, meetings and routine. If there is a really important meeting, try to plan to have support for the kids in advance and book those meetings in on the same day every month.
Use Headphones For Phone Meetings
One of the best purchases I made was Apple Airpods. These have saved me countless trips to the Chiropractor from holding my phone to my ear with my shoulder!
I LOVE these and it means you can be in a complete different room to your phone but be buzzing around doing things. This is part of my routine for phone calls and gives you the ability to float from room to room putting things away, checking on the kids and preparing meals.
Keep in mind that they can still pick up sound really easy – I learnt this the hard way when I was expressing milk on a work phone call and the gentleman asked me if there was a “frog in the background.” Awkward.
Use A Baby Carrier
The first months of bub’s life are so special, and you want to make sure you get to spend as much time skin to skin as possible by keeping them close to you. Archie loved being on me and having a decent baby carrier means you will be able to get so much more achieved.
We use the CHEKOH baby sling and I find this one to be so comfortable and easy to get on and off quickly. He loves the flexibility of being in a little hammock and sleeps really well while walking around doing things. Also – it’s super easy to hand-wash and hang out on the line if it gets dirty.
Have Dedicated Play Areas
One of the best tips to working from home is having dedicated play areas where you know bubs can independently play that’s safe. At home, we have a play pen setup in the lounge room with toys and a soft lounge suite.
This is where Henry has independent play during the day and can read books, play with his toys and keep busy. The space is his and because it’s in the lounge room, I can sit in there and keep in company while responding to emails.
Write Lists and Prioritise
This is an important one and something I do religiously every day. Get into the habit of writing lists – and using them! One of my favourite things to do on a Sunday is using my weekly planner and sticking to the fridge.
Using the weekly planner, I write down any tasks and appointments for the week and put it on the fridge. It gives me a weekly overview every time I open the fridge door and acts as another reminder for things.
Another great tip is to write a list of to-dos’ before you go to bed, for the following day. I love a to-do list that separates tasks for “home” and “work.” This is what I personally use every day and it allows me to separate the work tasks from the personal ones.
Anything I can’t tick off during the day will be rolled onto the following day’s list that evening.
Be Patient
At the end of the day, your kids come first and their needs are the biggest priority. Some days you have it together, and things go to plan. Other days, things get out of hand and nothing seems to go right. It’s all NORMAL, and everyone goes through the ups and downs.
I find it helps to gently remind yourself that your babies are only babies for a short time. Therefore, it’s so important that you get to enjoy them and share those special moments. If you can’t get everything ticked off the list, you miss a phone call or a meeting has to get re-shuffled, remember to be grateful. Your beautiful babies need you – and we know that won’t last forever!
You’re doing good mama, and “you can.”
Olivia x