How to Succeed As a Work from Home Dad

Times have changed. It has become increasingly commonplace to find stay-at-home dads.

And with the internet there is a shift in work culture, many businesses are willing to allow their employees to work from home. Perhaps, you are even entrepreneurial running an online business from home.

However, with the flexibility and other perks that come from remote work, it is pretty easy to not pay adequate attention to the actual work.

So, here are 5 tips to help you succeed as a work from home dad.

Set office hours

Working from home has its perks like spending quality time with your family. With a flexible lifestyle, you get to set when you work.

The downside though, is that the line separating your professional and personal life becomes blurry.

However, setting specific times as your office hours and making it pretty clear you will be working during those time slot helps set expectations and makes it easier to work uninterrupted.

Design a dedicated workspace

While you can choose to work sitting on your couch or laying on your bed – it helps to have a specific place in your home as your work station.

Try as much as you can to stimulate a true work environment; ensure that only your work-related files, supplies, and material are stored in your space.

If you can, let the home office have a door and natural light, so you can keep your work and home life separate.

Get organised

Cut out lag time by staying organised with your work. Clearly plan your next day’s activity before you close for the day. This way, you know exactly what task you will need to tackle when you sit at your desk in the morning.

It gives you a clear direction for the day and helps you drive headlong into your day’s work without spending precious time trying to figure out what to do.

Also, ensure that only your work-related files are kept in your home office. File away documents properly so you can easily reach for them when needed.

Minimise distractions

You will get distracted, especially if you have kids running around the house, so it's best to plan how to manage it beforehand.

To work around home distractions, you may want to consider getting a baby capsule. They are nifty and convenient and a place your baby can be secure while you concentrate on your work.

Capsules are also light and portable so you can use them when you need to go out. You can always take your laptop to a café for a change of scene or to meet with clients and you know the baby is able to travel easily with you.

Also, schedule your work hours around those moments when your kids are not at home or in the night when they might have slept if you have not managed to get through your workload for the day.
Get out of the house

A major concern most work from home dad complain about is the seeming lack of or limited social contact - you are likely spending a ton of hours cooped up in your home staring at your computer.

And if you are someone that thrives on contact with others – you may find remote work becoming extremely unbearable.

Get out, have some fresh air. Take a walk around your neighbourhood. IT will do both you and baby good.

Try to attend as many networking events around you as you can. Playgroups or the like are great places for parents, carers and their children to meet and have time together.

Finally, take care of yourself

It’s pretty easy to overwork and let your health slide when working from home. As it is, you can only do your best job when you are in good shape – both mentally and physically.

So, be sure to eat right, take up a suitable workout routine, and take plenty of rest to recharge.

Photo by Leandro Vendramini from Pexels