For various reasons, more and more people are choosing to be their own boss and work from home. For years I had this dream of one day being the boss of my own business. It turned out that the business I was building and investing in was my own family. After being the CEO of a household for sixteen years with perks and perks that paid me in hugs and kisses, I decided it was time to supplement the warm fuzz with another opportunity that would pay me in dollars. and in cents. I am now a stay-at-home mom who also runs a home-based business.
During the time I’ve been in business for myself, I’ve been awake to some fine print of working from home; and these eye-opening details I’ve compiled into my own delightful list of pros and cons. So here they are:
1. Family. If you are a stay-at-home parent or have always wanted to be, working from home is more than the ideal situation. Not only does being home eliminate the need for daycare, it also allows you to contribute financially while still being available for your children. However, if your children are out of school all day and no longer taking naps, working in the room next to them while waiting for your time can create additional pressure – as you become fully aware of the time spent alone. to watch television. So there has to be a balance between work and family. This is where I really appreciate the freedom of the next stitch.
2. You set your working hours. Gone are the days when your morning ritual was to press Snooze five times on your alarm clock before getting out of bed. Now you can wait for your kids, dog or cat to wake you from your peaceful slumber, or if you’re one of the lucky few, wake up at your own pace. Being able to set your own working hours is particularly appreciated if you are a parent. With the accompaniment of children to school, activities and appointments, you will not miss anything. However, there is a risk of overwork – hard to believe though. “Just five more minutes,” you said to yourself an hour ago, and even realizing how long you’ve been working, you STILL end up needing five more minutes to get the job done.
3. Reduced costs. Working outside the home requires a lot of expenses, but with working from home, those costs can be drastically reduced or completely eliminated. You will no longer have to pay for childcare, nor the additional costs of fuel and maintenance of your vehicle. You don’t have to wear expensive work clothes that require dry cleaning, and you can save on those lunches with co-workers.
4. Entertainment. Having worked away from home part-time, there was nothing more frustrating than being assigned to a project while having to tend to the phones and the counter. Being your own boss means you can regulate those pesky interruptions and complete the tasks you set for yourself. However, this requires the skill of self-discipline, without which you will find yourself in worse chaos than before. Personal phone calls, dating, online chatting, TV, kids and social networking sites like Facebook – all have a way of distracting you from the tasks you set out to do. . To minimize these distractions, you can: let your calls go to voicemail, turn off your chat programs, schedule appointments for the start or end of your workday, set rules with your kids, and stay signed out of your favorite social sites until a later date. desired time.
5. So, of course, this leads to Discipline. The beauty of owning your business is that you set the rules; You run the show; You say how it goes – YOU are in charge. How awesome! However, if you thought kids were hard to train, think again. You have just faced the beast. You have just chosen to lead yourself and take yourself seriously at the same time. Have fun with this one. Not only are you now making the rules, but you can also break them with no more than a quick little justification on your part. Working from home requires self-discipline. What was once your employer’s role is now your responsibility, and that is to ensure the productivity of the business.
The honorable mentions are as follows:
No dress code. Wear whatever you want, whether it’s your pajamas, sweatpants with your favorite holey t-shirt, boxers, jeans, or a suit and tie. You can wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. No one will see you.
Portability. You can work from anywhere. Whether you’re at home, at the beach, or traveling, you can take your work with you. However, sheer convenience usually means you take your work everywhere you go. As if you didn’t already have enough baggage, your business also finds a way to keep up. So be sure to create a balance in your schedule. Work only when it’s work time and play when it’s play time.
Face-to-face interaction. Are you an extrovert? Working from home will be a challenge for people with social demands. Being home can feel lonely at times, which makes many people look forward to leaving home to go to work each day. Working from home will create many virtual relationships that can satisfy introverts, but make life miserable for those who need face-to-face interaction.
More tips for creating work-from-home harmony.
- Design a separate office space if you can.
- Create a convenient schedule to fit work, family, and household chores.
- Get out of your house when you can to clear your head. A brisk walk in the fresh air or a coffee with a friend can be enough to regain concentration and motivation.
- If necessary, delegate chores to other members of your family.
- Hire a babysitter from time to time to take care of your young children while you are busy in the office.
- Take the weekends to enjoy with your family. They deserve your free time as much as you do.
- You work hard! So take advantage of the benefits that working from home brings.
If working from home makes sense to you and you think it will suit your personality and lifestyle, consider the above. Take the highs with the lows and accept them with gratitude and appreciation. Believe that you deserve to be rewarded with the best your home business has to offer, and your efforts to create them will be realized.
Smiles and Shine,
Tina Vanderbyl
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