This post is sponsored by Panasonic, all opinions are my own.
These days, more than ever, many of us are choosing to run businesses out of our home, or are having to work from home due to current events. With daycares closed, and social distancing, kids are at home and we are forced to work around their schedules. For the past few years I have been working from home on content creation, and running my own marketing business. Despite just having a baby and having a toddler at home, I am still required to meet client deadlines, and I make sure I get things done on time with these critical tools.
Panasonic Long Range Baby Monitor with add-on cameras
I chose this career because I knew I wanted to be a hands-on mom, but I didn’t want to give up my career. I love that I can continue working from home while raising kids. I follow a strict routine with my kids and work while they nap or Ben is playing in his playroom. The first important tool to successfully working from home with kids is getting a good quality baby monitor.
It’s very helpful that my #PanasonicBabyMonitor has an add-on camera option so I am able to watch both the playroom and nursery. My office is on the first floor of the house and both the nursery and playroom are on the second floor. It was imperative that I find a baby monitor that has a long-range, and the #PanasonicCanada monitor has 1500 foot range, equivalent to more than the length of four football fields. I never have to worry that the baby monitor will lose connection or quality. I feel comfortable being on a different floor than my kids because of the long range and long battery life.
I’ve always had reservations about wi-fi enabled baby monitors because I’ve read horror stories where monitors get hacked and strangers are watching children, or talking to babies through the microphone in the camera during the night. Our Panasonic baby monitor is virtually unhackable because it is not connected to wi-fi, but instead connects via DECT frequency. In order to connect to the camera you have to physically be in front of it and press a button on the camera. I am much more comfortable knowing that my children are safe in their rooms while I am busy working and that no one can be watching them but me.
Right now the Panasonic Long Range Baby Monitor is on sale on Amazon.ca. Regularly $189.99, it’s now $149.99! Shop here.
Set boundaries
I like to keep my office a kid-free zone. This way when Ben is awake he knows he can’t come into my office and interrupt my work. I want my children to grow up seeing me work, and knowing that women can have a career and be moms. My husband and I both have hard working moms, so this is something that has always been important to me. If I set boundaries and Ben knows that Mommy is in her office working, he won’t interrupt my working time and I’ll have more time to spend with him when the work is done.
Choose activities that require less supervision
One of my favourite things to do while I work is spy on Ben on the baby monitor. I love to see his imagination run wild while he is playing in the playroom (another bonus of the added camera option!). I have found certain activities require less supervision, such as magic crayons versus painting since the magic crayons only put colour in magic workbooks. I try to limit his screen time, so the playroom is very hands-on. Since he sometimes skips naps now that he’s older, I initiate quiet time in his crib where he can safely read books alone. This is a great time for him to cool down, and gives me time to get work done. He also loves large building blocks, and I love to spy on him to see how creative he is!
Be flexible
I keep a pretty strict routine at home. Children need routine but so do adults, especially those who work from home. In order to meet deadlines, I time block my day to make sure I have enough time to tackle each task. But, if I notice Ben or Bella are restless on the baby monitor, I’ll sneak into their room and spend a little more time soothing them. Or, if one of them isn’t feeling well (right now Bella is showing signs of colic) I’ll put work aside to care for them. So while it’s important to keep routine for the most part, it’s equally important to have flexibility. I chose a work-from-home career so I could be there for my kids whenever they need me!
Prioritize your to-do list
My to-do list is never ending, so I always input tasks based on priority. For example if I have a task due Wednesday, but something comes up that is due Monday, the new task gets moved ahead of the old. I have a rule that I must finish three work-related tasks before I move on to house work. It’s very easy to get sidetracked when you work from home, I often find myself thinking about starting laundry or dinner, but when I prioritize my tasks, I know I can’t move on to house work until I finish work tasks.
Take breaks
Having a job based out of your home can be tricky. It can often feel like work never ends, and when the kids are sleeping your first instinct might be to check emails or head straight to the office. But it’s important to take breaks, take time for yourself and your significant other. If you find yourself stuck in a rut or working too much, create office hours or rules such as no working on the weekends, or no working past 8pm. It’s really important to separate work from your personal life or you’ll become overwhelmed by having too much going on in one shared space.
I’m Elle! A Toronto-based Holistic Nutritionist. I’m a multi-passionate woman, but nutrition and understanding how the body works is really my passion. Through my own personal journey, I have trained my body to heal itself using strategic, natural tools and techniques. Now I’m ready to help others!
As a new Mom, I understand that wellbeing is a journey. I hope my expertise will inspire other parents to choose nutrient-rich foods and the right products to create a happy, healthy and sustainable home. Click Here to Continue Reading
