Work-at-Home-Mom: 5 Tips on How to Succeed

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I have been a work-at-home-mom for about three years now but it wasn’t until I actually got a job where I was not the boss that I had to get serious with a routine. I think many people think that working from home is probably filled with binge-watching your favourite shows and doing household chores with a sprinkling of work when needed. Not the case people, not the case.

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To truly succeed you need to accept that just because you are at home doesn’t mean you don’t have to give your job 100% of your attention during work hours, although there is some wiggle room.

5 Tips on How to Succeed as a Work-at-Home-Mom

Designate a Work-Space-You need a space that you can do your job at and nothing else. Whether you have the space to designate a whole room to an office or you are like me and have to carve away a spot in the living room to do it, MAKE IT. This is where you go during work hours and it has to not only be welcoming but also have everything you need to do your job well. You might also be interested in learning that you can also get business energy if you work from home. You can easily find a cheaper business energy provider with someone like Simply Switch. This is only one bonus of working from home, however, there are loads of others.

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Work Hours-Determine when your work hours are. Know that during those hours you need to be doing your job. Make sure your family knows that during those hours you are working. Even though they see you they need to know that you are WORKING. It may take time for everyone to get adjusted to this role but once they do it becomes a lot easier.

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Do Not Mix Work & Home Duties-It can be easy to get distracted when working from home. That pile of laundry is not going to fold itself and the dishes will not wash themselves either but that has to be done either before or after work hours, never during (except breaks). For example, I start work at 10 AM and the hour after my kids leave for school is spent cleaning up the main areas where the kids are, making sure they are fed, and doing anything that had to be done for the day–like scheduling appointments. My family knows that 10 AM I am no longer available for things they can do themselves.

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Take Breaks-Just like a real job you need breaks. Schedule in time to get up and move around. Make a snack, make a coffee, switch the laundry (don’t fold, that’s a black hole) but remember you need to step away from work. Unless you are on a roll then keep going, because that productivity doesn’t happen often.

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Have a Tribe-Girlfriend working from home can get lonely. Most people go back to work because they need the adult interaction but the great thing about working at home is that your friends are just a click away. I have friends all over Canada, in different time zones so that even at 2 AM I can find someone to hash out my bad day too. These are the people who will lend an ear, give you good advice and never judge. They will tell you when you are wrong and help you get back on the right side of the equation. These will be the people who will raise you up when you are down, push you to be better every single day, and help you not only deliver at work, but OVER-deliver, on the regular. They have your back!

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My Little Secret-The Philips Avent SCD 630/37 Video Monitor

I work in my living room so I have a pretty great vantage point of what is going on in my house, except for when the kids go to the playroom. The playroom is upstairs and on the other side of the house, so although I know they can really get in no real mischief in their I do want to keep an eye on them. They have a tendency of dumping all the containers looking for the “pink” Barbie shoe or the broccoli for their play kitchen. Nipping these behaviours in the bud saves me not only time in tidying up but also gives me peace of mind. I had initially looked into various other monitors on the market and along with the Philips Avent, I also found that the best Levana baby monitor can too do the job at an affordable cost.

So I use the Philips Avent SCD 630/37 Video Monitor in their playroom while I am working. I have the 3.5” high-resolution colour screen with 2x digital zoom on my work desk. When they are up there playing not only can I keep an eye on them at all times but I can also talk to them through the talk-back feature. If they are up to no-good or if I need to just let them know I love them, I can with the push of a button. If only they knew that I used the zoom feature to get a real good peek at them when they are getting along with them A perk of working from home is being able to tell your kids you love them whenever you want.

The display not only shows me the temperature in the room but also sends me an alert when the room is out of the comfort zone I set up, which is a good thing because that particular room can get pretty chilly. It may mean that my little ones need to actually put on clothes for playtime :0 Ain’t no one have time for sick kids in this house, especially since sick days are almost impossible working from home.

And when I can see them get antsy and look like they are going to come downstairs and disrupt my flow I put on one of the lullabies without even getting up from my desk, because the Philips Avent SCD 630/37 Video Monitor has my back just like it will have yours.

My kids are not always in the playroom it is nice that I can leave the monitors on but in ECO mode so it saves battery life. I am alerted by either lights, vibration, or noise when the kids are heard so I am always able to keep an eye on them. There is no more sneaking away to the playroom without mommy knowing, I am now like Big Brother, but Big Momma and I love that I can have the kids close, even when I am a working.

Both the parent and camera unit can be plugged into the wall for a power source but if I need to run to the basement to switch that load of laundry I can do so easily as I have 10 hours of rechargeable battery life in the parent console. Big high-five for no more constant battery changes, from now on we are charging!

PTPA Seal of Approval + Giveaway

I have been using Philips Avent products for years and I know I can rely on them when it comes to baby gear. Last year we talked about our love of the Philips Avent Double Electric Comfort Breast Pump and have now re-homed it to another family who will continue to reap the benefits. I know when I get Philips Avent I am anticipating using it not only for my family but others down the line, it’s that good. I know other parents agree because the Philips Avent SCD 630/37 Video Monitor has won the Parent Tested, Parent Approved Seal of Approval. That means real mom’s tried it out, loved it, and decided it was worthy of the PTPA Sticker. Look for the Seal when you are searching out baby goods so you know it is parent approved!

