- Several tools designed to make workplaces more productive, such as Trello and Slack, have enhanced the work-from-home experience for parents.
- Additional work-home-friendly tools parents love include Krisp and Notion, which can help cancel out noise and manage your home life, respectively.
- Popular productivity tools for work-from-home parents include Clockify and Todoist, which can help you stay on top of your obligations and track your time.
Baby bottle in one hand, business smartphone in the other. If this description conjures up memories for you and not just a lively mental image that epitomizes “work from home”, you’re in good company.
Research shows that about one-third of parents in 2024 reported supervising their children while working, including working from home. That’s equivalent to about 2.3 million workers in the United States.
Fortunately, many productivity tools originally built for business are transforming the work experience for many work-from-home parents today, whether they’re launching side hustles or managing teams from their living rooms while tending to their children. Let’s explore some of the top business productivity tools that work-from-home parents discovered are life-changing.
1. Trello
Created for teams of agile software professionals, this popular project management solution is now a lifesaver for working parents managing both home and work life. The software’s color-marked labels and customizable boards, which can be rearranged by dragging, make it simple to track grocery lists, client deliverables, and everything in between.
Use Trello to create multiple boards. For example, create one for the kids’ homework, one for your “homework” (e.g., signing reading logs, completing permission slips), one for work projects, and one for family chores. This tool is especially handy for creative workers and freelancers who switch between several roles all day and benefit from improved visual organization.
2. Slack
This collaboration platform was designed to streamline workplace communication. Still, many working parents now use Slack to create channels for everything from checking in with the babysitter to coordinating family events. It integrates with software applications like Zoom and Google Calendar, making staying organized a breeze.
Parents love Slack because the threads are searchable and notifications are quiet, making it easy to separate home and work conversations while still easily accessing them. Use Slack to stay connected with others without constantly checking emails or text messages.
3. Krisp
Stressed out about your kids shouting or making a loud thud in the background during your Microsoft Teams meeting? Say goodbye to these fears with Krisp, a great option for audio and video software. Krisp uses artificial intelligence to block out background noises during a call and can also enhance voices for clearer calls, making it a no-brainer for any parent with a toddler eating or coloring in their high chair nearby. Initially built for remote support staff and customer-facing positions, the tool works well with conferencing tools like Slack and Zoom, allowing you to lead meetings even in not-so-quiet home settings confidently.
4. Notion
This workspace was originally created to allow workers to create custom dashboards. Now, parents can use Notion to create digital journals, homeschool tr/ackers, collaborative calendars, meal plans, and more. Use the software to create a chart for your kids’ chores or a content pipeline if you work in fields like game development, media, or marketing. Notion is also ideal for educators and business strategists.
5. Clockify
This time-tracking solution created for business is revolutionizing time management for numerous work-from-home parents. Gain clarity on ways to optimize your day by using Clockify to log the time you spend on household duties, homeschooling, and work-related assignments. It’s especially invaluable for consultants and freelancers who bill by the hour. The solution’s reporting feature can help you pinpoint time leaks, enabling you to set boundaries and safeguard your time more effectively. Use Clockify to create much-needed breaks for family time during the workday, too.
6. Todoist
Level up from the old-school handwritten to-do lists by switching to Todoist. This smart app can help you prioritize duties, categorize work and home responsibilities, and establish recurring reminders. Families love this tool because it gamifies task completion, motivating older children to master time management. Detail-oriented workers and self-employed individuals who work from home also appreciate the tool’s robust performance and ease of use, making any chaotic work-from-home day much saner.
Leverage Business Productivity Tools in Your Personal Life Today
Business productivity tools are revolutionizing the work-from-home experience for both parents and their little ones. Tools like Trello and Slack can make even the most disorganized home environment orderly. Use Krisp, Notion, and Clockify to make video calls, task management, and time management effortless. Top off your productivity tool arsenal with Todoist to streamline even the busiest days and weeks. Consider all the above-listed business productivity tools as you seek to make working from home while balancing personal obligations easier, more efficient, and more fulfilling than ever before.
