Entertaining your Kids AND Working your Business on Christmas Break

Woohooo Christmas Break is here!!!  No alarm clocks, no homework, pjs all day, Christmas activities and preparations for the big day and much more!  This is my favorite time of year!  That's the exciting stuff about having the kids home for two and a half weeks.  But with the good, comes the challenges as well.  The "Mommy I'm bored, there's nothing to do's" and the "Mommy, she hit me" and us moms wanting to pull our hair out...all that drama.  My kids are seven and almost ten and that is full force in my house at times.  It can be incredibly stressful especially when I'm trying to work my business at home.  Sometimes I have to remind myself that I'm the boss and I'm in control of how this day will go.  The truth is all you have to do is have a plan and keep the kids busy.  It won't completely solve every single issue for the day.  However, it will make things a lot easier and everyone will be happy and enjoy their day.  After all, that is why we're working at home in the first place...to create a better and happier life for our families!!  Here are a couple things that will help your day working at home with the kids home run a little smoother:

• Schedule what time(s) you will work - When you're working on building a successful home business, you must touch your business every single day, no matter what time of year it is.  Consistency is GOLD and will make or break you.  It creates momentum and will prevent you from getting rusty also.  Schedule a few blocks of time throughout the day that you will give the kids an activity to keep them occupied and you can focus on your business.  For example, right now I am cuddled up on the sofa with my kids and they are watching A Christmas Carol while I work on this post.  Everyone is happy and mommy is being productive. 

• Schedule what time(s) you will play - Yes, you must touch your business every single day to become a successful work at home mom.  But you also have to remember what you are working for.  Set aside time throughout the day that is just to play with the kids.  After this block of time working this morning, we are going to go Christmas shopping for a few last minute gifts.  Then we will come home, I will work a little while they are having lunch then we will go outside and play. This keeps everyone happy. 

For ideas on activities to help keep your kids busy and having fun, check out my previous post 10 Things for Kids to Do While Mom is Working.

Scheduling your time will help out tremendously.  Don’t just give up on your business during the Christmas weeks.  Even if it is a little slow, you are still building a foundation for the months to come.  In the home based business industry, one of our busiest times of year is the first couple months of the year.  People are looking to make a positive change in their lives, they want to get out of debt, start a new career, etc.  Working in December is THE perfect time to get ready for that by talking with people and building your pipeline.  That way when January comes, you will have people coming back to you ready to rock and roll. You want to take advantage of that!!

My best piece of advice for managing it all is to always be where you are.  If it's time to play with the kids, focus on them 100%.  Don't be thinking about what you should be doing in your business and vice versa.  That will help you to do your very best at whatever it is you are working on at that very moment!  You can build your business AND create beautiful memories with your children this holiday season!

Wishing you a VERY happy and blessed Christmas week!!