5 Facilitation Steps for Successful Work-At-Home Productivity
Kids running around screaming behind you. Music blaring in the background of their screams. A spouse looking for dinner to be ready on time – just like your clients’ looking for their copy.
The life of a freelancer is chaotic. There’s no arguing that. We’re at the mercy of our clients and often our families. We’re responsible for turning out great copy on time to customers in spite of the whirlwind that spins around us daily.
But most of us can’t run away to an office or coffee shop everyday – it’s just not practical.
And the more work you try to get done, the louder the cacophony gets in your ear.
So what? Are you stuck like this? Creating mediocre copy because you can’t focus? That’s no way to expect your business to thrive.
The Importance of Facilitation
You plan your work day, right? You know what projects you need to get done at any moment. You know what clients you need to contact. You know what invoices need to be sent. You know because you plan. And you focus. You’ve heard it before:
- Plan your day.
- Set a schedule.
- Stick to it.
Well, there’s more to managing a home and a business than just planning and following a schedule. Planning isn’t the whole answer; it’s about facilitation. You have to facilitate a flow so the rest of the house runs on autopilot.
You have to facilitate a flow so the rest of the house runs on autopilot.
For example, with three kids at home who look to mama for help in entertainment, I have to be extra resourceful on days that I have projects that cannot be interrupted.
So I take a few minutes the night before and bring my next day into focus. I plan what I need to do, but I also plan what the kids will do while I’m “on the clock.”
Staying Productive Without Getting Distracted
- Kids have “Learning Boxes” that I prep with toys and coloring pages or handouts. Reader helps non readers with directions because she likes being the teacher.
- They have a Boredom Book that, when they’re done with the Learning Boxes, they refer to. It has images and words for readers and non readers listing possible activities. For example, one day, building blocks, play store, play dress up, pillow case races may all be on the list, but another day, they’ll find other choices. If play dough is on there, I make sure their station is prepped and ready for play so they don’t get it in the carpet.
- We have a pep-talk about what mama’s got to do and we remind each other that if I’m at my desk, that means no talking to me. Whatever they make will be displayed for me during a show and tell when I’m done. They also made a sign that reminds them “Do Not Disturb” with the big circle and line through it.
- I prep their snacks and set the timer, when the timer dings, they know it’s snack time and they help themselves to the fruit in the fridge. If I know I’m going to have to work very long hours that morning, I make lunch the night before so I only have to reheat it at lunch time.
- Then, I plug my ears with binural beats for concentration and I let them have at it until I’ve pounded out the copy that I need to. (Keeping a keen ear out for emergencies.)
They understand I’m busy and productivity time is for work. But, as soon as I’m done, Play Time is just for them. These steps work because they get to make decisions and still have their needs met and I have less distractions.
Facilitation is empowerment for me and for them. I’m more productive. And they continue to learn and grow through their own choices and independence.
Leave a Comment
Love the tips. I’m also working from home with kids (4), and can totally relate to this article. Things can great crazy if you don’t have a plan. Set a plan, focus, and execute.
Thanks, Theus! It really works! You can never plan too much when you’re running a business and a home! Thanks for commenting!
I’m a single male with a full-time job and even I can say that this post was very helpful. Creating boundaries is all important as a freelancer. The worst part is that children can understand what mommy is doing, but adults who should know better will continuously distract without even thinking about it.
Thanks, J.! You’re so right! Sometimes we have to just disconnect to be productive, you know? Turn off cell phones, turn off email notices and lock yourself away if you need to. Or a good sit down convo to explain that you need certain hours to work. Thanks for your awesome input, J.!
This is a great post, and personally I’m able to relate. After being in the workforce for many years I was given the opportunity to be a work from home and a stay at home dad. I wouldn’t change it for the world, I love being home with my kids while still being able to work. My wife read a great book that she’s since passed on to me called “The Barefoot Executive” by Carrie Wilkerson. She was able to go right to author’s website, barefootexecutivebook.com, and order the book from there. It’s been a great read so far and can absolutely apply to both men and women, I highly recommend it!
That’s fantastic, Jason! Thanks for sharing! I’m definitely going to check it out!
Awesome article with useful and practical tips! I don’t have kids, but I CONSTANTLY struggle trying to get work done, especially when I need a quiet environment. I’m working and traveling, and I just don’t know why they always need to start the weed eater as soon as I get on a conference call!
Also, I am seriously considering making a “Boredom Book” for my husband.
Thanks, Jessica! It’s so difficult not being able to walk into and office – where it’s quiet – and be productive. I can’t offer too much about the quiet during a conference call, but those binural beats really help block out noises when you can plug in your earbuds! Thanks for commenting and good luck!
These are excellent ideas! Thank you! Now I need some ideas to keep the dog from dropping toys on my keyboard. =)
LOL! Can’t really reason with little creatures like that, can we? LOL Thanks for the feedback, Brandy!
Great post! I have 5 kids, so I can totally relate. It’s hard to work from home, but a huge gift, too.
Oh my! That is awesome! I’m so impressed:) You’ll need to share your tips, too!
Thank you for writing about the juggling act of parenting and freelancing. I appreciate knowing the practical solutions that work for you. Please keep writing articles like this!
Thanks, Amber! I love that you found it helpful! At Fit Freelancer, we’ve been focusing on fitness as a way to help “balance” the freelance and family life. But we have more great content coming – there will be a free Focus Guidebook with handouts and charts to help plan everything from menus to projects and keep track of marketing and accounting, too – plus lots more! Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback, Amber!
I don’t have kids either but I can see how that can be a distraction. I actually leave the tv on when I work so theres some noise in the background, when it’s too quiet I find it hard to concentrate as well.
