Working Through a Pandemic

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I was originally going to give you a “tips for working through a pandemic” post but realized that work has become almost impossible. OK, I am lying but it is hard AF without putting effort into it.

Just like many of you my life has been upended during the last year. I was so used to sending the kids off to school and getting some solid hours of work done in peace and quiet. Our kids have been home for almost a year now and work has ground to a halt.

Between virtual school, cleaning a house that is constantly being dirtied (how many people actually live here?), and cooking meal after meal, there is little time for me to sit down and whip up a blog post. With kids and dogs occupying every square inch of our home, I can’t just stage a photo shoot. There is no quiet for a vlog. With four different zoom classes, the news (because Duh), and video games in between, our bandwidth is merely letting us exist on the internet, not do anything with speed.

Meal times have become pretty big things lately since it seems like the only things we can do.

That being said I have realized that more effort needs to be put in on my part. Too many women have had their jobs and careers become casualties of the pandemic and here I am, someone who used to rave about being able to work from home, not actually working from home. The hypocrisy.

So I’m sharing some ways I am going to be squirrelling away time for work when there never seems to be enough time.

Pulling my own laptop out while sitting at the table with the kids. There are a lot of minutes in between when my kids need help with work. I need to sit with them or they fool around but hopefully, my presence is enough.
Waking up early. 30 minutes a day five times a week is still two-and-a-half hours more than if I didn’t do it. A lot of work can happen in those thirty minutes.
Make to-do lists. Put everything I need to do on the list and making sure that I put an hour of computer time away for myself in the evenings so I put myself first. It’s so easy to keep cleaning, harder to focus on myself. Plus I have this list of 25 things to do on a snow day as an adult to get through.
Tag my husband in. We share so many of the roles around the house already but actively asking him to do a task so that I can hide away and get some time to work.
Partnering up the kids. My kids are older now so I could easily partner an older kid up with a younger one instead of doing it myself. Maybe bribe them with ice cream for dessert on Fridays if they get all their work done.

These are some of the ways that I am attempting to tackle working through a pandemic. It’s a lot of give and take. A lot of asking for help. A lot of sacrifice from everyone involved.

How are you managing to get work done at home? Please share your tips as we could all use some help during these times.

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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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53 Comments

Heather Swanson
February 17, 2021 / 2:12 pm

I love to get up early & get alot done
Victoria Ess
February 18, 2021 / 6:44 am

Gosh, your household is BUSY! Great tips for hanging in there.
EDYE
February 19, 2021 / 8:28 am

I am trying to make more to do lists to stay organized.
Heather Swanson
February 20, 2021 / 2:37 pm

laptop goes from room to room
Janet M
February 21, 2021 / 9:58 am

I like the idea of 30 minutes in the morning to get tons of stuff done with no interruptions.
Janet Lance
February 21, 2021 / 1:50 pm

Great ideas for squirreling away time for work!
Heather J
February 23, 2021 / 11:52 am

I love your honesty! FTR it doesn’t change much when they get older either…..our youngest (29) moved home over the last year and his son (4) spends 3 days a week here. Where does all the stuff come from? And why does it keep piling up!! (I have cancer and sometimes getting up early just doesn’t work….hope it ends soon for all of us!) 💗
Aneta Alaei
Author
February 23, 2021 / 12:20 pm

I’m sending you good vibes Heather. I’m going to keep taking it day by day over here
Heather Swanson
February 23, 2021 / 2:05 pm

save time to volunteer
Heather Swanson
February 26, 2021 / 7:41 am

Pull together as a team
Heather Swanson
February 27, 2021 / 8:47 am

don’t be afraid to ask for help
Heather Swanson
March 27, 2021 / 2:27 pm

soon can be out on the veranda
Joanne Elford
March 27, 2021 / 3:53 pm

I hear you! I would be lost without “To Do” Lists.
Florence Cochrane
March 28, 2021 / 8:51 am

Time early in the morning with no one around are surely the best time for getting things done quickly.
Joanne darrell
March 28, 2021 / 6:04 pm

Getting support from a family member is very important.
Ashley Walterson
March 28, 2021 / 11:06 pm

I love the honesty of this! It’s so hard juggling everything from home, that awesome your husband helps out so much!
I personally don’t have any tips, other than I start my day with a great cup of coffee and keep in mind I’m only one person doing the best I can.
Marina Bird
March 29, 2021 / 11:41 am

