How do you manage to work when the kids have such random schedules? These tips may help when it just doesn’t seem manageable.
It’s summer again. For working parents, summer isn’t all about sunshine and laughter. With the kids off and routines out the window, juggling work calls, children, and your sanity seems almost impossible.
With a few practical tips (and a lot of coffee), you can make it through the summer with both your kids and job intact.
Read on for some quick, practical tips to help you stay afloat.
- Assess if your extra childcare is worth the cost.
In the summer, you may be paying for childcare you normally wouldn’t need during the school year. Tuition bills are unbelievably high, but summer childcare isn’t cheap either.
How do you decide what makes the most sense for you?
For freelancers:
Are you paid hourly or run your own business?
Start by estimating how much more you could earn while the kids are away.
Next, compare that with the cost of childcare.
(Try adjusting the hours to see what works best financially.)
If the numbers don’t add up, cutting back on childcare could be a smart way to save money for you.
For salaried workers:
For you, it’s less about money and more about when you can squeeze in your hours. Try the early mornings or late nights. Or, if you’re lucky, during nap time.
And if you’re choosing extra childcare just to stay sane, that’s valid. It’s cheaper than therapy.
Sometimes, the best financial decisions aren’t about working more, but working smarter.
- Split the load with your spouse.
Don’t wait until crisis time to decide who’s on duty. Instead of getting frustrated when you’re the one pausing a meeting to deal with a meltdown, create a clear schedule with your spouse.
Danny and Shevi loved working from home throughout the year, but summers were challenging. With the kids around more, meetings often ended in chaos, and tensions ran high. This summer, they took on a new approach. They created a weekly schedule outlining when the kids would be home and who would be on duty. On their shift days, they’d start work early, avoid meetings during kid time, and finally, end the day still smiling at each other.
A bit of planning can go a long way in preserving both your productivity and your relationships.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help:
Your phone is ringing, messages are flooding your inbox, work is piling up, and the kids are restless. Your kids need attention, but so does your work. You don’t have to do this alone.
Reach out to family or close friends who might be willing to have your kids over for an hour so you can work uninterrupted. You can always return the favor after the summer.
Know other parents in the same boat? Setting up a child swap. One of you watches all the kids one day, and the rest of you take turns throughout the week. You get focused work time, and the kids get social interaction.
Are you an early bird? Get a head start on your working hours before the kids wake up. Or are you a night owl? Finish your work hours at night when the house is nice and quiet.
- Less chaos, more sunshine
Not every day has to be perfect. Some days, just making it through with your sense of humor intact is a major win. Celebrate your small victories, whether it’s a quiet cup of coffee, a successful work meeting, or finally answering an email.
You’ve got this. Wishing you a summer filled with more laughter, joy, and sunshine.
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