Some people need some background noise and are fine working among coffee shop chatter and TV. That’s great because that means you’re focused! Keep it up! (Maybe one day, I’ll learn how to do it LOL! Thanks for commenting!
Ok I only have ONE kid, a toddler. I have no clue how you all do it with multiples! I pretty much do the same thing. She has her school learning stuff I give her, She plays outdoors with me sitting next to her working but we also make time for just the two of us. Right now I’m doing a lot of working while she is asleep because she is so bored with just being “one”. I can’t put on headphones unless someone else is home because I don’t feel like she is ready to wander around with mama’s ears listening. It’s really hard to balance and only the strong survive! lol
Yep! Safety first, Dani! LOL Children making working challenge no matter how many you have and I love what you said – only the strong survive!
That’s us!!
Ohhh I love this! thanks Tania for the gentle push too. I can’t wait to read more from you.
I have 3 kids (on school holidays at the moment!) and struggle with the same issues every day. So many int-eruptions and I’m so easily distracted as well. I have never been very good at organising or planning yet it’s crucial for business then add in the distractions of home and family and I’m a mess LOL
I love that I work from home and that I am a mum as well but I do feel fractured, I think people see you “at home” so this means you can do the work of a home mum as well as a working mum but it’s not that easy. I’ve learnt to leave washing, dishes, shopping etc until after working hours just as though I would if I was leaving home for work.
Remind yourself and others that you have a full time job as well as being a mum and homemaker!!
Dani it gets a little easier as they get older.
Sandra, so true, it’s a gift!
You are so right! You have to take it as a job – your responsibilities have to be prioritized. And I think we just fall into the habit of pushing our projects back for the sake of others’ needs, but putting the job second (behind the babes!:) ) means we can do what we need to do just like people who work away from home. Thanks for commenting, Tiff!
Parents nowadays focus 200% on job and leave their kids to other people to take care off.
Thanks for this. In the UK our kids are still at school (!) but I have one still at home two days a week, and the days when they’re both in school or childcare go so quickly. I get them from school and remember that office workers are still busy for two more hours! So the tips could be really useful for all year long, as well as summer holidays.
I hadn’t thought of boxes and boredom books, but I’ll definitely be trying it. The only plan I’d come up with for salvaging some summer was that over weekends I’ve been watching our kids to see how their energy flows during the day. I now know when they’re more likely to enjoy some down time on their own, and I’m planning to have all my work lined up and ready to get cracking on, the minute they start their ‘personal time.’ So I’ll get a few hours every day that way, and then we’ll schedule any play dates for after their and my most productive time.
Thanks again for the realistic nod at working from home. The problems are much more complex than most articles acknowledge!
That’s very astute of you, Tracy, to make sure you know when you can get to work during their down time. That’s a great head start for you for they’re home! I hope that if you do try the boredom book or learning boxes for them that they’ll work out for you well! Thanks for commenting, Tracy!
I think every freelancer will relate to this post ! Sometimes it feels like I am a juggler, managing and balancing lots of thing at the same time. Working at home can be very challenging at times, TV, people, kids, clients, wife….ugghh. Well, at the end of the day, how beautifully and efficiently manages everything that matters the most. I think little planning and a lot of courage is what it takes to control the entire situation.
You’re absolutely right, Vikram! It’s planning that is key. But, beyond that, you have to carry out those plans.
Working at home is difficult for everyone involved, but it’s also a wonderful thing, too. Thanks for sharing your comments and feel free to join the Fit Freelancer community to help you get a handle on your own juggling! Hope to see you there!
I feel deceived – the title of this article should have been “5 Facilitation Steps for Successful Work-At-Home With Kids Productivity”
Awesome post! The “real life” advice sure does help.
Thanks, Tammy! I appreciate your taking the time to comment!
Hope you can use it!
I think my biggest problem is not having worked out/given enough thought to routine and how to pull this off. I’ve been reconsidering whether working from home is right for me, due to the stress involved and the feeling of not coping. As a single mom of 5, I feel like I’m getting nowhere, and by the end of the day, have been so unproductive, I end up having to put long hours in at night, while not really have spent much quality time with the kids either. Me thinks it’s time to sit down and work on my time management, routine, etc and be self-disciplined enough to preplan my day…your suggestions here are great, and have given me some hope!
One of the commenters here suggested “Barefoot Executive”, which I also heard about on last week’s Book Report radio show (bookreportradio(dot)com for those interested in listening to the recorded show, getting an idea of the writing style or just finding new material to read). From what I heard, it seems like it may be a good read with some helpful tips too.
Thanks again for your insight…I will be pouring over your site for some more ideas!
Wow, a single mom of 5! No wonder you’re stressed! It’s ok. Venting, focusing, regrouping have to be your best friends. I admire what you’re doing and I think it’s awesome that you can do it! And there’s no way for you to be unproductive with 5 kids – you ARE productive, but just not at what you’d hoped to be productive at. I really hope you consider joining the Fit Freelancer Facebook community and signing up for the updates on the blog…I’ve developed a handbook that’s full of planners and tips to help you get grounded again. Good luck, E and I look forward to seeing you on Facebook or Twitter! Thanks for commenting!
Your absolutlely right in that you must follow your plan and stick to it!
If you try to skip a couple of items ‘cos its easy to at that time – it will create more chaos later on and make you go backwards not forwards.
You are so right, Peter! I’ve had to learn that the hard way. I’m a procrastinator by nature and learning not to listen to my “I’ll do it later” mentality has helped immensely! Thanks so much for commenting!