Making Everything Work ay Home I am a work at home mum, running my business from our converted garage, but before September last year when Harvey and I swapped roles, I combined the business with being a full-time mum to our two sons.After working full-time in an office until Noah was born, I decided not to go back to the same situation, but to freelance from home instead. This meant I could spend time raising our boys and work on building my business - a combination that suited all of us perfectly. These are some lessons I have learnt while navigating work and family at home concurrently: · Babies never sleep for as long as you’d like them to so you can finish important work · Putting clients first means it is inevitable that you will need to work some nights or weekends because there are always days that don’t go to plan · Factor in time to get out and speak to other parents and business owners so you can share experiences – both professional and those that involve mashed vegetables · Never beg a child to go to sleep so you can work – they sense desperation and feed off it · If you have to work while your child/ren is with you, let them play where you can still see them from your office/desk/corner of the dining table or take advantage of hour-long DVDs. In the four years I have been working from home I've also picked up some tips to combine work and family successfully: 1. Set work days Designate work days and family days. It doesn’t matter whether you work full-time or part-time, Monday-Friday or any other combination; what matters is that everyone, including you, knows which days you will be working. This way your child/ren has a routine because they know when they will spend time with you. 2. Don’t feel guilty about care To work effectively from home you need a certain amount of undisturbed time. The time you need might be covered while your child/ren sleeps, but if not, find child care, friends and family who will help gain the time you need. 3. Switch off when you’re not working Try not to work on your designated family days so you feel like you’ve had a break. Your family will also feel like they have your undivided attention and it’s a great opportunity to do activities together, like swimming classes, going to the library for story time, or visiting the park. 4. Set aside work space It is important to have “work” space and “home” space if your office shares the same address as your house. If working with your child/ren at home with you, try to make space for them within your office so they can be near you, but also explain it is your work space so they can't play on your desk/computer etc. 5. Embrace both roles It is so easy to let mother guilt or guilt you are not doing your best for your customers take over, but if you choose to work from home around children then embrace it - and remember you are great at both! What are your work from home tips?
__________________________________ Johanna Baker-Dowdell is mum to two boys – Noah and Ethan – and combines looking after them with her work as a blogger, journalist, writer and public relations consultant. She owns and manages Strawberry Communications which started small in the third bedroom, but has grown into its own office space (in the converted garage). 2 CommentsFeedAdd Comment |
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Thursday, 29 July 2010
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
Cheers
Pippa