Does the work, home, and school balance have you scrambling at the moment? Like you've got a little too many balls in the air and might be at risk of a concussion? You're not alone. Parents everywhere are feeling the stress at the moment.
To help you (and us!) get through this rather interesting period and create a productive earn/learn environment, we spoke to some of the parents in our Interiors team, Severina Galvin, Gohta Shiraishi, Yoshino Seki and Sweta Solanki to get their top tips.
Have an understanding between your project team and family members
Gohta: "Your team needs to understand that there will be times that you'll need to help out with a maths problem, get an iPad working or change a nappy. At the same time, your family also needs to respect the fact that although there is flexibility, you have a responsibility to get your work done, and there are virtual meetings to attend and deadlines to meet.
A simple way of looking at things, I find, is that work is not 9-5. It'll be more in increments like 7.00-9.30am, 10:00-11:30am, so on and so forth and your team needs to understand this. It helps if you give your team some heads up though!
I like to send a quick skype message to the team that says "bubs" and I've explained to them beforehand that that means there's a matter at home that needs my attention and that I'll be "offline" for a little while. But I make up for this by being responsive and available to the team when online to maintain good communication.
Conversely, when that clock hits 5.00pm, your family needs to be accommodating to the fact that you may need to work "back" to get that deadline done. Sometimes this will entail working at odd times or answering emails at 11.00pm long after the kids are tucked in."
Focus on QUALITY rather than quantity
Gohta: "This applies to both the "work" and "home" settings. When you're spending time with the family, be present with them. Switch off your notifications and put that phone, iPad and computer away for that precious couple of hours you have with them.
Also, with your work, try and have a proper home office set-up so you can concentrate productively away from distractions (for those odd periods in-between home duties), so you can produce quality work. This includes a proper task chair, workstation and IT set-up, ideally in a dedicated room."
Create a productive workspace shared workspace with your child/children
Severina: “To create a comfortable and productive workspace you’ll want an area where you can get fresh air, views to nature, good lighting (natural light as the first preference and then task lighting) and ambient noise control either through headphones, physical distancing or separation, if possible.
Ergonomic comfort is also important but may be challenging at home. Be mindful of the comfort levels of your available furniture and settings and try to adjust as much as possible.
Consider setting up a variety of school and work areas to break the monotony of being in the same space and create more reasons for moving breaks to help with transition and controlling acoustic privacy needs for different tasks. I recommend using your outdoor space for studying and work as much as you can.”
Yoshino: “I recommend setting a daily routine and start schooling an hour before work. That way my child is settled with all the set tasks; it makes it easier to start the day. Let your child know about the day's schedule in the morning, so they know what is happening and also mention those key spots when you can't be interrupted.
Be flexible with working spots throughout the day. That might involve sitting next to your child or letting them do a task next to you at your desk. This also helps you utilise those small gaps of time between meetings to talk to your child about how they are going.
Another hand tip is to make sure the toys are away before starting home school to avoid distraction and make DVDs and games treats after all of their schoolwork is done. Where possible, try not to have DVDs and games during the day as it will break the boundary, leaving them until later can also motivate them to get their schoolwork done."
Find ways to balance work and teaching
Yoshino: "Try not to worry too much about completing the set daily task organised by the educator. It's more important that your child feels comfortable learning. Balance the day by alternating focused work with activities to keep your child engaged and be creative in organising tasks. Not all tasks given by the school will suit every child, so where possible, try to turn it into a fun activity.
If the task seems too hard for the child, keep trying but don't push, they will eventually get it (100% guaranteed!) so look at the situation in the long run."
Sweta: "Where possible, share the load. My husband also helps in home schooling. So, we plan out our day depending on our meetings scheduled and take turns in teaching a subject each.
Also, remember to look for the rewards. I now have a greater insight into the tasks and activities my child does at school. Previously, I only got to see her task books when they returned home at the end of the year; now, I feel more connected to her education. This experience has also increased my appreciation for all the hard work and dedication the teachers and schools put towards the students. It's not an easy task."
Be kind to yourself
Gohta: "Working from home with children can be a real juggling act at the best of times, so be realistic with what you can achieve with work and at home. Sometimes the greatest pressure placed on working parents is from ourselves. If you know you can't get something done, be open and transparent with your team (work and home) and say so. While it can be hard to admit we can't do everything, it is far better for everyone to be honest from the start.
Remember that the value you bring to work is not always in the work you produce; it's in the expertise and knowledge that you bring to the table. As working parents, we're typically a bit further along in our professional careers and often the best way to be more productive is to impart this knowledge to the younger generation so they can be better equipped to get the work done! Delegating is a powerful tool when done right."
Look after yourself
Gohta: "At 11months old, my daughter will still not sleep through the night, so perpetual sleep deprivation is the new reality. I find fresh air and some upbeat music are far better than reaching for that cup of coffee. Sometimes a quick walk or even five minutes of shut-eye can give you just enough of a refresher to keep going for a little while."
Yoshino: "Try to set a daily exercise activity like taking a walk in the morning or afternoon to set the routine and reduce stress. Eat healthily and maintain set mealtimes, save your snacks for morning and afternoon tea."
There you have it! Some great tips that will go a long way in maintaining a happy environment at home while being under pressure at work.