Enter for a chance to win 1 of 2 Philips Avent SCD 630/37 Video Monitors! Good Luck!
Philips Avent #AventMoms Video Monitor Giveaway

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I am part of the PTPA Brand Ambassador Program with Philips Avent and I received Compensation as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.”

Aneta Alaei

Aneta is a Toronto-based mom of four that loves a good meal, great company, and learning something new. In her free time, you can find her trying to keep yet another plant alive.

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59 Comments

ivy pluchinsky
January 9, 2017 / 12:07 pm

Baby monitors are great, never had one with a video monitor though.
Lindsay
January 9, 2017 / 12:17 pm

I forget to take breaks, and I also tend to run downstairs for a load of laundry while something is uploading or while I’m waiting for a reply to an email! Your monitor-next-to-laptop set up looks very familiar to me.
Laurie Alain
January 9, 2017 / 12:26 pm

Thank you for the great tips, I am looking around the web to try to find if there is really any work I can do from home and I’m not finding anything out there yet. I will keep looking. I am On CCP Disability and I’ve worked all my life in different jobs, I do have allot of things I can do just don’t have any Certificates so it’s hard. I’ve worked the last 14 years in a call center and the mailroom. There doesn’t seem to be much I can find but i will not give up. I would love to win the monitor because my grandchild is on the way and I live in the basement so it’s really hard to hear up on the 2nd flooor. Thanks for the chance to win one.
Denis M.
January 9, 2017 / 12:31 pm

I’ve had a Samsung video monitor. it worked great with two way voice connection. It was great to be able to see and talk to the newborn while being away.
nicky
January 9, 2017 / 1:36 pm

I didn’t have a baby monitor at first and when I got a hand-me-down monitor, I realized how much it helped and gave me peace of mind that I could hear my baby cry even if I was in a different part of the house doing chores. This video monitor would be a huge step up from our old sound monitor!
John C
January 9, 2017 / 1:44 pm

Love the feature that has “Lullabies, night light & temp.”
kristen visser
January 9, 2017 / 1:45 pm

I do have a baby monitor but it doesn’t have a display but sound only. It did come in handy being able to hear when our little one woke up but would have been nice to be able to see what was going on in her room
Corrina Paisley
January 9, 2017 / 1:52 pm

Oh m,y gosh, this would be a wonderful product to help keep my mind more on work than worrying about what is going on in the rest of the household. One less area to worry about is always nice. 🙂
Tainan Lu
January 9, 2017 / 2:00 pm

I don’t have a baby monitor
Katie Lawrence
January 9, 2017 / 2:09 pm

I do have a baby monitor but it doesn’t have video. Even at nearly four years old it’s helpful at night when my daughter wakes up. My kids are getting slowly more independent and actually running off to play together (hooray!). Yesterday I found myself wanting to check in on them, but I know if they see me they will stop playing together. I resorted to sneaking my phone around the corner to take a picture just to make sure they were good. Lol.
J cabral
January 9, 2017 / 2:47 pm

Nice video display
Cheryl MacPhail
January 9, 2017 / 2:59 pm

I had one and was glued to every peep!! Helped me sleep a little!!
Betty S
January 9, 2017 / 3:18 pm

I did not have a monitor when my children were little but now I most definetly want one for my grandchildren
saves waking the baby up by tiptoeing into the room to make sure they are ok
Derek Soares
January 9, 2017 / 3:26 pm

Love the mom jeans meme… great blog, lots of great info.
Caroline
January 9, 2017 / 4:01 pm

No, I don’t have one. It’s definitely a great thing to have.
jan
January 9, 2017 / 4:03 pm

We did not have a monitor when the kids were little
Violet Smith
January 9, 2017 / 5:47 pm

When my first one was born 40 yrs ago I had a fisher price monitor which I loved as it allowed me to go outside while he was sleeping and I could hear him from anywhere. The monitors now are so advanced and do so much more. I am definitely wanting one for my grandchild
Alayne Langford
January 9, 2017 / 5:49 pm

We used the old style baby monitor with audio only. We usually picked up the neighbours hanky panky and realized if we can hear them then… ?
Aneta Alaei
Author
January 9, 2017 / 6:46 pm

You just made my day! Its like a neighbourhood p**n swap…but audio only
Lynda Cook
January 9, 2017 / 9:12 pm

The only monitor I had was back 24 years ago and it looked like walkie talkies, and because I live beside a highway, I was getting the truckers conversations over it and the odd phone convo’s as well, it was very annoying but made for some great entertainment as well..lol
Alayne Langford
January 9, 2017 / 9:17 pm

Leaves a lot to the imagination eh? One time we had both sets of grandparents over for dinner and the monitor started going off (getting off). Talk about awkward!!
linda cassidy
January 9, 2017 / 9:58 pm

we did, to hear her crying, provided some relief but this would be amazing
Monica Shelly
January 9, 2017 / 10:05 pm

We just had a sound monitor, nothing like what is out there now, thanks
Kristin Ashe
January 9, 2017 / 10:08 pm

