Identify Your Core Priorities
Being present doesn’t mean being around 24/7 it means being engaged when it matters. For our family, presence looks like undistracted meals, tech free story time before bed, and actually listening when someone wants to talk. It’s about attention, not just attendance.
On the work side, priorities have to be clear. Maybe it’s hitting client deadlines, leading your team’s standup, or batching creative work during your peak focus zone. List out what truly moves the needle for your role then protect that time like it matters, because it does.
Set simple, firm boundaries. That might mean no email after 6 PM, or a closed door rule during video calls. Lay out what’s non negotiable for both work and family, and stick to it without piling on guilt. You’re not slacking you’re choosing to show up where you’re needed most, when it counts.
Create a Flexible, Intentional Routine
Forget the perfect schedule it doesn’t exist when you’re working from home with kids. But what works is creating a flexible system that can absorb the daily chaos. Start by building your day with buffer zones baked in. Meetings will run over. A snack crisis will strike. If your schedule is packed edge to edge, one hiccup throws the whole thing off. Leave small white spaces between tasks so you can recover without spiraling.
Next, match your high focus work blocks with your kids’ independent time. That could be homework, screen time, or play that doesn’t need constant supervision. Look at when your children naturally settle into their own groove and guard that window. That’s when you tackle your deepest work.
Visual cues help everyone stay on the same page. A whiteboard with the daily plan, a timer on the table, or even a clock colored in with certain “quiet times” can go a long way. Don’t assume your kids know what’s going on just because you told them. Show them. Over and over. They’ll get it.
You’re not aiming for flawless. Just consistent enough to keep things flowing. Try, tweak, repeat.
Make Your Workspace Work for the Family
Remote work isn’t about locking yourself in a silent home office and pretending the rest of life doesn’t exist. If you’re a parent, you know that’s not reality. The trick is to carve out a space that works for getting things done but still functions inside a family system.
Start simple. Use visual cues a lamp that’s on during calls, a closed door, or a colored sign on the handle. You don’t need a full remodel, just a designated area where work mode is clear. An extra corner in the living room with your laptop and a decent chair can be enough if you set expectations around it.
Noise is inevitable. Especially with kids. Block it out without tuning your family out completely. Noise canceling headphones help. So does white noise or low music to mask background chaos. For soft boundaries, add a small rug or even a curtain it’s less about sound and more about signaling that this spot has a purpose.
Finally, teach your kids a simple system. Hand signals. A sticky note on your laptop that says “Do Not Disturb.” A red/green magnet on the fridge. They won’t get it 100% and that’s okay. The point is to establish patterns that make sense to them and to you. The workspace isn’t a fortress. It’s a zone you teach everyone to respect together.
Tools That Help You Show Up for Both Worlds
When you’re balancing Zoom calls and snack requests, the right tools can make or break your day. Start with a solid productivity app something simple, intuitive, and flexible. Options like Todoist, Notion, or TickTick help keep tasks straight without turning into a job themselves. For dads who get bombarded from all sides, a streamlined to do list can be the anchor.
Family calendars are non negotiable. Use Google Calendar or Cozi to sync school pickups, grocery runs, and dentist appointments alongside work meetings. Color code everything. If it’s not on the calendar, it doesn’t exist. Make it a shared effort your partner and even older kids can see what’s coming up and when. That clarity can prevent a lot of last minute chaos.
Finally, communication tools should help not just buzz endlessly. Slack or Microsoft Teams are fine for work, but keep notifications lean. Hide channels when you’re off duty. Tools like Voxer or asynchronous video apps let you touch base with colleagues without burning precious focus hours. Don’t forget to check in with your family, too a quick, shared reminder list or a morning “what’s coming today” huddle goes a long way.
Check out these essential remote work tips for dads
Own the Transitions
Switching between work and parenting isn’t about flipping a magic switch it’s about making space for the reset. Strategic breaks are key here. We’re not talking hour long walks or deep meditations. Just five to ten minutes, used on purpose. Step away from the desk. Breathe. Make a snack with your kid. These moments are small but powerful.
Mentally shifting from work brain to parent mode (and back) takes practice. The trick is giving your mind a cue that it’s time to transition. Close the laptop with finality. Change clothes. Step outside, even just to the mailbox. It signals: that phase of the day is done.
Mini rituals help make the shift stick. Queue up a song that means “parent time.” Do a quick stretch. Walk around the block together. These simple habits create separation between your roles, so you’re not dragging your work stress into playtime or vice versa. Be deliberate. These moments build the bridge between two very real parts of your life.
Be Honest About the Struggles
Remote work while parenting isn’t glamorous. Some days it’s quiet emails and focused calls; other days it’s muting your mic while cleaning a spill. That’s the reality and pretending it’s not messy only makes it harder. The more we normalize these moments, the easier it gets to navigate them without shame.
Instead of chasing that hyper productive, do it all grind, scale back. Set one or two wins per day that actually move the needle, then count everything else as bonus. Some days, the win is a client proposal. Other days, it’s getting through a meeting without your toddler crashing the Zoom.
Most important, don’t go it alone. Lean on your people a partner who swaps time blocks, a friend who’s also in the thick of it, an online forum where everyone gets it. Support isn’t a luxury; it’s your real infrastructure. Remote work doesn’t get easier on its own you get better at asking for what you need.
Double Down on Presence, Not Perfection
It’s not about being on with your kids all day it’s about being in it when it counts. A solid 30 minute block of undivided play or conversation will do more for your relationship than hours of distracted time with your phone in one hand and your email inbox in the other. Leave the multitasking. Show up fully, even if it’s just for a short burst.
Let your kids see you work, too. It’s not a failure if they walk in during a Zoom call or if you have to pause an edit to help zip a jacket. These moments remind them that work isn’t a mystery they learn that showing up, even when it’s tough, is part of adult life.
Build connection into your daily rhythm. Eat lunch together if you can. Do a quick check in before shutting your laptop “What was the best part of your day?” can be a solid anchor. These habits don’t take much, but they add up.
