Remote work with 3yo is destroying my productivity

Jan 171 min read

So I've been WFH for about 8 months now and honestly it's gotten worse not better. My daughter just turned 3 and she's at that age where she NEEDS constant attention. Our daycare is only 3 days/week because we thought this would save money, but I'm basically working from 6am-11pm now trying to get stuff done when she's asleep. My manager thinks I'm slacking because my response times have tanked. Anyone else dealing with this? How do you actually focus when there's a tiny human demanding snacks every 10 minutes?

6 comments475 views

Comments(6)

RRexRegularJan 18

At 3 years old they're basically little chaos agents. Our daughter just destroys my entire day. I've basically given up on productivity between 9am and 6pm and try to do actual work early morning or after bedtime.

DDavidNew DadJan 18

This is the age where you really need childcare or someone watching them part of the day, even if you're home. A 3 year old needs actual engagement and supervision that you can't give while trying to work. Not a knock on you, just reality.

AAlexRegularJan 18

Screen time is your friend here. I'm not saying make her a zombie but honestly educational shows or tablet apps for an hour while you handle urgent work is completely fine and you shouldn't feel guilty about it.

TTom M.New DadJan 18

Have you tried setting up a specific play area or activity time? Like give her something engaging to do for 30-45 minutes while you focus. Rotate the toys so they feel fresh.

DDan R.New DadJan 18

Talk to your manager about adjusted hours or different expectations during this phase. Some companies are flexible about productivity during school closures or when your kid is young. Worth asking.

SSean P.RegularJan 18

My wife and I switched to having her watch our son on Tuesdays and Thursdays so I could have at least two solid days of real work. It's not perfect but it made a huge difference in my stress level.