“Stop chasing me with your stinky naked butt!”
That’s the phrase the CEO and a few of my co-workers heard while we were on a phone call. That would be the lovely quote that my daughter yelled, as she busted into the room I was hiding in trying to avoid interruptions such as that. Lucky for me my boss is very understanding and they all laughed as I quickly muted the call. After such I chased my half-naked son through the apartment and scrambled to get a new diaper on him. All the while attempting to keep on conversing with the team on the phone between unmuting with a “Ya” or “Right” then quickly hit mute again. Then booting my son out of the bedroom and continuing the call.
That’s basically how my quarantine has been going for weeks now. Attempting to work in a 1 bedroom with 3 kids ages 5, 2, and 2 months old, 3 cats, a chinchilla, and my wife. It feels on a bad day why do I bother. On a good day, you feel like “Hey I think I got stuff done today.”
So how Can you make it work for the time being?
Communication
Make sure to communicate with your employer that you have little children so interruptions and loud little voices are to be expected. I’m sure they’ll be understanding especially during these times. If not, then start looking for a new job because they obviously don’t care.
Muting Is Your Friend
This is good regardless if you have kids or not. I do this during most of my calls mostly because of my kids. However, I request on all calls that everyone to do the same if they are not talking because mics pick up more than expected. I’ve heard spouses fight, kids yelling, dogs barking, people typing like they are mad at their keyboard, and my boss eating cereal.
Lower Your Expectations
Ya, of course, your work expects you to get stuff done on your first week home like you did in the office. Honestly though, how could you? It takes timing, practice, discipline, and an unbelievable amount of patience with your family and yourself. Just like starting a new job. You didn’t get to be as good as you are at your job without learning the system. Well, working from home is just like learning a new system. You’re learning how to work in a new surrounding, on your own computer, maybe using new software, not able to just go to Karen with questions. Now it’s chatting, emailing, or calling.
Do Your Morning Routine Like You Always Do
That means wake up, shit, shower, and shave just like you always do (or whatever your routine is). Get dressed, make your coffee, eat breakfast. Whatever it is that you use to do when you went to work, do that. This is more important than you think. I got lazy a few days in a row and attempted to just work in my PJs. Big mistake, least productive days I had. Why? Because I felt like I was home on the weekend and when I’m in my comfortable clothes I feel too relaxed.
Tell You, Family, Your Working
Depending on their ages you may need to repeat this to them as needed. I tell my kids at least 5-6 times a day. You need to realize, as I have, that this is just as hard for your kids. Having you home all the time but you’re unable to play with them. If they’re younger they don’t understand that their hero, has other obligations outside of being their dad. I find having them sit with me every once in a while and explain to them what I’m doing helps them understand.
Take A Few Minutes
To go along with the above tip, take 10-15 minutes every once in a while to bond with them. The reason they are pestering and interrupting you for the smallest of things is because they need and want some time with you. So to nip the interruptions in the bud, just take some time to spend with them.
Ask Your Wife For Help
Working together will be key during these times. Stagger your times of working if your work is ok with it. If your wife is not working, then ask her to care of the kids while your working.
Keep The Kids Busy
Duh, I know. So there is the obvious tv, movies, games, school work, coloring, toys, and food. What you could do though, is set up a surprise box. Buy a bunch of small toys wrap then each tight and in layers. Now take them and place a few in slightly larger boxes and wrap. repeat until you have 1 large box. Now the key is to make it slightly difficult to get out but not so difficult that they get frustrated and give up. This way it takes time to unwrap and once they are done they have toys to play with.
Utilize Technology
My company uses Office 365 which is great. What I have had to do is download it on my home computer, my IPad, and my phone. I use my computer mainly. When I need a Teams call I use my phone and I can see their screen. If my wife has design work that needs to be done she uses the computer as I use the IPad. I’ve even done a presentation screen sharing using my IPad. I share that screen, mute the mic and speakers and use my phone to speak on with my headset. This way I can go anywhere and in any room.
Find Your Happy Place
By a happy place, I mean to find all your quite places in your home. Sometimes it’s right there at the computer, other times it’s hiding in the bedroom with the doors locked, and sometimes you’ll be outside hiding from the wind & your family both equally loud.
Plan Your Meetings Around The Quite Times
I find when my wife is putting my son down for his nap is the worst time. During that time both my daughters are needy. The 5-year-old is running around and the 2 month old is usually just waking up or just finished eating and doesn’t want to be left alone while daddy takes a call. So at those times, I have to be hiding outside, muting, running in & shushing the baby, and running back out to talk. Other time I’m popping my head inside to tell my daughter to stop knocking on the door to get my attention. We make it work though.
Keep Track Of What You’ve Been Doing
So I have to do this for upper management and though it is a pain the ass to do it every day. I have also learned it helps me see how much I’m really accomplishing throughout the day and it can be a good motivator in showing you how good you’re doing or how much you need to do it improve. Plus, if for some reason you’re asked what you’ve been doing you’ll already have A good idea.
Clean Your Work Station
Make sure where you’re working is clean. Having too much around you can be extremely distracting and can disrupt your workflow. Even if it’s just the kitchen table, try and make sure it feels like a work station and not your kitchen table. I’m guilty of not doing this and I feel it every day. I work off my kitchen table which is more of a kids craft table/ designer dump bin. We don’t really eat at a table much, with the kids so young the wife breastfeeding. So we have a ton of crap just lying around and it does cause me loads of stress. My only saving grace is with my design background I am used to having a crap ton of papers and tools at my desk half-finished. So it’s been somewhat bearable.
Laugh It Up And Write It Down
This is an interesting time so make sure to not take it too serious. Take lots of photos and write down all the funny things that happen. They will be the great stories you bring up around the holidays and stories you tell your grandkids.
Shut It Off At Night
This is key. Work the hours you need to 8,9,10 whatever your job requires, after step away. Don’t fall into the trap of just answering emails throughout the night. That’s a sure-fire way to upset everyone. Your wife won’t be a fan of you not stepping away and your kids will feel that their time with you isn’t important. Plus, it’s a great way to burn yourself out. Workplace burnout is a struggle.
I’ve had it a handful of times. As a designer, it happens often because you’re always trying to create something new or you’re doing the same thing day in and day out. Burnout is the start of hating your job. I think it’s Gary V. who when asked about the crazy hours he works and about the time he spends with his family. He described it something like, when he’s with his family he is 100% there with them, nowhere else, no work emails, texts (of course unless it’s an emergency), or phone calls. I’m sure he has made it clear to his employees and if you need to do the same you have that right. Will you always get a warm response? No, but too bad, you can always find a job but your family is the most important thing.
Find Your Zen
Little confused? Ok, I don’t mean it like that. What I mean is find the thing that puts you in the zone. There will be a ton of noise, the t.v. the kids, their toys, etc. I find headphones and some good rock music does the trick to drown out the noise.
Drink Water
This, of course, is very important not just because it keeps you hydrated. It is a good way to stay awake which helps you keep calm and have a clear head.
To end I’ll tell you another funny quote this time one my wife said at the beginning of a call just as I unmuted to say hello.
“Dominic stop sticking french fries in your nose!”
A lovely start to a conversation with some coworkers.
What are some of the great tips and bloopers you have had while on a work call?
