After nearly six months on lockdown, millions of people are still getting used to working from home. Making matters more pressing, the school year has begun, and many students have returned to virtual classrooms. With everyone at home and more responsibilities, the adjustment has caused many problems. From tech and spacing trouble to distractions and chaos, it’s enough to drive anyone insane.
Unfortunately, no one has any idea when things will return to “normal.” Even after a coronavirus vaccine has been developed, it could take months to get back to business as usual. As such, you must find ways to make things at home more manageable. Below are some practical solutions.
Create Routines
One of the quickest ways to add some order to your day is to develop routines for the entire family. If everyone has a set list of tasks to complete throughout the day, it improves productivity, reduces inconveniences, and cuts down on the madness. If you had routines before the national health crisis, they might need to be adjusted to accommodate your new schedule and responsibilities.
Routines are more comfortable to create when you break them into parts of the day (i.e., morning, afternoon, and evening). For example, you can sign up for an online coffee subscription so you can have your morning cup of joe before taking a shower and getting ready for the day.
You might then schedule an hour for lunch and homework assistance in the late afternoon or early evening. Finally, you’d prepare dinner, spend time with the family, and get ready for bed. As for your kids, they’d get up, get dressed, eat breakfast, go to school, eat lunch, enjoy something fun in the afternoon, complete their chores, eat dinner, and complete their bedtime routines.
Delegate Tasks
You’re only one person. Trying to take care of a house full of people while also attending to your professional duties is a lot to bear alone. Reduce your stress levels and your to-do list by delegating tasks to your family. Anyone who is old enough to complete household chores should be included.
Your significant other or teenager might be best suited for making breakfast and lunch. School-aged kids can keep their rooms tidy and clean up after themselves between meals and playtime. Any other chores can be added to a list with a scheduled time to be completed. Place the list somewhere the family can see it and have everyone take turns checking things off.
Create Designated Spaces
Trying to get your work done in a house full of distractions is challenging. You can make things more manageable by creating designated spaces for everyone. Start by selecting a room or area in your home that can be used for your office. Depending on the type of work you do, you’ll need it to be somewhere away from the noise with plenty of space for office or workshop supplies. After gathering all the tech, supplies, and equipment, you need for your home office, add personal touches to enhance creativity and productivity.
Children also need a quiet place to attend an online school. If possible, try to designate a space in your home away from everyday distractions like televisions, toys, and food. Make sure your kids have the electronic devices and school supplies they need for an optimal learning experience. Then, allow them to decorate the space with fun educational charts, graphs, and other items to help them learn.
Whether you’re the owner of an eCommerce shop or a remote worker, doing it from home comes with a unique set of challenges. When you add quarantine and a full house to the mix, these obstacles only get more challenging. While you may be anxious to get back to the office (and your kids back to the classroom), the safest thing to do is learn how to adapt. The above-referenced tips are sure to make things more manageable until the pandemic passes.