Tips for working from home

A lot can change in a month. This is certainly the case with the COVID-19 virus, which in just thirty days has become a global phenomenon and dominates the world media.

Working from home while (small) children demand your attention is certainly not easy, and that is why we want to give some tips that can help with not going (completely) crazy

At offiRent we have some separate flex spaces available and in these times we even want to make these flex spaces available for free; just send us a short email explaining why you need this flex space and when you need it.

1. Everything starts with a good daily routine

A routine for yourself but also for the children. Children quickly get the feeling that it is one long holiday, but of course it is not. It is certainly important to build in enough rest moments, however there must also be enough work moments built in.

2. Create your own workspace where you can work from home!

Of course, it is not easy if you do not have an extra room available. Probably, especially if you have small children, you do not want to completely isolate yourself from them and still want to keep some control over the situation. This is not always simple; have you ever thought about setting up a (temporary) place in the bedroom, kitchen or even garage where you can work in peace? Also tell your children that they may play freely, but if mum/dad is working in their office in the bedroom they should not disturb. Still, it is good not to leave them alone too much; say it playfully... unless it is very important and sweets or the need for a cuddle are important :)

3. Work differently! Work while the children are awake, or in the evening when they watch TV.

Let the children sleep in a little longer in the morning and get up a bit earlier yourself. The saying the early bird catches the worm certainly applies here. There is no traffic jam from your living room to your workspace anyway. This is important time you save. If you work in the morning and evening before the children are awake, you have the opportunity to relax together with them during the day.

4. Help your children with organising, routine... routine... routine

A few weeks without school may be nice but in the total lockdown it is better that the backlog does not become too large. So do not give your children too many assignments at once, but organise for them. Make a schedule. An example of a schedule which you can further adjust to your own wishes:

• Sleeping can be until 10 o'clock (strongly depending on the age of your child(ren))
• then have breakfast (mum/dad eats a second time too?) together is nicer!
• brush teeth
• at 10o’clock30 sharp we start with the first task (today maths or language, tomorrow drawing or crafts), variety creates excitement.
• 11you30 take a break and we go together for a walk? Exercise is good in times of stay-at-home
• 12you30 it is the ideal time to sit down at the table again, or if you prefer 13you00 that is of course also possible. Make your planning certainly together with your children!
• second task at 13o’clock30? Or rather 14o’clock and first some quiet time?
• do something free for a while, but perhaps let the child decide how long this free time lasts, and let them plan what will happen themselves. This is also an important life lesson: planning free time.
• task 3keep it calm and maybe make it a joint activity. After all, children’s attention wanes towards the end of the day.
• Cooking together?

During the moments when your children are busy, you can do some relaxing tasks for yourself. Try to save your difficult work for the times when your children are relaxed and schedule your Skype meeting at that time.

Have you noticed that together is an important keyword? Living together day and night is easy when we work together.

5. Cook on time, do your shopping for at least a week!

During this crisis we are asked to stay at home. Buy enough vegetables, fruit and meat in advance. Do you still have enough sugar, coffee, salt? Flour... make dynamic lists. There are simple applications for your mobile phone that help you organise your shopping lists.

6. Find the right balance between work and relaxation.

It is important that you keep watch over the balance between private life and work. If you work from home, you need to monitor this even more carefully. Plan something fun, play a board game for example, and above all do it together! And... have lots of fun! Don’t forget to enjoy yourself!

7. Stay in your KOT, but what do children think?

Did you know that as a grown-up you find it hard to stay in your KOT? But children experience it differently... did you know your children like being at home and enjoy it. They don’t even know or understand what 'stay in your kot' means, they just like being at home. Not-more-Or-not-less Find the right balance between work and relaxation.

8. Look for perspectives!

Tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, or within a month this crisis will end and you will think to yourself That was a wonderful time together with my kids! I miss that time...

You will probably get a headache from your child(ren) at times and really wish... Let go, but still realise that you are not the only one, we are all in the same boat.