If you’re a mom, the COVID-19 pandemic has likely affected you in more ways than one. And if you’re a stay-at-home mom (SAHM) whose spouse has lost their job thanks to the current state of the world, then your finances have taken a huge hit. Now, you’re fulfilling the roles of mother, teacher, and provider.
Here are some ideas to help you work during the pandemic while handling your other responsibilities.
Learn a new skill
You may think you’re too old to learn something new, but, thankfully, you’re wrong! Personal Growth Web suggests that there are ways to retain more information, including learning from your mistakes and giving yourself a timeline upon which to learn.
There are plenty of opportunities out there that will allow you to work during the pandemic, you just need the skills to do it. A few examples are bookkeeper, graphic designer, web developer, and medical transcriptionist.
Put your mom-abilities to work for you
As a stay-at-home mom/dad, you already have more marketable skills than you probably give yourself credit for. Aside from what you have held over from your professional life, running a household means that you are likely already effective at things from babysitting to tutoring.
If you have pets, you can even take in other people’s furry friends for the day as a pet sitter. And there’s also no shame in dusting off your home economics knowledge by offering your services as a seamstress; Work-From-Home Depot notes that you may be able start your own business making custom clothing.
Consider a flexible 9-5
All of the above ideas work on the premise that you will act as a freelancer, only working when you have time. If you’re one of the many parents who must have a full-time income, don’t lose hope of earning a 40-hour-per-week salary, even if you don’t want to commute.
CNN asserts that there are many companies, including Facebook, Box, Group PSA and Shopify, that happily hire remote workers. Applying for one of these positions is very similar to walking into an interview at a brick-and-mortar establishment.
You’ll need to have a resume/CV ready to go, and you may be asked to come in for a face-to-face meeting or login to Zoom for a digital Q&A session.
Master your personal productivity
Even though you’re likely efficient at work and also as a parent, when you are trying to do both concurrently, you’ll need to evaluate your daily schedule. If you want to work during the pandemic, dealing with the stress of that, the rigors of parenting, and the demands of a career, you must learn to recognize your weaknesses.
This is especially important if you must log into work during specific hours or don’t have time to double-check your work once it’s complete.
To stay productive, eliminate distractions, and avoid multitasking, it’s important to implement a routine. This way, you’ll have better focus, less stress, and can concentrate on each task as they arise. Staying productive also means having a designated workspace and knowing when you are at your most efficient – usually in the early morning hours.
We all want to have our careers and our families. Fortunately, the internet and availability of work-at-home jobs make it entirely possible. The above tips can help you get started, but, remember, don’t be afraid to seek out opportunities. You never know where your next paycheck is hiding.
Stay safe,
Sarah
Image via Pexels
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