What Working at Home Looks Like, Sometimes

I write a lot about making a space for work. Even if you don’t have an official home office, it is so important to set aside an area or at least an “indicator” that you are working. You need to be able to “go to work,” and more importantly, you need to be able to “leave work” after the day is done. Otherwise you will constantly be working while being distracted with home stuff (like that pile of ever-growing laundry). I have a designated workspace, but sometimes, this is what working at home looks like. 

Sometimes, it isn’t possible to work in my office. Someone needs something, my office has turned into a staging area for something else, or someone needs something (that is usually the reason!). Working from home with kids is imperfect, often messy, and sometimes completely unproductive. It takes time to get the hang of it and develop a rhythm. Sometimes, it is just hard. 

But most of the time, it is rewarding. It is flexible (why I do it), and it is fun. I can work late at night and early in the morning when my kids are in bed, without needing a sitter. I can take them to their appointments without asking for time off, and I can say yes to weekday events and outings when I feel like it. We get beach days and park afternoons, uncrowded trips to the zoo and lunch dates. 

Sometimes working at home is exactly as it should be – in my office, with everything I need accessible, with no noise besides whatever I’ve chosen to listen to on Pandora that day. 

Other times, this is what working at home with kids looks like: 

Yep, that is a tent. And yep, I am using it as an office! My little guy wanted me to watch a movie with them, but I had to finish up a project. I was there, but not really there (I know, not very mindful…but I got my project done and my kids were happy!).

And of course, there are the work-at-home snuggles that make every distraction worth it.

There was a time when my baby wouldn’t sleep unless I was there. This helped to get more done, and keep him dozing. 

And occasionally, I get a little help. Usually it is in the form of turning off my computer!

Of course there are days that I make it into my office and get a few hours of quiet time-blocking, and those are the most productive workdays (a designated workspace does help!).

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So… while I do my best to practice what I preach, it doesn’t always work out. What does working at home look like for you? Are you good at only working in your designated workspace or do you sometimes move over to the couch, bed, car, or tent? I’d love to see it! Email me at hello at unlikelywahm dot come with your work-at-home best!