Joys and Challenges of Working from Home with Toddler Twins and a Dog

The COVID-19 virus outbreak is definitely reshaping how companies do business these days. Due to travel bans and restrictions as well as health risks, thousands to millions of employees have shifted to a work-from-home setup. Truth be told, it is not a novel concept. In Singapore, 8 out of 10 companies allow their employees to work remotely. Other countries such as the USA, Australia, and Germany also offer flexible work arrangements. 

However, it’s no secret that there are several challenges in working from home. This is especially true for parents who care for young children and some pets. As a mother of three-year-old twins and a proud fur-parent, I understand the struggle. In fact, sometimes, things get a bit crazy when I’m swamped with work and my kids start whining and the dog won’t stop barking.  

Juggling work, chores, and play-time

Raising toddler twins and a dog is a lot of work. And that’s mostly because they don’t seem to run out of energy. On top of that, I have plenty of work responsibilities and some household chores (Luckily for me, we have our Helper, who has been with us for over 7 years, is like family and is a big support system; Phew!) I need to handle. Most parents would say right off the bat that multi-tasking is the solution. I, on one hand, would recommend focusing on one task at a time. 

We humans can only do only so much. Unless you’re Diana Prince or Clark Kent, then you might be able to pull off an amazing feat. Otherwise, you must know how to prioritize tasks and learn the value of proper time management.

Forgetting to take a break

A lot of remote workers have a serious time management issue. Because of this, they end up neglecting their personal needs. Sometimes, I commit this crime too, especially when I have a hectic work schedule. Here are some things I do in order to balance my time with work, house chores, and my family.

• Dedicate hours or days for certain activities. For example, I schedule chores/activities such as doing the groceries or attending online fitness classes (very relevant during this circuit breaker) on specific days. 
• Have a fixed work schedule – It’s important for me to have enough time to bond with my family. That’s why I firmly stand on having a fixed work schedule even if I am working from home. To the tune that I pack up my laptop bag along with my charger and shut it in the study. Of course, in this day and age you are always connected on phone and if there is a burning issue I attend to it after the work schedule. If not, I park it. 
• Establish a routine –  Although my kids are just three years old, I believe it’s crucial to instill the value of training and discipline. Even at a tender age, kids should be taught to follow certain routines such as eating at a specific time and putting away their toys after playing. The same can be said for dogs.

Devote at least an hour for “me time” – I can’t emphasize enough the importance of “me time”. It will keep you sane especially during a tough week. Some examples of things you can do during your “me time” includes doing a skincare routine or having a relaxing bathtub session or just enjoying the view of the blue sea or heavy rain! During my maternity leave every morning at 5am after I fed my kids (Yes, you read it right, am; had to feed them a couple of times during the night back then), I would just sit with my Dog at our balcony overlooking the East Coast Park and enjoy a cup of tea and biscuits in peace. That was my me-time during those days!

Dealing with distractions

It’s normal to get distracted while working. In an office set up, your focus might get thrown off by co-workers tapping their feet, playing some music or your superiors chasing you for revisions and whatnot. When working remotely, you will surely deal with all kinds of distractions as well.  

Some examples include kids throwing a fit, dogs howling or scratching the floor, and loud background music coming from the TV shows. You might even have to deal with your kids asking endless questions like how Young Sheldon Cooper did when he asked the guy from NASA why they don’t design rocket boosters to land. My two go on about the Rescue Teams, Super Heroes and Monsters!  

There are plenty of days when I have to deal with such problems. And while it’s not exactly a pleasant experience, there are lessons that I get from dealing with them such as:

• The value of having a dedicated workspace. 
• Minimizing the possibility of the kids getting cranky by giving them a bath before I start my work (so, they wouldn’t feel stuffy while playing). 
• Organizing the required material for the kids’ Home-Based Learning Video Call a day ahead, preparing the list of programs that kids will watch on TV/Learning App and loading the playlist of rhymes/ Lullabies on stereo at the start of the day, helps making life easier. I’ve also realized it is very effective to share your work call/video call schedule with your support system (in my case it’s my Husband and our Helper), so one of us is there to engage with/keep an eye on the kids, daily chores are planned accordingly and you are not disturbed during those slots. 
• The importance of training your kids and pets to become independent. 
• A playpen with safe toys, crib and whatnot is a must for infants; at least it was for me. 
• There are many reasons why a dog might whine or act strangely, and it’s my job as a fur momma to identify them.

The more you get to understand the reason behind an issue, the better you would be in staying focused on completing a task.

Maintaining one’s productivity

The COVID-19 pandemic is a cause for concern no matter where you are in the world. It can gravely affect your mood and productivity because you constantly worry about your family’s safety here as well as about folks back in your home country. You also might worry about the shaky world economy, food security, and a long list of other things. 

Before you snap and scream bloody Dracarys, take a breather. To cope during these stressful and trying times, you should definitely think about getting a new hobby or working on a passion project. These will help you divert your energy and attention into something more meaningful. Encourage your kids to join you in activities such as doing arts and crafts, baking goodies, and filming a movie.   

Working from home is indeed possible!

Thousands of businesses worldwide make use of a telecommuting set up to cut back on operational costs, keep their staff and executives happy, and increase employee productivity and retention rate. Needless to say, working from home is definitely a trend that will stay and probably dominate the market in the next couple of years. 

Although transitioning into this kind of work arrangement can be a bit tough at first, it will surely grow on you over time.  

Be open to doing a few adjustments, have some extra doses of patience, and bring out your creativity and resourcefulness. More importantly, try looking at the issues in a different light. I believe that you too can make it work. 

Even with toddlers and a dog at home, I’m holding up quite well. In fact, I’m glad I get to work close to my loved ones in times of crisis. 

What kind of setup do you currently have as a remote worker? What challenges of working from home do you have? How do you solve them? I’d love to hear your story too! 

Ananya Sinha Roy is the Director at The Supply Advisory (a division of Datasearch Consulting), a leading executive recruitment firm specialising in Procurement & Supply Chain.

You can view the The Supply Advisory website or contact them directly at info@supplyadvisory.com for a more detailed discussion.