Working from home with a toddler - advice?

[Reluctantcavedweller]

So I'm working from home with a 2 year old at the moment and am struggling to find a routine where I get some work done but he isn't totally neglected. I need to do at least 6 hours of work a day. OH is working long hours out of the house (usually home 10pm) so can't really help. I'm trying to stay up at night to do it, but it's usually 8.30-9pm by the time my son is asleep since he's much less tired during the day since we're doing less. We have a 'sort of' routine, but I'm wondering whether anyone has found a better one?

Should say at the outset we're very fortunate to have a small house with enough space for the 3 of us with a 'postage stamp' garden. So have sandpit etc. and small patch of grass.

5am - I wake up, try to fit in 2 hours work before toddler wakes up.
7-7.30am - toddler wakes up. We lounge in bed munching dry cereal and watching Cbeebies/Youtube videos of dumper trucks in sandpits while I try to answer emails.
8.30am - Go downstairs. Make breakfast. Go out into the garden to water plants/weed/pot seedlings - toddler 'helps' (he's really getting into it).Play games together for a bit, and then try to 'retreat' from toddler in living-room to kitchen so I can work at the kitchen table (can keep an eye on him from there). Usually limited success in the 'retreat'.
9.30am - Really need to work by now so the TV goes on and snacks come out. This stems, but doesn't totally stop, the interruptions.
11.30am - After 2 hours of TV , go for a quick walk before lunch.
12.30 - Lunch. Try to push toddler into garden. More TV .
2pm - Naptime. Moved to coincide with my online meetings/calls. Really, the toddler is ready to stop napping, but I'm clinging to his naps for dear life.
3.30pm - Finally retrieve toddler from cot. God, I'm tired by now. More TV .
4pm - Try to get out in garden, play some garden games, water etc.
5pm - More TV . Try to catch up on work.
6.30pm - cook dinner, do bathtime. Play with toys, read books until toddler ready to sleep.
Any time between 8pm-9.30pm - bed.
After bedtime - try to work for a few hours but so tired by now I often just fall asleep.
Wake up at 4.30/5am to start the whole thing over again.

The problem is, I'm just not getting enough done. I need to do more work. Also, my motivation is very low so I'm achieving less in the time I actually have to work. Much has been said about the impossibilities of wfh with children, but just wondering if anyone has a system which is working or has come up with any ways to 'buy' some extra time? Would really like some tips if anyone has any? I need to keep my job and have deadlines coming up so need to find a way to be more productive.

Thinking about getting cleaner back and also whether to hire a babysitter for a few hours. We could afford it, but we're still paying the full amount for our usual childcare and need to be careful with savings in case either of us loses our jobs (reasonably likely, though we're trying not to stress) in the next few months.

Bluntly, aren't you more likely to lose your job if you can't do your work? If your DH is reasonably likely to lose his, then maybe it's the time for him to scale back and make sure you can work too so that you are both performing decently. If that's truly not possible at all, then I'd get a babysitter in, even if it's an extra expense, as paying someone and keeping jobs is going to be financially beneficial in the long term.

I agree why is your dh working so hard for a job he's likely to lose? Seems backwards when your work is more guaranteed.

Yes to cleaner.

Nursery should be open from 1st June. Get in contact with them, particularly if you are paying fees.

Hi, sorry for delay in responding...been busy today. We went for a longer walk than usual this morning and took toddler bike, which DS enjoyed. He's had a good long nap this afternoon and hopefully will be more ready for bedtime tonight. So feeling a little less stressed and more optimistic, though still loads to do. Going to see if can get babysitter from next week for a few hours - seems the obvious solution but very much one that's felt unavailable up till now.

...why is your dh working so hard for a job he's likely to lose? Seems backwards when your work is more guaranteed.

Sorry, I've been quite confusing on this. He's always worked hard since he loves his job and earns a good salary, but worrying about the risk of job cuts is making him even more perfectionist with work (not health worker but key industry). In my case, it's more that I won't get as much work if I can't fulfil my commitments which is annoying since I have worked hard to restart things following maternity leave.

Still sounds like he needs to check his priorities. There's a time and a place for perfectionism and abandoning your wife to deal with all of the childcare and housework while she's working from home during the week isn't the right time or place. He needs to be home earlier and he needs to pull his weight.