Tips for Working At Home

Women are often torn between the need to be home and the need to contribute to the family financially. Not everyone is cut out or inclined to have their own business though it may offer more flexibility. A great alternative is to work from home.

Telecommuting is a great way to address both needs. For moms, this can be a real lifesaver. You are around all day so you can keep track of the things at home. You have work - of the nature you like - that allows you to earn and to the family coffers without any transportation costs.

Now raises the other head of the hydra. Your family appreciates the fact that you are now more accessible than ever. Since you are home, they tend to think they can ask you various stuff at anytime. You are trying to manage the household needs - cooking, cleaning, etc - and still get your job done. End of the day, you feel wrung out, dizzy and you wonder why you ever thought it was a good idea.

Here are some things I found helpful when starting out:

1. Discuss your decision to work from home with your family. Talk to them about your chosen work and what it's about. The more they know, the better they understand the situation.
2. Set your hours around your needs. Most work from home businesses ask you what hours you are available. Choose the ones that makes sense given all your tasks. This is good for both your family and your employer/clients.
3. Make sure to give yourself time off. What good is it to be home if you are too busy to spend time with your family still - even when they are standing right beside you?
4. Treat your working hours as working hours. This means that during those hours your mind should be on the job and not on the laundry. Let your family know the hours you work so they are aware that those hours are just like if you worked in an office in another part of the city. 
5. Comfort is good but working on one's bed can also be very conducive to falling asleep. It can also be bad for the back. It is best to find a spot for your home office and get it set up properly.
6. If there is space, set up your home office somewhere that has a door you can close. This may sound funny to some but try working in your living room and see how much you get done. Often various people come up and ask questions or talk to you not realizing you are working. The very act of being in the office - whether the door is open or closed - establishes that it is time to work. Most people will knock if they need you or just come back.