We had one, we used it until my daughter was 5 very useful
Thomas Kwan
January 9, 2017 / 10:40 pm

It gave us a real peace of mind.
Brenda Lacourciere
January 10, 2017 / 1:33 am

I had one for one of my children and was very happy to have it. No more super quick showers or speedy dinner preps in fear that I needed to check on the baby.
Dana Miller
January 10, 2017 / 1:49 am

Yes I had an Angelcare baby monitor. It did not give us peace of mind unfortunately. As 1st time parents we were traumatized when the alarm would alert us that the baby stopped moving/breathing, when in fact the baby had rolled off the sensor area.
loriag
January 10, 2017 / 8:31 am

We had a baby monitor, it was helpful and gave us an extra ear for sleeping times.
Darren Scrubb
January 10, 2017 / 10:05 am

I do not have one..
Judy Cowan
January 10, 2017 / 10:19 am

No baby monitor for us. But my friend is expecting and I think it would definitely give her peace of mind to have one like this.
Heather W
January 10, 2017 / 11:18 am

Even though my youngest is now 4 I still use the baby monitor (but ours is just sound). The way our house is laid out I sleep a little far from their rooms, and I’m a deep sleeper, so I keep the monitor set up between my 2 youngest rooms, and that way if they have a nightmare or need me for anything I can hear them both like I’m right outside their doors.
Erin W
January 10, 2017 / 12:04 pm

I had a sound only monitor, but I really wish that I had a video monitor. I still use it sometimes when I’m outside and my daughter is inside.
Andrea
January 10, 2017 / 1:44 pm

Yes, I used a monitor and it is so much better!
Tiff
January 10, 2017 / 5:42 pm

I dont have one but I would love this, as we are planning on getting pregnant this year!
Robyn Bellefleur
January 10, 2017 / 7:44 pm

I didn’t have one for my first child and it was nerve racking, but then I got one and I felt much better about doing chores and napping in the afternoons.
Gina Fleury
January 10, 2017 / 9:21 pm

No I do not have a video monitor but this would be very helpful to keep an eye on the kids in the playroom while I am working downstairs.
Edmond
January 10, 2017 / 11:21 pm

I donèt have one so this really helps. A life saver.
Carol McCann
January 10, 2017 / 11:41 pm

We didn’t have a monitor for our kids but made sure our Grandchildren did
Carol McCann
January 10, 2017 / 11:43 pm

didn’t have a monitor for our kids but made sure our Grandchildren did
Leah
January 11, 2017 / 12:23 am

A baby monitor was one of the best things I had when my daughter was little. I could know she was safe without going in to check in on her (and possibly wake her!). We still use it, but it’s so broken it only works if you hold the charger in, so it’s almost time to say goodbye. Love having something to check in whenever I feel the need (or hear a strange noise!)
Moschella
January 11, 2017 / 1:04 am

thank you for the tips !
Maria Vaiaso
January 11, 2017 / 10:13 am

I have a hand-me-down monitor from the 90s. Terrible sound quality! I would love a video monitor!
Debbie Browne
January 11, 2017 / 3:24 pm

We had a baby monitor and it was effective in giving me peace of mind when I could here the kids from their bedrooms.
eric
January 11, 2017 / 5:48 pm

I do not have one
Maryanne
January 12, 2017 / 12:33 am

My house is small so no need to have a monitor. But I will soon be working from home and I like the idea of being able to see whats going on when he is being too quiet.
William Ng
January 13, 2017 / 1:32 pm

We didn’t have a baby monitor as we never thought about it until later one.
Kristine Nepssy
January 13, 2017 / 6:43 pm

We don’t have one but it would be great
RC
January 13, 2017 / 8:09 pm

Very informative! Lovely package!
Melinda
January 17, 2017 / 10:22 am

My children are older now but I would have loved a baby monitor like this one!
Lynnie
January 19, 2017 / 5:08 am

I didn’t have a baby monitor for my first, and I think it would have improved my life greatly!
Kristy
January 19, 2017 / 11:42 am

I loved my video monitor with my first. I loved being able to check on my little without waking her up. I also used it with my twins. It’s not working so well anymore and I’ve been debating replacing it. It’s so helpful to know what’s going on when you’re not in the room!
bojac
January 24, 2017 / 9:58 am

didn’t have a baby monitor when kids were small; would have been good to have
William C.
January 29, 2017 / 11:29 pm

nice devices to have in the home!
Luisa M.
January 30, 2017 / 11:46 am

Pretty much a necessity for today’s parents!!
Ariel C
February 5, 2017 / 12:31 am

yes, definitely a must have!
Loni P
February 5, 2017 / 1:24 pm

I’m not sure how our parents did it hahah
It is a pretty cool tool!
Jen Mach
February 5, 2017 / 1:59 pm

Looks like a great moniotor system
Joyce S
February 5, 2017 / 2:30 pm

We had a baby monitor but without the video..
Debbie White Beattie
October 21, 2017 / 3:26 am

You’ve got great tips and ideas. It’s got to be hard to keep yourself motivated at home all the time but you’re doing a great job