Working from Home and Home Schooling; Struggles Leading to Success

Published on

By Jane Shpolska

The past year has been very different for all of us.  Although there have been changes in our everyday lives that have tested our patience, there has also been gratification turning these challenges into opportunities.  Even if some of them are not successful.     

Now that homeschooling has been added to our list of responsibilities, it has motivated working parents to be more involved in their children’s school and social life, while carrying on with their own career.  

It is only natural that at times parents will feel overwhelmed.  So, we wanted to share a few lessons learned from our new world of juggling a career and home schooling.

  • After a week of full-time home schooling and working, you learn to adapt and zone out in order to concentrate on work that requires attention to detail.  Even when there are meetings or lessons happening at every corner of your household, try to focus on the task at hand and let your family know about your schedule in advance.  
  • Trust your kids and let them take the lead.  They can navigate their way around a Google classroom or any other online learning platforms better and faster than we think.  Even smaller kids can work independently and will be grateful in future that we have encouraged them to master this skill now.
  • Take a walk during lunch or recess to get some fresh air. Alternatively, let the kids out to play in the backyard so they can get some exercise.  You can then have some relatively quiet time to concentrate on work.
  • Take it one step at a time.  Do what you can and do not stress over what you cannot do. Sweating the small stuff just is not worth it. 
  • Consider taking some time off.  Even a couple of hours every other day to help your kids with schoolwork will alleviate some of the work stresses.
  • The fridge has become very popular in most households, so make sure there are plenty of healthy snacks to choose from such as fresh veggies, fruit, cheese, yogurt etc.  These types of snacks do not require a lot of time to prepare and are a great alternative to junk food.
  • Join your kids and exercise with them during their gym classes.  It is only embarrassing for a few seconds.  Then you realize you are having so much fun, while enjoying a nice little break from work!
  • Ask for help from your colleagues.  Hopefully, you are as fortunate as we are to have a great team where everyone steps in and supports one another.  We can also rely on management to be very understanding and supportive.  Do not be afraid to ask for that help or solutions.
  • Laughter is the best medicine.  So, remember to have a good laugh over anything.  Especially over something that is not working out.  Honestly, even failures can be humorous, especially when there is a lesson learned from that experience.
  • Take it easy, believe in yourself and remember, “This Too Shall Pass”!

Houser Henry & Syron LLP believes in a positive and supportive work environment, whether that be in an office or working remotely at home.  We are happy to provide solutions to encourage a similar working environment for others.  If you have any questions or comments relating to this article, please contact Jane Shpolska at JShpolska@houserhenry.com. 

____________________________________________________________________________

About HHS

Since 1934, Houser Henry & Syron LLP has provided legal services to Canadian and foreign private businesses, helping them deal with complex legal challenges to grow and to manage risk successfully. We help our clients with mergers and acquisitions, commercial real estate, reorganizations, shareholders disputes and agreements, commercial agreements, employment issues and financing. We also pride ourselves in practising in Plain English.