I am a senior living alone and I stay at home except for grocery shopping and attending church services.
Debbie Beattie
March 30, 2021 / 12:35 am

It’s got to be so hard to work from home and make sure the kids are doing school etc
Heather Swanson
March 30, 2021 / 3:51 pm

Haven’t had Christmas with the family yet.
Denise M
March 30, 2021 / 6:01 pm

Great suggestions. I think the one that resonates with me is walking up early – before the kids. I can get a lot done without the distractions.
Janet Lance
March 30, 2021 / 9:24 pm

Thank goodness I am retired and the Pandemic doesn’t quite affect me and my family as much as so many others. My sons are still working, one from home, as are their spouses, and the kids are in school again. Lots of great ideas here for coping though.
Shirley
March 31, 2021 / 9:02 am

I love these tips I need to make a to do list to keep on track
LisaM
March 31, 2021 / 9:26 am

It’s such a hard thing to balance it all. I find that going for a walk at 5 pm – physically leaving my work desk – is helping with that balance.
Heather SSwanson
April 2, 2021 / 7:43 am

learn some new recipes
Heather Swanson
April 4, 2021 / 7:50 am

no Easter with the family
Janet Lance
April 4, 2021 / 9:54 am

Great ideas here but I am retired so I don’t have to worry about this, thank goodness. My sons and Daughter-in-laws do though and they are just as busy working at home as they would if they were in at work. I care for my grandkids during these difficult times. They both have birthdays next week and will turn 7 and 9. I have babysat them since their birth because I was retired and was able to do this.
Heather Swanson
April 6, 2021 / 3:44 pm

Try to be positive.
Heather Swanson
April 8, 2021 / 7:05 am

Finally veranda weather with the laptop!
Heather Swanson
April 9, 2021 / 2:06 pm

you have to be creative
Janet M
April 17, 2021 / 2:02 pm

It is difficult but we must all make an effort for the common good.
Chen Sing Yap
April 20, 2021 / 10:48 pm

But I procrastinate by making to-do lists, lol
Heather Swanson
April 23, 2021 / 2:53 pm

Set a goal each day
Micheline
April 24, 2021 / 7:08 pm

You are busy, my kids are gone and have children of their own, which I can’t see as they’re in a different province so that is what has been hard for me.
Heather Swanson
April 25, 2021 / 7:39 am

Good to have 2 p.j. days out of 7
Sandra Dufoe
April 25, 2021 / 9:57 am

I always make lists and try to get most of it done if I can. Helps to keep me motivated.
Micheline
April 26, 2021 / 2:16 pm

Hang in there and try to make some good memories.
Heather Swanson
April 26, 2021 / 3:31 pm

Just try to live in the present
Mel
April 26, 2021 / 4:14 pm

Great tips!
Denise M
April 26, 2021 / 11:16 pm

Who would have ever thought life would look so different (or so much the same) after a year into this pandemic. Thank you for the article. I can relate.
Heather Swanson
April 28, 2021 / 7:53 am

Have inspiring music on !
Kam
April 30, 2021 / 10:20 pm

It’s been different but have adapted to teaching during this pandemic. Thanks for these tips!
amy liu
May 17, 2021 / 2:10 pm

thanks for the post
Heather Swanson
May 17, 2021 / 3:36 pm

getting out on the veranda more & more
Melinda
May 17, 2021 / 5:18 pm

All very good tips. Working at home through the pandemic brings new considerations to work and family life.
Emily
May 18, 2021 / 5:17 pm

I plan ahead the night before and have been keeping a to-do list also.
Carole D
May 18, 2021 / 9:23 pm

Great tips, it does make thing easier when your children are holder.
Shirley
May 20, 2021 / 10:12 am

I love getting up early to get a head start on my day
Heather Swanson
May 20, 2021 / 3:24 pm

spend some time outdoors
Heather Swanson
May 21, 2021 / 3:26 pm

volunteering is so important
amy liu
May 22, 2021 / 11:51 am

thanks for the great tips commented on 5/22
amy liu
May 24, 2021 / 12:21 pm

i love all the recipes you post thanks
Heather Swanson
May 24, 2021 / 5:23 pm

donate to a local charity
Heather Swanson
May 25, 2021 / 8:37 pm

count your many blessings