Walking the WAHM tightrope – balancing work and family

Sometimes, being a work at home mom can feel like walking on a tight-rope! Balancing your work-time and you family-time can almost feel overwhelming, but it can be done. As a WAHM you are ahead of the game. The following are some tips to help keep you balanced – and sane!

You have the ability to set your own hours, so take advantage of that right now. If you can handle some tasks at “odd hours”, you will have more family time during the day. Are you a morning person? If so, try to get up an hour before your family to take advantage of some “quiet time” to focus on your business; night owls can take care of emails and other administrative tasks after they have put their children to bed.

If you pick your children up from school, use the time you spend waiting for them to get out of class to return customer phone calls.  A wireless headset for your cell phone will allow you to keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road if you make calls while driving.

During the week, when schedules are busiest, plan speedy dinners. Let your kids help out in the kitchen while you cook – you’ll be spending time together and teaching them skills they will need. There are plenty of cookbooks out there dedicated to “kid friendly recipes” if you need some inspiration on what to make.

Blend family time and work time by getting your children involved in your business. Smaller children can affix the stamps or mailing labels; older children can help hang flyers; and teenagers can take on some administrative tasks such as data entry.

Set aside some time each day to spend with your children with no distractions. You don’t have to go anywhere special; the time can be spent reading a book or playing a game. The point is just to let your children know that they come first, and the business comes second. Remember – you became a work at home mom so you could spend time with your family. Don’t forget to take some time out to enjoy them!

The To – Do List: Your Best Friend

One of the biggest problems of working from home is staying focused and getting the things done that need to get done. Not only are there work deadlines to meet, you also have dirty laundry laying around, there are dishes to clean, and you have to make sure you pick up your child from soccer on time. 

How can you manage all of the above and then some? With a “To-Do” List. Grab a piece of paper and a pen and start jotting down some of the things you would like to accomplish today. I like to keep two different lists. The first one for work related tasks, the second one for chores around the house. Since it is hard to work effectively for long periods of time, I tend to alternate work tasks and household chores. For example, I will write an article for one of my websites and then go unload the dishwasher before I go back to “work”. It refreshes my mind and allows me to make the most of my time.

Sit down at the end of the day and make out your list for the following day. It will give you something to start with right away in the morning. What you tackle first depends on what motivates you most. Some people like to do a few quick and simple things first to get motivated to keep going. Others prefer to do the thing they dread the most first to get it out of the way. Try both ways and see what works best for you. Regardless of what you do first, be sure to cross an item off your list once it is completed. It’s a very satisfying and motivating thing to do.

One tip from Timothy Ferriss, the author of “The Four Hour Workweek” is to avoid reading email in the morning until you’ve made progress on your to do list – or else you’ll likely get dragged off on some other project.

Another question that often comes up when talking about lists is how long your “to do” list should be. Again, it depends on what works best for you. If you find a huge list threatening and it makes you want to go hide under the covers and not do anything, keep your list to 5 things or less. On the other hand if having a huge to-do list has you diving in to see how much you can get knocked out today, by all means feel free to create a huge list. Just add anything you didn’t get accomplished to tomorrow’s list.

Play with a few different To-Do lists and find out which one works best for you and watch your productivity soar.

Simple ways for WAHMs to balance work and relationships

No one has ever said that marriage is easy. Balancing your business, kids and marriage can be especially difficult. When you are feeling stressed, it is easy to put your relationship on the back burner. Here are some ways to keep it front and center.

Just as you schedule time for your children and time to work, schedule time for your spouse. Set aside a weekly “date night”. Your dates don’t have to be expensive – it can simply be going out to lunch at the local diner, going for a stroll together around the neighborhood or playing cards after the kids go to bed. The point is just to set aside some distraction-free time for you and your spouse to talk and connect.

If you think you are too busy for a date night, ask your spouse to help you with some of the household chores. Just because you work from home, doesn’t mean you should be responsible for all the cooking, cleaning and laundry. You are working, and it doesn’t matter if you work across town or in a make-shift office in the corner of the dining room.

By sharing the chores, you are freeing up time to spend together. You can make it a family affair by getting the kids involved. For instance, designate every Saturday from 10 am till noon as “cleaning time”. Divide the chores among the family, turn on the stereo and have a “cleaning party”. You’ll be having fun together and getting the chores done.

