Life is not as we know it, what we knew as ‘normal’ is no longer as is, a new normal is being eked out. The Corona Virus (Covid-19) has quite possibly disrupted nearly every individual’s daily life on planet Earth and while we have to contend with it and ensure our survival, this too shall eventually come to pass. Due to the required social distancing in combating the spread of Covid-19, schools and businesses have been closed and shifted to the confines of homes. Homeschooling and working from home are what is now known and widely encouraged.
There have been several lockdowns in towns that reported a higher number of infections which has cut down human movement population. This in turn has made some households lose out on getting much needed help in form of nannies and house helps.
Motherhood is beautiful and rewarding. For most mothers, it provides a sense of contentment, still, it is a full-time job. Every mom always needs help on a daily basis, stay at home or working moms. The mental load is the same.
Keeping Up with Self-Care
“You cannot pour from an empty cup”-Norm Kelly.
A million and one recommendations on how to successfully run a household can be imparted but if you, the machine, do not provide yourself with proper check and tune-up you’ll sadly not be giving your best. These are some home self-care tips;
- Get enough beauty sleep (rest)
- Carry out a daily proper grooming practice
- Eat healthy meals and hydrate well
- Exercise and take walks
- Carve out some time for me-time to recharge
Once you intentionally put your physical, spiritual and mental being first and care for them, you will be in a better state to take on everyone else and be more productive. This is what most mothers always miss out on, you should come first.
Tackling A Household needs Help
Having a constant extra pair of hands is a joy especially when homeschooling. For instances where it is not feasible, it is important to schedule the chores so as not to get overwhelmed. Making a list and sticking to it as much as possible reduces stress amounting from unfulfilled tasks.
Modern technology saves on time and effort. Appliances like washing machines minimizes laundry time down to folding only. Vacuum cleaners also make sure rags and carpets are clean without having to carry them outside or to the car washing station.
If you have older children, this is a good time to hand out supervised chores and add to their life skills like cooking, cleaning dishes, mopping the house, organizational skills et cetera. The younger ones also get to learn by being assistant helpers to their elder siblings.
Your partner can also step in in helping with one chore while you handle another and take over the children while you get your me-time. Most importantly to dispense foot rubs and/or back massages because you deserve them!
Efficacy in Teleworking
Teleworking can be a tricky affair when you have young children who don’t understand about boundaries and why you are not available when they can see you. Set-up a private workstation in your study room, your bedroom or install privacy screens around your desk in the living room.
Working in the wee hours of the morning or into the night for night owls can also be relaxing, when the children are asleep. Zoom conference meetings, other visual and real time work can then be the only work to deal with during the day.
To boost your feel-good feeling (endorphins) listen to uplifting music and exercise. Stretch regularly to avoid muscle cramps and ease up on any back trouble caused from sitting for long hours. It is also a great productivity boost to take breaks and re-charge.
Remember to dress the part when expecting a work video call, make sure your allotted workspace is bright enough devoid of loud noise, your internet/power access charge paid on time and family members made aware to avoid interruptions.
Homeschooling Made Fun
Achieving a school environment at home is a daunting task as children do not make a successful mental switch as easily as adults do. To them, home is the place to let loose and relax from back to back class lessons.
There are so many online platform for homeschooling at the moment that are virtually free. You may consult your school administrators and/or teachers who can properly guide you on which ones are better.
There are several learning apps both for neurotypical children and special needs units. These can be accessed through tablets, home computers, and even through smart tv.
Schedule a daily set time for studies either in the morning or evening. Play time is part of learning, you should not disregard the importance. Children have a lot of energy that needs to be channeled positively.
Introduce creative artwork during playtime to challenge their creativity and imagination. An array of activities can be found on YouTube kids as part of homeschooling.
Join WhatsApp groups with other parents where the children can present their work and get to view other children’s work while getting reviews on their effort. This will boost their productivity and energy to tackle more schoolwork.
All in all, remember that …
Just because there has been a major life upheaval, it does not mean life stops. We are human, we were blessed with brains and can think our way out of any situation instinctually and intellectually. And that is exactly what the human population has been doing amid this pandemic.
You now have nearly everything you need from the comfort of your home at the touch of a mobile phone button. Businesses and service providers have adhered to the changing times and now provide home deliveries and online services.
For the safety of both yourself and your family, stick to Government directives, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, stay at home, maintain social distancing, always wear a mask out in public and cough into your elbow.
No situation is permanent, this too shall pass.