Working from home.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kathy Nolan Butler on August 25, 2009 at 2:21pm

I may be able to help...Do you have specific questions you need answers to or just general tips?

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jill on August 25, 2009 at 2:25pm

I find if I don't define my hours in advance everything runs together. Work can go on endlessly! I started working on something this morning. Wish I'd said, OK, I'll stop at 11:30 no matter what. Instead, at 1:30 in the afternoon I was starving (forgot to eat lunch) and the day was half gone.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Joanna on August 26, 2009 at 5:04am

It is so true, I said I would check email when the baby naps and I found myself working on a project while she was up. I have to build a system and stick to it. Thanks for the feed back!!!!

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Joanna on August 26, 2009 at 5:04am

Just general tips would be great :)

Kathy Nolan Butler said:

I may be able to help...Do you have specific questions you need answers to or just general tips?

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Stephanie on August 26, 2009 at 3:46pm

Set work hours.
Be flexible.

I know those two don't seem to go together, but you really need to have certain work hours, and train the kids to understand that mommy is at work. But, the great part about working from home is that you can always change things. For instance I am working from home at going to grad school and I have kids at home. They are in school all day. My husband works "school hours" too.

So I get up and do three hours a day of my school work, then I take a lunch break at 11am. Then I do four hours of billable work. Then I cook dinner, we eat, do homework, talk to the kids, and eventually I get back on the computer and do about an hour or so of billable work before bed.

BUT, Monday two of my kids had doctors appointments so naturally I didn't get as much work in. So I outsourced what needed to be done, which meant it got done but I got paid less. But I took my girls to their appointments and I got my school work done.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Amber Vlangas on August 26, 2009 at 7:10pm

One of the biggest things that helped me when I first started working from home (and this is gonna sound funny) was getting dressed and ready for work. At first it was tempting to just wear my pajamas and work that way (that was the joy of working at home, right?) I found I didn't feel motivated when I was sitting in front of the computer in my jammies. I then decided to stay in the same routine that I did when I was working outside the home. Showered and in my "work" clothes, I felt like I could tackle anything. Do I wear suits and fancy clothes? Not a chance! I just wear comfortable, yet professional clothes (I am sure that my husband appreciates it too-when he doesn't come home to someone who looks like she just rolled out of bed-LOL). That, tight scheduling (with my homeschooled kids too), and an office where I can shut the door (if needed) has been what works best for me. Hope this has been helpful.

▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Joanna on August 30, 2009 at 5:33pm

Thanks ladies, everyone has been very helpful. And yes I agree I to get up and get dressed too, not fancy but enough as if I was going to work and my husband has commented on how nice I look :)

▶ Reply to This

▶ Reply to This