Working Remotely as a Caregiver

Work is a place where you can meet people, make connections, and socialize. But in this new era of working from home – especially if you have a medically complex child – it is easy to get consumed by your job and caregiver responsibilities.

This can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness. From my experience, here are some things you can do to reduce the chances of these feelings.

Create a morning routine

An effective and healthy morning routine allows you to have control of your schedule and make time for yourself before you begin your workday.  A good way to start your day is to wake up before everyone else, drink your morning cup of tea/coffee, and do something that makes you happy, like doing small house chores, exercising, or reading a book.

After this, check your work email to see if there is anything urgent to go to the top of your to-do list, and then take a break and get ready for the day. Even when working from home, getting ready for the day helps create structure and build confidence. You deserve to feel good.

Make a daily agenda

After doing your morning routine:

• Check back in with yourself and make an outline for your day in pencil.
• Identify any deadlines and priorities first, then add what you want to get done.
• Give yourself gaps in time to regroup and make adjustments; the unexpected will always come up.

This approach can help you reduce stress levels and increase your productivity as your day goes on.

Take a break for yourself

As a caregiver, taking a "me break" is extremely important. Regardless of when you take this break, it is essential to refuel your body.

Shut down your computer. Put your phone down. Do what you need to do to check out – 5 minutes, 20 minutes, or an hour, whatever your situation allows. This not only helps your mental and emotional health but also models positive and healthy behavior for your child. Even the most complex children can sense things like this.

How I apply these tips in my own life

On the days my son is at school, and I only have my youngest home with me, sometimes I will get her set up with an activity in her room so I can take a bath. Other days, we take a walk around the neighborhood, shutting everything else out of our world. Or, sometimes, we just sit and watch a short episode of whatever she is enjoying at the time.

If I happen to have both my daughter and son home with me, or even all 3 of my kids, I once again follow the expectation of situating them with an activity and letting them know mommy needs a few minutes to herself so she can take care of the 3 of them. Although they don't always fully understand, setting the expectation will model healthy behaviors while also encouraging independence among my children.

Take care of yourself

Adult responsibilities and caregiving responsibilities can easily take over our lives, especially when having a medically complex child. Whether your child is home with you during the day or at school, it is important to still carve out time for yourself. We need to take care of ourselves to be the best caregiver for our children.

Our situations are all different, and some truly aren't easy. But taking 5 minutes to yourself, even if it's sitting in your child's room watching a show on your iPad or phone while they do their routine, can help.

Can you relate to the challenges of balancing work and caregiving? Share more about your experiences in the comments below.