By Sharon
Davis
I remember what it was like
when I was still working away from home. I remember all too clearly
how desperate I was to quit my job and stay home with my children.
It was my mission in life. So....there was a lot of discussion
between my husband and I. There were a lot of questions that we
asked ourselves; Can we afford to do this? What kind of business
could I start and run at home? Am I really ready to give up my
demanding, stressful, rewarding career?
That last question
was an important one. Was I ready to give up the daily adult
interaction, the support of my peers, the stimulus of being out in
the world each day? If the idea of being fairly isolated from others
sounds about as appealing as several weeks in a sensory deprivation
chamber, you might want to stick it out with your 9 to
5.
Before you make the jump, be sure you know what you're
signing up for. Working at home can be very challenging, especially
for those lacking discipline. You can't get a whole lot done if you
just can't resist watching Regis and Kathy Lee and the next thing
you know, Oprah's on. You also have to be able to say no. When
people know you are at home, even if they know you are working, it's
seemingly irresistible for them to ask favors of you. You have to be
able to politely let people know that while you do work at home, you
do have a schedule to keep.
With children at home, it's even
more challenging. How do you balance the time between kids and work?
How do you meet your professional goals and not compromise your
children's needs? What are you going to do when your toddler decides
to throw a tantrum while you are on an important call with a client?
I find that it is extremely important to have a structured day so
that I set aside time for the kids as well as my work schedule. I
want to accomplish certain things work-wise each day, but I'm not
willing to give up the playtime, the homework time, or the just
being-together time with my kids. For me, I have found that if I
identify daily non-negotiables for work, family time and housework,
I'm productive and I get to keep my sanity (OK, I don't really get
to keep it, but I have use of it most of the time).
I do have
to admit that I am probably really well suited to this. This is
mostly due to the fact that I am (according to my husband)
extraordinarily stubborn and determined. I am also willing to be a
mom most of the day, and then do my "other" job at night. I have
been known to get up out of bed in the middle of the night just to
work on an idea. Do you think that if I had to get dressed and drive
to an office somewhere that I would do it? This is what notepads
were invented for. It really can be like having 2 or 3 full-time
jobs.
This is not to say that there aren't at least as many
benefits to working at home. I get to set my own schedule. I can
take a break to give piggy-back rides to my little daughter. I can
work in my pajamas (of course I don't really do that).
Working at home can be very rewarding for many people, but it's not
for everyone. Make sure you realistically envision the impact it
would make on your daily life, and whether or not it fits with your
personal needs.
-------------------------------- © Copyright 2001 Sharon
Davis. Sharon Davis is the Mother of two girls, the owner of 2Work-At-Home.Com and the Editor of the
site's monthly ezine, America's Home. In her spare time she
reminisces about what it was like to have spare time. To subscribe
to her free ezine, Click Here
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