Work Snow Days

For those of us with kids, snow day means something very different than it did when we were kids. We all knew the fun of a “free” day to play and relax. As professional adults, it’s a completely different ballgame. Snow for us doesn’t mean a day off, you work from home and for some of us, that means the kids are home too.

I am going to lay out for you how I “manage” the day with an extra layer of chaos.

Currently, my role is hybrid. Meaning it’s just a standard day. Generally, my calendar is full of meetings and projects that deserve full attention. On a snow day, I have a young child who also deserves full attention. Handling both is a big challenge for me.

Step 1. Start the day as we normally would. Wake up, get dressed, eat breakfast, etc.

Step 2. Block out play time with my daughter. This gives us both an understanding of when she can have my full attention.

Step 3. Take something normal and make it fun. For example, my daughter very much enjoys being a part of my day, so we make time for her to “work” with me. So we set her up at my desk for her own desk to color and read.

Step 4. Realize you have peers who are living the same hurdles and give yourself some grace.

While this seems very deliberate, it is really goals. Every day is not easy nor perfect.