Working from home became more and more popular these last few years. First as a necessity, we all remember those horrible COVID-19 lockdowns, and later as a privilege when people discovered the advantages of working fully remote from home.
It turned out that a lot of jobs could be done remotely, and workers are now eager to reap the benefits of working from home now that life has returned to normal. So what advantages to working from home are we talking about, and how can parents best handle training when they apply for a work-from-home job?
The advantages of working from home
The advantages of working from home are widespread and depend somewhat on your specific situation and preferences. Some parents enjoy working from home while their kids are playing in the background while others would rather be in an office and send the kids off to daycare.
One thing is universal though: no more commute. Working from home means your commute is now limited to the distance between the kitchen and your home office. Also, you’ll never have to worry about a public transport strike ever again. Instead, you’ll be able to save money on transportation and have more time to spend with your family. That’s a win-win.
Working from home also means new career opportunities. Not every job can be done from home, but you’d be surprised as to how many jobs can be fully remote. Teaching for example. Becoming a teacher doesn’t mean you’ll have to physically stand in front of a classroom anymore. You can of course, if you want to, but it’s also possible to build a career as an online teacher.
Are you interested in becoming an online teacher? There are many ways for you to do so. One way is by teaching English as a foreign language, or so called TEFL. You’ll need a TEFL-certification to get started, but luckily, it’s never been easier to get a certification online.
How to handle training for your new Work-From-Home job as a parent
With more and more people having to, or preferring to work from home, businesses had to be creative in how to train and upskill staff. Technology provided a welcome alternative to traditional training of new staff. Some examples are online courses, specialized training content, online assessments and certifications and informative webinars.
Starting a new job can be stressful; starting a new job with online training as a parent is a whole other level. Kids have the unique ability to be extremely loveable and also ruin everyday plans. So balancing work, parenting and maybe even schooling at the same time requires a special sort of dedication, but luckily, here are some tips to help you through.
Set up a separate office space
Setting up your office space is crucial when you’re working from home. No more office means no more adjustable desks, second monitors or ergonomic chairs. You’ll have to take care of that now. When you are a parent, it can be helpful to create a separate office space. This way, you can set up rules with your kids about when they are allowed to disturbed you and when not. For example, when the door is open, they can come in. But when the door is closed, you are working on something important and you can only be disturbed in case of emergency. Setting these kinds of boundaries helps you stay focused, but also teach your kids to become more independent and self-reliant.
Create a routine, but be flexible
Having a routine and planning ahead can avoid chaos and save you lots of headaches. Waking up at the same time each day, eating breakfast with your family and dropping your kids off at school and/or setting them up for homeschooling gives everybody the necessary structure to start the day. Kids, especially babies and young children, tend to go off-schedule at the worst possible time, so be prepared for that too.
Don’t forget breaks
Working from home means you don’t have that colleague that shows up at your desk around noon to ask if anybody is interested in having lunch with him.
Breaks, especially lunch breaks, are vital for staying focused and efficient throughout the day though, so skipping lunch to save some time will not benefit you at the end of the day. Set a time for breaks and keep yourself to it. Do lunch with your kids or take a short walk around the block, as long as you’re away from that computer for a while. You’ll feel much more refreshed and ready for the next task afterwards. Bonus tip: add these breaks in your work calendar, so colleagues don’t accidentally plan a meeting during your breaks.
Stay connected with your co-workers
Sometimes parents need some grown up social interaction. A person can only talk so much about Peppa Pig or sing the Baby Shark song before they go crazy. Working from home doesn’t mean you don’t have colleagues anymore. You still do, but it requires a bit more effort to stay connected when you don’t meet face-to-face every day at the office. Technology provides many opportunities though, ranging from video calls to messaging apps and even team building social apps.
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