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[N126]Need Work At Home

by Deanna Mascle, Dea

One of the attractions of working at home is the vision of freedom it invokes -- no time clock, no time sheets, and no one to account to for how you spend your time. Yes, it is an attractive proposition, but like so many attractive propositions there is a heavy downside -- you are likely wasting a lot of time.

My husband spends time every day filling out these large spreadsheets to account for his day. He works for a large engineering company and his day often encompasses work on a variety of projects for different clients. He loathes the activity and I have always dismissed it as a waste of time -- that is until my home business recently took off and I realized there simply wasn't enough hours in the day to accomplish all my goals.

I now have my own spread sheet and agenda for the day and I have improved my productivity and reduced my stress immeasurably. If you don't think you need a schedule for your home business then think again -- and read on.

After a spate of relatively unproductive days when my "To Do" list seemed to grow exponentially every time I looked at it I knew something had to change.

Granted I was going through a rough patch. My home business was experiencing growing pains and taking up more than the usual time, my four-year-old was only in preschool part-time, my husband wasn't pulling his weight on the home front, and my extended family was experiencing a number of crises. But I'm also old enough to know there is never a perfect time in life -- you just live the one you've got. These are simply the problems I'm dealing with this year. Next year these problems will be traded in for new fresh ones.

After studying my time and chatting with some other work-at-home folks, I discovered five reasons to embrace the schedule:

1. It's too easy to waste time doing nonpriority tasks
2. It's too easy to get sidetracked or distracted from your current task
3. Unscheduled work time can often overlap into your free time until you don't have any free time at all
4. Your free time can overlap into your work time until you fall behind with important projects
5. Concentrating your time and effort on highest priority projects means more gets done

I'm not the only work at home business person encompassing the schedule. I recently took part in an online forum where men and womenhad moved to embrace it -- and found it more freeing than restrictive. After all, you are still the one setting the schedule so you are free to schedule yourself off for a 3-hour lunch, an afternoon, or a whole day whenever you choose.

If you find it difficult setting up your schedule and priorities for the day and week then perhaps your significant other or a friend can help you set your schedule.

The answer really depends on your situation. There are a lot of factors to consider when taking a realistic look at what is best for you and your children.

How old are your kids?

The older they are, the less help you will probably need. Babies and toddlers are home a lot more than school age children, and need a lot of care. They also won't understand if you need quiet in order to work.

How strict is your schedule?

If you absolutely have to work certain hours, some form of childcare can help you keep your hours. On the other hand, if you can do a little work here, a little work there, and a lot after the kids are in bed, you might be able to get away without childcare.

How much do you really NEED quiet in order to work?

Even if your kids are older, the more quiet you need in order to work, the more help you may need. Obviously, if you have to close your office door in order to work, there needs to be someone responsible for the children. You can teach your kids when to bother you, but you'll be interrupted less if there's someone else they can ask first for whatever they need.

How many hours do you need to work?

If you need to work more hours than the kids are in school, or your hours aren't during their school hours, it is quite possible that you will need help.

Can your kids help you work?

Once your kids are old enough, it's a good idea to let them help in appropriate ways. Whether you have a work at home job or a home business, involving your children lets them get a glimpse into what it is you really do. Who knows, you might even inspire them later in life!

How much help can you expect from your spouse?

If you can work when your spouse is home, and they are supportive of what you are doing, there's your childcare solution right there. On the other hand, if your hours don't match up to when your spouse is available, or your spouse is simply uncooperative about taking care of the kids, you might just need some extra help.

How serious are you about what you do?

This doesn't mean that if you don't use childcare you aren't serious about working at home, but it does mean you need to think your priorities through. If you're going to be completely focused on your work at home job or home business, it's easy to forget to be a parent, and it's all too easy to tell the kids you'll play with them later, read to them later... then it's bedtime and your kids have seen less of you than if you worked outside the home.

There may be other factors as well that you will need to consider when you work at home. Working at home isn't something that just happens ? it requires at least a little planning if you want to succeed.

Please note, when I say childcare, I'm not necessarily saying send your kids to a daycare. There are plenty of other options. You can hire an older neighbor child to help or you can trade babysitting with a fellow stay at home parent. Maybe your children's grandparents are local, retired and willing. If you can keep the kids at home, giving them lunch or playing a quick game is a great way to take a break from work, but sometimes you may need to have someone outside your home take care of them. Your options will depend on your particular situation, but in many times you can do something other than pay for your kids to attend an actual daycare.

You may have decided to work at home for the best of reasons ? to have more time for your family ? but make sure you don't neglect them in the process. It's all too easy to let your work at home take over your entire home life. A little bit of extra help with the kids when you absolutely have to work can help you to work more efficiently while still being there for your kids when they need you.

Don't forget to leave time for fun with the kids!

Article Source : Pg. 32

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Both Deanna Mascle & are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Deanna Mascle has sinced written about articles on various topics from Kids and Teens, Personal Development Plan and Abortion. . Deanna Mascle's top article generates over 165000 views. to your Favourites.

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