| Many more people these days are taking advantage | | | | without losing your source of income. You can work |
| of the Internet to work from home. It might be that | | | | during hours when it's most convenient or productive |
| they run an online business, or it might be that they | | | | for you. Just keep it as regular as possible. |
| have a job that allows them to "telecommute", so they | | | | 2) Keep your "office" very organized. |
| can do all of their professional work online. A great | | | | No, the children cannot play around in it just because |
| many telecommuting based jobs allow for flexible | | | | it's part of your house or not "really" an office. Keep |
| hours and pay on a freelance basis. | | | | your office as if you have a manager who is going to |
| Working from home has freed up a lot of people's | | | | come in and inspect it. |
| time and given them more opportunity to spend with | | | | 3) Don't use your work-at-home status as an excuse |
| their family, take care of emergencies with children, | | | | to neglect your family or yourself. |
| keep up the house, run short errands, make sure | | | | Some people say, "Great! I can do chores, run errands, |
| dinner is cooked, and so on. | | | | and spend time with my husband and children |
| Cutting out the commute time and the preparation time | | | | whenever I want. Now, I don't have to worry that I'm |
| (showering, shaving, getting dressed up, packing a | | | | not spending time with them anymore!" Not so. Be |
| lunch, etc) really adds up to a lot more home and | | | | conscientious of non-work time. If need be, keep a |
| personal time. The flexible work hours are extremely | | | | schedule for these times too so you are not spending |
| helpful, since work can be scheduled around home and | | | | too much time working and no time with your family. |
| personal life, rather than the other way around. | | | | 4) It may help you to work two or three part-time |
| The Internet revolution has helped many moms work | | | | sessions per day. |
| from home. Now Hockey moms, PTA moms, and | | | | Depending on your temperament and the nature of |
| mothers with small children can have good paying, | | | | your work, you might get burned out after just a few |
| satisfying jobs or businesses without undue stress. | | | | hours. You don't have to force yourself (assuming you |
| They no longer need to sacrifice or put off the fulfilling | | | | have flexible hours) to work non-stop for 8 hours |
| experience of motherhood. | | | | straight. Work some, then take personal time, then go |
| Clearly there is a catch to all this freedom and that is | | | | back and work again later in the day. This can make |
| the increased personal responsibility. Not having to be | | | | you much more productive. Once again, try to keep a |
| at a job outside the home at a specific time five | | | | fairly regular schedule. |
| mornings a week and not having to stay at work until | | | | 5) Be judicious. |
| a set time each day can be a double-edged sword. | | | | It may be best for the work at home mom to |
| The work at home freedom of routine can, and does, | | | | schedule her work time for when the kids are in school |
| lead to lack of discipline for many moms. It can make | | | | and/or asleep at night, rather than try to work "around" |
| some women suddenly inept at managing their time - | | | | them. Whatever it is that you need to work around in |
| whether work time, personal time or both. | | | | your personal life, do so if it makes it easier for you to |
| Work and home life must still be balanced. There are | | | | balance work and home. |
| ways to achieve this so the benefits of working from | | | | As a work at home mom, you do have the luxury of a |
| home can be maximized and enjoyed. | | | | flexible schedule that you have more control over. |
| 1) Keep a work schedule if you have flexible hours. | | | | That shouldn't mean you spend every day in an uproar |
| This sounds similar to commuting to an office and it is, | | | | because you haven't set some guidelines and routines. |
| but with a couple of very important differences. You | | | | Find a routine that works best for your family and your |
| can break or change the schedule temporarily | | | | business and go with it. |
| whenever you feel the need. You can put family first | | | | |