1. Communicate with your team
This isn’t the time to pretend like everything is normal. Be upfront with coworkers and managers about what is going on. That includes being clear about any times where you’re unable to video chat (say, because you’re nursing your 6-month-old) or if a conference call is likely to be interrupted by a screaming toddler (which, let’s face it, could be at any moment). Talk to your employer about their expectations during this time and keep them up to date with any issues or challenges. Given these unusual circumstances, they should hopefully be understanding (and honestly, they may even be in the same boat).
2. Establish a routine
“The first week that my husband and I both had to work from home after our 9-month-old’s daycare closed was total chaos,” one mom tells us. “We were both trying to figure out how to manage our schedules and ended up just passing our son back and forth throughout the day, which meant that neither one of us got any work done.” The solution? Sit down over the weekend and make a plan for the week ahead that (if possible) includes bigger chunks of time to focus. “Now, he’ll take care of the baby in the morning and I’ll take over in the afternoon—and we both work at high speed during nap time.” This doesn’t have to mean creating a color-coded, Insta-COVID-perfect schedule where every hour of your mini’s day is filled with stimulating activities. But coming up with a basic plan will help give your children a sense of stability in these weird times (for older kids, try modeling their day according to their usual school routine) as well as help you make the most of your day.
3. But be flexible
These are unusual circumstances, and while having a plan is certainly helpful, know that things may not go smoothly every day. In fact, they definitely won’t. But everybody is doing their best and trying to figure this thing out—be kind to yourself and remember that even though this may be stressful, what you’re doing is essential to keep people healthy and safe.