How to work from home and be productive even in crisis!

Can an entrepreneur dad work from home while taking care of his 3-year-old daughter get anything done?

SURE, it’s all about time-management. It is hard, it is challenging, but I would say IT IS POSSIBLE!

In my FIRST YOUTUBE VIDEO, I give some examples of how I manage my workday to keep me productive and have quality family time.

So let me start.

Coronavirus crises hit the world and lots of people need to work from home. 

So, I live with my wife and my 3-year-old daughter.

My wife is a lawyer and she goes to her office to work and that leaves me with my kid for most of my working day.

At first, I thought that it will be impossible because she is in the age where I have to make her a meal, help her with the toilet and of course, she still needs a company for play. But when I was making my work plan, I realized that I HAVE TIME, just not time in continuity like a have in the office. You know, when you come to the office to work, you have 8-10- hours in MULTITAcontinuity. So I realized that I have that 8-10 hours in a day, but I just have to make a schedule to cut that time in the right places to get the work done and to fulfill my daughter’s wishes. So, I decided that I will be the most productive if I cut my working shift in 5 pieces. I like to call them 5 work-puzzles.

PUZZLE 1 #THEHARDESTTASKS

Wake up early. 

I put the alarm at 6 am. And wake up before my wife and daughter.

Since my wife wakes up around 7 and goes to work and my daughter wakes up at 8.8.30, I and my coffee mug have  2-2 and half hours to work in peace. During that time, I focus on the hardest daily tasks. For me, it means working on websites, marketing plans, making reports…I usually don’t have enough time to get all the jobs done, but that is why I had to come up with this working puzzle.

So, in the middle of my work, I said, around 8-8.30, my cutest little monster comes with her blanket and her furry friend and sits in my lap. So, we come to PUZZLE 2.

PUZZLE2 #MULTITASKING

I am in my work mode, and my daughter is ready to start her day. Don’t be nervous. Take a break! It is a part of this work puzzle. 

So we make and have breakfast together…In our PJ-s. After brushing our teeth, making our beds, and putting our clothes, it is time for her play and for my audiobook. You see, a part of being an entrepreneur is that never stop educating yourself in various fields, and in this time management is very important. By that being said I am currently listening to an audiobook by Brian Tracy called Eat that Frog.
 I highly recommend it! And it’s a great book about time management, Listen to it here

So, multitasking puzzle takes time till 1 p.m. During that time, we play, we and I listen to an audiobook. Usually, she just wants me to be there and make her company more then she wants me to play with her. I manage to make and answer my phone call and to answer an e-mail or two. At 1 o o’clock we finish lunch that my wife prepares the day before and have lunch together. Around 2 is her nap time and my power nap time. We cuddle and while she is falling asleep, it is also my time to rest a bit so I take a power nap for 20 minutes, which I need. because my working day starts at 6 am. So, we come to PUZZLE 3.

PUZZLE3 #NAPTIMEVSHARDTASKSTIME

As my daughter takes her two hours nap, I continue on my work on the hardest tasks and answer urgent emails and work like I do when I am in the office. So, we come to PUZZLE 4

PUZZLE4 #FAMILYTIME

This Is a time when my wife comes home and time when my daughter wakes up. We have a normal family afternoon, usually go for a walk, since the children’s parks are forbidden, make dinner, have afternoon tee or coffee, make dinner, have dinner, relax and so on. It takes time till 9 pm and so we come to PUZZLE 5

PUZZLE 5 #THIRDSHIFT

My wife takes care of our daughter going to sleep, while I continue working on my tasks, answering my e-mails, sometimes make long-distance calls with the partners in the USA. I try to finish work till midnight if possible because the first shift starts at 6 a.m.

Summary

Even this all sounds hard and challenging, it is, but if you are motivated, as I am now, I don’t find all that to be hard but just making myself better and getting further, faster.

 You have to sacrifice something for sure. But during this pandemics time, this puzzle will definitely help you to get your work done, and also, to spend quality time with your family. 

My daughter actually enjoys this pandemics time because we spend all this precious time together!

So the TAKEAWAY

• wake up early and eat that frog
• multitasking and audiobooks
• take a power nap (if needed)
• family time
• a night school