You’re not alone. Even with the vaccine, most working parents are still struggling to find remote work balance with their kids’ online learning. However, you can see the light at the end of the tunnel by following four simple tips.

1. Embrace Imperfection

The saying, “Done is better than perfect,” may have originally referred to project work, but it takes on a greater meaning during these challenging times. Finding a perfect balance between remote work and your kids’ online learning has a lot to do with taking “perfect” out of the equation.

Rearrange Your Standards

Before the pandemic hit, you had certain standards that you wanted to live up to. Just as the pandemic has thrown the world out of whack, it’s OK for your family’s standards to be thrown out of whack too. To protect your family’s sanity while improving your work productivity, adopt some new standards like allowing more:

• Clutter to pile up
• Screen time
• Takeout orders

Reduce the Pressure

It’s easy to forget that you’re not the only one facing the balancing act of remote work with your kids’ online learning. Countless people around the world are facing the same challenge. The sooner you accept the fact that everything won’t always fall into place, the sooner you’ll be able to put less pressure on yourself and your kids.

Get Real

Back when you were at the office and the kids were at school, you could count on them getting a standard education. Now that they’re learning from home, focus on setting realistic expectations without neglecting your basic priorities. Start by protecting your family’s emotional and physical health while keeping your job. Then, gradually introduce new goals for your kids, like reading a certain number of chapters per week.

2. Set Boundaries

How often have you asked yourself, “Where did the day go?” Setting boundaries can help you ask that question less often.

Build Your Own

It’s hard to get any work done when you’re surrounded by distractions. If you have young kids, limit random interruptions by creating a special box of quiet toys—like sticker books and washable markers—and putting it next to your workstation. For older kids, move their desk to face a window or build a makeshift cubicle using cardboard boxes.

Schedule Them

When you wait for the perfect time to unplug, sometimes you end up waiting all day. You can avoid that problem by scheduling time for specific activities before it’s too late. First, let your manager and coworkers know when you’ll be unavailable. Then, schedule:

• Learning routines so your kids know when to stop playing and start studying
• Breaks for you and your kids to stay hydrated, eat, and use the bathroom
• At least 10 minutes of solo time to recharge (walk, meditate, or call a friend)

Use Video to Communicate with Your Team

Getting stuck in back-to-back meetings all day can keep you from getting any actual work done. Instead of scheduling live calls throughout the day, use the ScreenPal screen recorder for effective virtual communication with your team. Not only will it help you save time, it will also help you avoid any big distractions happening in the background.

Record and Edit Your Zoom Meetings

Can’t make a meeting? Ask your team to record their Zoom meetings and send you highlights with a sharable link to review later. To cut to the chase, they can use the video editor to edit their meetings into digestible pieces.

3. Keep Moving

When reminding their patients to keep moving, some physical therapists say, “Motion is lotion.” The same can be said about the workday.

Sitting all day can wreak havoc on your well-being, both mentally and physically. Whenever possible, squeeze in movement to blow off steam. Add daily activities like strolls, laps, and bike rides to your family’s routine. Doing so means you and your kids are more likely to focus when it’s time to concentrate.

4. Stay Positive

In one way or another, the pandemic has taken a toll on everyone. The universal way to get through it is to stay positive.

The lines between your family’s professional, personal, and academic lives are blurrier than ever. That allows you to face challenges in new ways. No matter how bad things get, look for something positive to bring up. By staying positive to overcome challenges, you can deepen your relationship with each other. 

You’ve Got This!

No matter how it turns out, you’ll have memories of the pandemic for as long as you live. Some of those memories may not be great, but you have opportunities to make the most out of your situation. Balancing remote work with your kids’ online learning is one of those opportunities.