We’ve got a lot of days at home with the kids ahead of us thanks to coronavirus, and if you’re like me, you’re probably wondering how you’re going to get everything done while keeping your little ones happy – and trying to keep anxiety from getting the best of everyone. Here are 10 ways to have a better day when you’re home with the kids these days. 

1.     Wake up earlier.

I’ll be honest: I’m waking up at 4am to work because I still need to get things done for my business, but I think most people won’t have to set their alarm quite so early. In any case, though, it’s a good idea to wake up an hour or two before the kids usually rise so you can get some things done around the house, whether it’s related to your job or just getting some housework out of the way so you can be fully present with your little ones later. To me, this makes a huge difference in how i handle my anxiety. If I’m up earlier, have been productive, and got the things that would have otherwise bogged my mind with thoughts of my plate, I will feel serene for the rest of the day.

2.     Go to bed earlier.

If you’re waking up earlier, don’t forget that you’re going to need to go to bed earlier to make up for it. Getting plenty of rest will help you better resist illness and keep your mood even during these trying times.

3.     Eat nutritious meals.

You probably don’t want to venture out to the store too often, but try not to let that stop you from making nutritious meals for your family. Some groceries might be at a premium right now (toilet paper, anyone?), but grab whatever fresh produce you can find when you do go shopping, particularly foods rich in vitamin C like oranges, broccoli, red bell peppers, and kiwis, to keep your immunity up. If you’re stuck with pantry items, beans are a solid choice because they’re full of protein and fiber, not to mention very filling. And you can do so much with them!
PS: Shop online when you can! We are barely visiting the stores and ordering online wherever possible!

4.     Allow for a few treats.

Although I try to limit the amount of sweets my kids eat, I find myself loosening up a bit these days – and I think it’s going a long way toward comforting them. Bake some cookies together, and let them have one with breakfast. Sometimes it’s the small things!

5.     Include the kids in chores, but make it fun.

You’ll get more done if you work together, and making a game out of it can encourage participation. Set a timer for 5 minutes and have them see who can tidy their room the most during that time, or see who can match up more clean socks when putting away the laundry. Allow them to get really involved in the cooking, cleaning, whatever it is, even more so than you usually would. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how important they’ll feel, and how much they’ll enjoy it. Plus, there are benefits such as the educational aspect (we did numbers while baking!) and the life skills you’re teaching your children.

6.     Organize daily video calls with friends and family to keep spirits up.

As much fun as you might have together, outside contact is important when you’re home with the kids. Arrange video calls with loved ones and try to keep the conversation topics as upbeat as possible! The grandparents can always do with some cheering up, and seeing their nieces and nephews spreads some happiness. We also hop onto the noisiest, craziest group calls with all of our extended families – after all that’s what we are like when we meet!

7.     Set aside some quiet time.

Reserve some time each day for reading, choosing a realistic amount for their age. It’s good for your kids, and it will buy you some guaranteed free time that you can use to get things done or enjoy some reading and relaxation yourself!
Another great idea for quiet time is setting up a quiet box. My friend Christina who’s the queen of kids activities has a great blog post about how to make one of your own!

8.     Avoid the news.

It’s understandable that you want to keep updated on what’s going on in the world and any movement restrictions, but stick to the minimum facts and don’t leave the news on 24/7 where your children can hear or see it. The news is unsettling enough for us, so imagine how your kids would feel!

9.     Get fresh air.

Make a point of getting outside for a little bit each day when you’re home with the kids, even if restrictions mean you can’t venture beyond your balcony, terrace, yard or garden. This may be easier said than done if you live in an apartment, but just opening the windows and letting some air circulate through the house can be surprisingly refreshing.

10. Work in some movement.

Taking your kids to the playground or heading to the gym is out of the question right now, but try to work some movement into your day. Put on some music and dance around the living room, do a fun workout or family yoga video on YouTube, or chase your dog around the yard. Exercising reduces stress and releases endorphins in your body that make you feel good – and who couldn’t use some positive feelings right now?

11. Give yourself grace

While I love watching all of the mums be super-crafty with their kids, and coming up with the most amazing ideas, I don’t beat myself up about not being half as innovative. Just be you. Don’t try to be the Pinterest mum you never were. Think of your desired outcome. It’s probably the same as mine. I want to keep my kids happy, healthy and safe. A stressed out mama trying to incorporate activities that will frustrate her is not the best idea. Kids can feel our emotions. And we all know our kids best!
So instead, go with the flow. You do you. I like to ask my children what they’d like to do, and I might throw in a couple of doable suggestions of my own. And if that looks like dancing, baking, drawing, using the tablet, vegging out on the sofa, eating our favourite treats, or watching movies for the morning, then so be it.

12. Batch cook

And meal plan. Plan smart. Choose simple. If you’re in Dinner in a Flash, you know exactly how to make this work. If not, I’ll give you a few pointers. Pick simple recipes. Meal plan way in advance. This will give you time to buy online. I was not one to usually recommend this, because the norm used to be we used to get so much going on that it used to be more overwhelming to change meal plans & shopping lists than just plan weekly. Batch cook your meals. There’s more than one way to batch cook, so pick the one that best suits your needs right now. You can read more about this here. If you have ample pantry supplies, shop your pantry. Do not waste any food. There are so many simple, delicious recipes you can make using a few ingredients.

13. Don’t forget self care

You’re probably muttering – what? How? Well, self-care doesn’t need to be time consuming. It’s evolved for me as the situation has changed. Self-care to me now means taking 10 minutes to make myself look decent in the morning, not forgoing my skincare routine, thinking about what I am grateful for, and planning so I can breathe.

14. Speaking about planning…

This is hands down my top tip to have a better day when you’re home with the kids. Look at your normal schedule. What can you say no to? What can you do quicker? What can you simplify? What can you automate? What can you delegate? Once you answer all these questions and are left with the non-negotiables, look at your day’s structure and figure out a way to include everything without getting overwhelmed.

Remember that you are not alone. Everyone has some sort of challenge, it just looks different for different people with different needs and lifestyles. This is temporary, and it will pass. Let’s make the most of being forced to slow down. I can already see the benefits myself.