Crib Notes: Tips For Work at Home Parents

When people ask me if I’m a working mom or if I stay at home, I’m never quite sure how to answer the question. See, on top of writing this column here at Patch, I’m also a content writer for several internet sites. And, oh yeah, I’ve published two novels, with three more slated for next year. So, even though some may think that I sit at home in my yoga pants and drink coffee all day, that’s not exactly the case. Yes, I do wear lots of yoga pants and drink coffee all day, but in between sips, I’m a stay-at-home mom with a work-from-home career.

Raise your hand, Moms and Dads, if you can say the same. You see? I think this is a new trend and, with the economy like it is, it’s a necessity. If you have an applicable skill or a career dream that can be lived from a home office (or a desk in your bedroom, like the one I’m typing at now), why not help add to your family’s income anyway you can?

Of course, it’s not as easy as it looks. The comfy clothes and Keurig are helping me, for sure, but the truth is, working from home with a little one is tough stuff.  Even without kids, working from home takes discipline, commitment, and top-notch time management. No, you can’t play that video game or watch Ellen… not until your work is done. In some ways, it’s like being a kid with a huge load of weekend homework — all the time. But in others, it’s a really freeing experience to be your own boss. 

If working from home is something you want to do, or something you’re doing right now, read on. I hope these tips will help jump-start your work-at-home journey.

Getting Started

I write from home, via articles, copy, and blog posts. Where did I find these jobs? I’ve picked them up here and there, thanks to word-of-mouth tips from friends and Craigslist postings. The best thing to do is get out there and search for jobs if you’re interested. You can also browse websites dedicated to connecting moms and dads to work-at-home opportunities. Check out WAHM.com, where you can find job postings, business opportunities, and helpful articles chockfull of tips to help you manage.

Making the Transition

If you’re working out of the home or you’re currently a stay-at-home parent, making the transition to working from home can be tough. I jumped right in, going from a full-time career right into motherhood, while I was both going to school online and working from home. There were some growing pains, and a constant battle to get extra time for myself. I didn’t spend any time relaxing, so I quickly got burnt out. After a while, I stepped back, better assessed which jobs mattered the most to me, and cut down my workload to something more manageable.

An article offering tips for work at home parents at Pine Canyon Media has some great ideas for how to make the transition. They suggest dedicating a special space as your work area to help your family adjust to the idea of you working a “real” job, just inside the house. This space can help you to stay focused when you’re in it and, eventually, your family will learn to pretend you’re not there when you’re working. This is one of the hardest parts of working from home, getting others to almost ignore you when you’re there. With time, and persistence, it will happen.

Being Productive & Managing Your Time

Once you’ve got your job tasks and your workspace, you’re going to need to find the internal component that will make you successful: motivation and dedication. You’ll need to learn to manage your time, stay on point, and keep up your motivation to get the job done. There’s no boss breathing down your neck, but often times, you don’t get paid until you deliver. For these reasons, your work ethic has to come from within you. My Life Shift online offers these productivity tips for work-from-home parents of young children:

• Find pockets of time in your daily/weekly schedule to devote to working (naptime is perfect!)
• Double up on childcare and household tasks to save time in other places. I wash the dishes and clean the kitchen while my daughter eats lunch in her high chair. We keep each other company while I work!
• Create a play corner in your home where your child can safely stay occupied while you work close by. This might not work for more than 15-30 minutes at a time, but it encourages independent playtime while also giving you some time to work. Just make sure you’re where she can see you!
• Childproof your home office so that you can “work” together.
• Arrange childcare sharing during the week with a friend or family member to give yourself some dedicated time alone.
• Go mobile with your work. I use both my laptop and my iPhone to accomplish work tasks throughout the day, from wherever I am.
• Learn to deal with interruptions. Save your work, keep detailed notes so you don’t lose your train of thought, and don’t let it rattle you. At home, you have to be ready for anything! It’s just part of your new job.

I hope this has helped to de-mystify what it’s like to work from home. It definitely has its perks, but a work-from-home endeavor is only as successful as you make it. Stay dedicated, flexible, and motivated and you’ll be able to fit it all into your day.