Many parents these days are choosing to freelance, telecommute or run businesses from home when their children are born. It is a valid choice that offers you flexibility to be with your children when they need you, but still allows you to earn an income.
Scheduling is one of the biggest problems that parents who start working from home face. The first rule is: Do not feel guilty to claim your working time. Even if it is only three days a week, you need to make sure that you have dedicated work time, which cannot be interrupted. The second rule is: Childcare is a must. Do not feel guilty for making use of childcare options to allow yourself the time to work.
Some parents who work at home have a rigid schedule, while others simply designate a few hours each day, and take them whenever they can. How you organise your day is up to you, but you need to organise it, and you need to give yourself enough time to work.
Getting started as a work from home parent can be tough. Try arranging a safe play area near your desk, so that you can watch your baby while he or she plays or sleeps, and work at the same time. Understand that you cannot keep your house spotless, find time to work and look after your child, so if you want to work at home, either your home has to suffer, or you need outside help.
Even when you have a babysitter, you may find that it is simply impossible to work with your child around. The solution to the problem is either to organise yourself an office that you can close the door to, or to arrange off site childcare. Either way, you can feel good, knowing that you are available when your child needs you, and that you can get work done while you are at home.
You may find when you start working from home that friends and family assume you are available, because you are at home. You need to make sure that they all understand the difference between work and leisure time. Tell them what your working hours are, and that you cannot be interrupted during those hours. Have a separate business phone line installed, and take your personal phone off the hook during the day (just make sure your child’s caregiver knows how to get hold of you.) Alternatively, if you do get personal calls during the day, tell the caller that you are not available right now, and tell them what time will suit you for a return call.
Isolation is generally not a problem for parents who work from home. Generally, you will see plenty of people – those who care for your child, clients, friends and relatives and more. In fact, you may find that when you work from home, finding time for yourself is more of a problem than isolation.
