Working from home and raising a family: for the Single Parent

Many single parents dream of an opportunity to juggle the dual role of homemaker/bread winner in a simple streamline manner, but few ever find it. For single parents working from home while raising a family, demands a delicate blend of professionalism and flexibility.

Making it Happen: A work from Home Routine

The road to working from home as a single parent is paved with 4 elements of success.

Element #1 – A designated workspace

The element of a designated workspace may by far be the most important to successfully working from home. Single parent homes are often smaller with limited space when compared to dual parent households, yet with a little creativity your workspace can be up and running in no time.

Begin by selecting the quietest room in your house. Typically this will be the room without a television or the kid’s toys. Then pick a corner you can erect your desk space. When I first started my workspace was at our dinning room table and my corner held my filing boxes. When it was time to work I occupied one side of the table and neatly packed up at the end of my workday.

Element #2 – Get and stay organized

This element is especially crucial when you are working with limited space and potentially need to “pack” up your office at the end of each day. Here are a few tips to get you started:

• If possible use a laptop for all your computer work
• Purchase multiple spiral notebooks and clearly label each one: task items, goals, notes, etc.
• Use a whiteboard to clearly outline each day’s objectives
• Use filing cabinets (or any type of replica) to keep all you important files safe and accessible

lement #3 – Designate work hours

For parents with young kids at home or during summer break this is vital to your success. Determine what hours you will be most productive and then stick to it. Make it clear to your family that during those hours you are at work and expect your kids to respect that.

To help your kids adjust make sure you anticipate their needs to the best of your ability. If they have independent work such as practicing an instrument, movie or game time schedule that during your work hours. While you will be available for snacks, argument resolution and immediate needs you want to keep your work hours focused on work not entertaining children.

Element #4 – Roll with the flow and be flexible

As single parents we are the sole provider for all our children’s needs and as such rigorous scheduling won’t always stick. There will be days your kids need you unexpectedly, doctors appointments that can’t be scheduled outside of work hours, etc. Don’t let these times bring you down.

Unlike your traditional job you are your own boss. If you need a sick day, take it. If your schedule needs rearranged, change it. The trick is to allow for the unexpected and when it comes your way, roll with it. After all, that’s what single parents do best.

Paving the way with these 4 elements of success will help you, the single parent, find that delicate blend of professionalism and flexibility for working from home while raising a family.