I’ve worked at home since the first of my four children was a baby. Despite the challenges, it has been a perfect arrangement for me. It doesn’t work out for everyone, but it’s a situation definitely worth exploring. If you’re trying to decide if it’s right for you, before you take the next step — take some time to ponder these 7 questions.
7 Questions to Ask Yourself When Deciding to Work from Home
Michelle
1. Why do you want to work at home?
Your motivation is extremely important, because working at home requires a daily commitment on your part. Working at home is still working, and it brings many challenges as well as rewards. If the benefits are important enough to you, you’ll have the inspiration to work though the many nuances of setting up work at home.
2. What are the benefits to your child, your partner and to you?
A clear understanding of how your work arrangement fits in the family and how it benefits each member will help you through the sometimes rocky beginnings of setting up business at home.
Ella, 3; Jenna-Claire, 2
3. Will your working hours and deadlines be flexible?
Working at home with a young child (or children!) just about guarantees that everything will take longer than you expected. Firm deadlines and specific hours can add tremendous stress to your life. A more relaxed work pace can fit in better around your home duties.
4. Can you stay focused and on task in the face of distractions?
When your child, the laundry, the dishes, the television, the kitchen and a million other distractions call, will you be able to keep your focus on your work? How will you fit in all your other responsibilities? How will you stay organized and on track?
5. Are you a self-starter? Are you self-motivated?
Working at home will require the discipline to take charge of your time. You’ll need to stay focused and be productive even when on days when you don’t feel like it. You’ll need to be willing to give up some evenings and weekends to make up work that isn’t completed during the week. When you work at home the office never closes!
Laura, 3 years
6. Will you be willing to live with a few compromises, such as a messier house and less creative menus?
As much as you think you may be able to do it all, it’s certain that some things will have to slide. It helps if you decide in advance to be more relaxed about some things, and identify which things those are.
7. Are you confident that you can make this work?
Too many doubts can get in the way of your success. Confidence and enthusiasm will keep you moving in the right direction. Once you decide to go ahead, and then don’t let anything stop you!
Need more tips? The No-Cry Separation Anxiety Solution will help you as you continue to make this decision and preparing your child for childcare.
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2 Comments
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Absolutely true!! Working at home is a complete challenge, and I think we have to think it well before taking this decition! In my case, I tried to see some of my patients at home and didn´t work for me, but I have known several psychologist who have actually done it pretty well. Elizabeth´s questions are a wonderful way to figure it out if this will or won´t work for you. The important thing is not to guilt our inocent children for the mess at home or because our work takes longer than it should be. Thanks Elizabeth!
The hardest part about working at home for me was getting over the mess! I’ve always had a spotless house and even after my little one was born, the mess would be cleaned every night before bed.
Now that I’m working (and upgrading my education and TEACHING homeschool) at home I have had to learn to just let go of the mess. My tile floors collect dust bunnies, my kitchen sink could use a good scrub and there are toys everywhere…but I get don’t what is necessary and I no longer have to put my son in daycare or kindergarten – which I never wanted to do – so that I can go to work.
Some days the dirt gets me down, and on those days I do a big spic and span clean so I can relax, but most of the time I let it slide!
It was definitely a hurdle, but it was worth it for me!