Reducing Stress in the Parent’s Home Office
If you’re at your wits end at a regular job, you can at least take a break and go for a walk or find some alone time to cool off. When you’re a work-at-home parent, however, you’re not so lucky. Much of the time, the kids will always be there, either needing your help or distracting you, when you’re already stressed out about work. It helps to know some stress-reduction techniques to get you through those tough moments.
Make meals in advance: There’s nothing like being hungry, tired, and frustrated to make a workday seem totally shot. To avoid just throwing a piece of lunchmeat on bread or nuking a hot dog, prepare meals in advance in bulk; individually wrap servings, and freeze them. You’ll be able to quickly reheat something a little more substantial, that will restore your energy instead of making you feel crazy.
Exercise: Kid just won’t leave you alone? Work not going as planned? Do 10-20 minutes of a silly, easy sort of exercise that your kid can join in on. Jump rope, play hopscotch, stick your old Jazzercise video in the VCR, or ride your bikes around the block. The endorphins will help you feel better, and it’ll help expend some of your kid’s energy.
Kid proof the office: If you have a toddler around, you want to ensure that your office is safe from their antics. Cable tie groups of electrical cords; make sure your computer is plugged into an outlet that he or she can’t reach. Keep some distractions in your office, like toys and a kid-friendly area, to keep them from attacking your work area.
Indulge them: Sometimes, your kid will be in such a tizzy that it just doesn’t make sense to try to calm them down via normal avenues or to insist that they get their act together. If they’re frustrated beyond the point of no return, and you’re tired and stressed as well, it might be time to indulge them in a “forbidden” but overall harmless activity, like playing in a bowl of flour on the floor (if they’re a toddler), sharing a chocolate bar with you (if they’re preschool age), or playing video games (if they’re school age). Indulging them once in a while won’t send them down the wrong life path, and it just might help restore your sanity.
Breathe: Breathe deeply for 30 seconds, while concentrating on the phrase, “I am a competent parent and a successful professional.” 30 seconds doesn’t seem like a long time, but ruling out all negative thoughts for that short period can be enough to buoy you and get you out of that stressful feedback loop.
Do it later: The name of the game for being a happy and successful work-at-home parent is flexibility. While you need to complete a certain amount of work daily, sticking to a rigid schedule can be stressful for no reason. If something is just not going to get accomplished right now, have faith that the time will come a little later (because it likely will!). Sure, your toddler’s screaming now, but in an hour they’ll be napping—why kill yourself trying to work, when if you wait you’ll be much more productive?
