Balancing Work and Family with Freelancing Jobs
Tips and Considerations for Moms Working From Home
Sep 1, 2009
Moms working from home often find it difficult to balance work and family. They have to satisfy the needs of their family members but also need to finish client's projects on time. It's therefore essential for moms working from home to have great organisational skills.
Moms Working from Home Need Boundaries
Moms working from home don’t have a clear cut line between work and home since their working spot is located at home. The work is never finished and it is easy to become a workaholic. Working late hours, taking calls from clients during a family trip, checking emails between dinner and dessert... These things can weigh on a family. That’s why moms with work at home jobs should set boundaries for themselves.
The separation between working hours and personal hours should be very clear-cut. Freelancing moms can for instance decide to work only between 8am and 6pm and to turn of the computer at the end of the work day.
Making Money at Home Means Leaving Work Alone
Creating a clear separation between work and home does not only have a positive impact on family life but also on mental health. Everyone needs some time to unwind after a busy day and every mom wants to spend time with their kids and/or husband. With work lurking around the corner, this is just not possible. It leaves people stressed and agitated because they can never truly relax. The easiest way to leave work alone after a busy working day, is to close the door of the home office and not return until the next morning.
Balancing Work and Family
Moms with work from home businesses should also have their clients respect their boundaries by informing clients about their working hours and making sure they know not to call after these hours. How to successfully accomplish this goal? By not picking up the phone or answering emails after working hours. It’s okay to work hard in order to satisfy clients and to have a successful home business. Just remember to invest enough time in the family as well, even if that means saying ‘no’ to clients. Those who are afraid to lose clients over these measures should ask themselves: ‘is this client really worth it if he cannot respect my personal time and boundaries?’
Working From Home as a Mom
Working from home as a mom has some nice perks. These moms can play with their kids during lunch breaks and take care of the kids when they are sick. But moms who work at home mustn’t forget that work and family should be separated very clearly. Setting boundaries and sticking to them is essential in order to have a successful professional and personal life.
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