There’s a unique kind of chaos that arrives the moment you have children and a deadline in the same room.
Imagine typing furiously while a toddler licks your phone, your Zoom call interrupted by interpretive dance, and the sound of Legos crunching ominously underfoot.
Welcome to the circus, you’re the ringmaster now.
Still, work doesn’t complete itself. Here’s how real parents wrangle their to-do lists with kids underfoot, without losing their marbles or their sense of humour.
Redefining Productivity
Gone are the days where “productive” meant three hours of uninterrupted silence and a latte that stayed hot.
Now, productivity might look like answering emails at 6:13 a.m. while Paw Patrol blares, or editing a spreadsheet with a child wrapped around your ankle like a human barnacle.
The trick is to accept that work + parenting is a different beast.
According to this recent piece in Harvard Business Review, parents who adapt expectations, rather than rigidly clinging to old routines, wind up less stressed and more satisfied with both their work and family life.
Block Time Like a Chess Master
Time suddenly comes in bite-sized chunks, and not the gourmet kind. Schedule work in short, focused sprints—think pomodoros, not marathons.
If your child naps for 27 minutes, resist the urge to scroll social media and instead tackle that one task you can actually finish.
If your partner’s around, tag-team like you’re in the WWE. Even dividing the morning in half can buy you a precious hour of focus.
For solo parents, try to align your “deep work” with the moments when screens or naps occupy your little ones.
The Magic of Microtasks
If you’re waiting for a full hour to tackle a project, prepare for disappointment (and maybe crayon on the walls). Instead, break work down into microtasks—tiny chunks that fit into spare minutes.
Think: drafting ideas during snack prep, or firing off quick messages while supervising bath time. That report may be built like a patchwork quilt, but it gets done.
Embrace Flexible Routines
Kids adore routine the way cats love cardboard boxes. Yet, your routine might need to stretch, bend, and occasionally somersault.
Set anchors for your day—mealtimes, outdoor play, quiet time—but be ready to shuffle the order if someone wakes up with a fever or the Wi-Fi throws a tantrum.
Don’t expect every day to go according to plan. (In fact, expect the opposite.) A bit of flexibility can save your sanity—and maybe even those Zoom meetings from surprise cameos.
Use the Right Tools and Tech
Tech can be a blessing and a curse. The right tools can turn chaos into something resembling order.
Noise-cancelling headphones, shared calendars, and collaboration platforms like Slack or Asana can help keep everyone (including you) on track.
For younger kids, educational apps like Khan Academy Kids or Starfall might buy you 20 guilt-free minutes.
Just don’t be seduced by the siren song of “screen time shame”—a 2022 American Academy of Pediatrics report encourages parents to view screens as a tool, not a villain, when used thoughtfully.
Create a Kid-Friendly Workspace
If you can’t escape your kids, invite them into your workspace—on your terms. Set up a “mini office” with crayons, old keyboards, and scrap paper so they can “work” beside you.
Sometimes, kids just want to copy what you’re doing. Plus, nothing says “I’m on top of it” quite like a conference call with a Lego architectural masterpiece in the background.
Designating physical boundaries—a certain chair, rug, or table—helps children learn when it’s “work time” for everyone.
Magic? No. Useful? Absolutely.
Master the Art of the Strategic Bribe
There’s no shame in a well-timed snack or a special activity reserved for your most critical meetings. Whether it’s a new sticker sheet or a bowl of blueberries, novelty buys you time.
Keep a few “rainy day” toys or crafts stashed away, and break them out when you absolutely need to concentrate.
Just avoid offering anything you’re not prepared to repeat—no one wants to read the same picture book 17 times a day for a fortnight.
Communicate Like a Pro
Working with kids around often means managing expectations—your own and everyone else’s. Be upfront with colleagues about your situation.
A quick “I may have a small co-worker in the background” before a call can ease tension.
If your child is old enough, explain when you’ll be available. Visual timers, like the Time Timer, give kids a clear sense of when you’ll “finish working.”
Children crave predictability, and a little communication now can save you a lot of interruptions later.
Employ “Quiet Time” Training
For younger children, “quiet time” is your not-so-secret weapon. After lunch, encourage independent play—reading, puzzles, or simply flopping on a beanbag with a soft toy.
At first, this may last three minutes (and require a pep talk worthy of an Olympic coach), but with consistency, most kids extend their solo play over time.
According to child development experts cited in this PBS article, unstructured quiet time not only supports your work goals but also boosts creativity and self-regulation skills in children.
A win-win, even if you have to listen to the same lullaby playlist on repeat.
Lower the Bar (No, Lower)
Perfection is not only overrated, it’s impossible when children are involved. Some days, “good enough” is a heroic achievement.
Embrace the messy background, the incomplete to-do list, and the fact that your toddler is wearing Christmas pyjamas in July.
Productivity takes on a new flavour with kids around. Focus on progress, not perfection.
Your colleagues will survive the occasional shriek or cameo. (And if they don’t, perhaps they need a toddler to spice up their own lives.)
Make Self-Care Non-Negotiable
Burnout sneaks up faster than a toddler with a marker and a white sofa. Build in little moments to recharge, even if it’s just sipping tea in the bathroom while everyone thinks you’re “busy.”
Regular breaks are essential—not a luxury. As this Mayo Clinic piece points out, even micro-breaks during work hours improve focus and mood.
Some parents swear by five minutes of fresh air or a burst of silly dancing with their child. Whatever works, works.
Try Tag-Team Parenting and Community Support
If you’re raising kids with a partner (or can rope in an understanding grandparent or friend), work together to carve out pockets of peaceful work time.
Alternate “on duty” hours, even if it means one person works early while the other handles bedtime.
For solo parents, neighbourly favours or parenting swaps can be a lifesaver. Even a short FaceTime with a friend’s child can keep your little one occupied long enough for you to reply to that urgent email.
Be Kind to Yourself
Some days, the only thing you’ll accomplish is keeping everyone alive and mostly clothed. That’s okay. The juggle is real, and nobody gets it right all the time.
A little self-compassion goes a long way. You’re not failing; you’re doing something superhuman—working and parenting, sometimes simultaneously, with nothing but coffee and questionable snacks to keep you afloat.
This Season Won’t Last Forever
Work and kids create a wild mix that’s exhausting, hilarious, and occasionally heartwarming. Eventually, you’ll have a quiet house and a tidy desk…and you might just miss the chaos.
Until then, keep your expectations realistic, your sense of humour close, and the snacks well-stocked.
You’ve got this—even if your “office” occasionally smells like baby wipes and there’s a dinosaur sticker on your laptop.