It may not sound fun initially, but why not run your weekly errands together? You have to go to the grocery store anyway, so why not go as a couple? Having someone to talk to while you wait in line at the check-out stand could be a nice change!

You can also find time to spend together by asking your spouse to help you with your business. Your spouse will learn more about what you do and see you in a different light. Who knows? Your spouse may enjoy helping you and with their help, you will be able to achieve your goals twice as fast. 

Remember to Take Care of Yourself

By nature, women are nurturers and care-takers. If someone within a 50 mile radius has a problem, a woman will try to help them! WAHMs are no exception. They spend their days caught up in a whirlwind of taking care of their families, housework and working their businesses. However, a WAHM can easily forget to take care of herself!

Yes, you work from home, and you may be able to conduct your business wearing sweat pants and bunny slippers, but that doesn’t mean you should. Remember that every time you go out in public you are surrounded by potential business clients. You should look professional and well-groomed – you never know who you are going to run into!

Even if you stay locked-up in the house all day, it is important that you feel pretty.
When you look in the mirror and see a well-groomed, professional woman looking back at you, you will feel more confident and more competent in all areas of your life, including your business!

When you wake up in the morning, don’t just throw on your old sweats. You don’t have to wear a business suit either, but try to aim for something in the middle of the two choices. A simple shirt under a cardigan sweater and some nice jeans or slacks will do the trick.

If you simply do not have the time to wash and blow-dry your hair, put your hair in some Velcro rollers while you get breakfast ready. They will add body and style to your hair. Take five minutes to at lut on some mascara and lip gloss; and don’t forget to add a spritz of perfume.

If the last time you bought yourself a new outfit has been so long the clothes you are wearing are coming back in style for the second time around, that is a clue you need to update your wardrobe!

When you accomplish a goal, celebrate by getting a manicure or pedicure. Keep your hairstyle fresh by getting a trim every few months. You may be a WAHM but you are still a woman! You deserve to feel special!

Organization Tips for WAHMs

Do you have piles of papers on your desk? Is there a stack of receipts shoved in your drawer? Do you ever find yourself looking for a phone number that you just know you wrote down somewhere? If you are suffering from a lack of organization, here are some suggestions on how to tackle it.

It is no secret that having a disorganized work area is counter productive. By getting organized – and staying organized, you will be able to get more work done in less time.

If you are computer-friendly, you may be familiar with the program Outlook. You can use Outlook to keep track of your emails, your daily schedule, your to-do list, client phone numbers and email addresses and more. You can even synchronize your MP3 player to Outlook and keep all of your info with you wherever you go!

For those that are not as technology advanced, you can still get organized by using old-fashioned paper products. If you do not have a planner, get one! There are many kinds of planners to choose from, in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Find one that fits your needs and use it to keep track of doctor appointments, school meetings, your work schedule, etc. Set up a client database to keep track of phone numbers, emails and other information. You can do this by getting some 4” x 6” index cards and a recipe box.

April 15 is a day that many Americans dread – it is the due date for your taxes! An easy way to keep track of recipes is to get a hanging file folder and 12 manila envelopes. Have one envelope for January, one for February and so on. During the month, throw all your receipts in the corresponding envelope. When the month is over, tally up your receipts and write it on the outside of the envelope. That way, when tax time comes, most of your work will already be done.

By taking some time each day to “take care of the little things” you will stay organized, feel less stressed, and get more work done!

Is Stress Getting You Down?

Unfortunately, there are many times in our lives when stress creeps in and causes great angst.  Life is busy and work, kids, school and responsibilities can seem overwhelming at times.  Do you feel stress getting you down?  Here are some tips to help deal with stress and its after-effects.

Stress has become a major cause of anxiety and panic attacks.  If not dealt with, it can have an incapacitating effect on your life.  More often than not, most people with A-type personalities are prime candidates for stress induced symptoms.  The perfectionism they seek in everything they do never quite measures up to their expectations. This is not a perfect world; and it’s time those who live in it realize they aren’t perfect either. 

Most people deal with stress in different ways; either they ignore the initial problem which caused it; retreat within themselves, or fall apart. However, those who recognize the signs nip it in the bud before it completely takes over.  Using simple exercises can relieve the onset of stress.  For example: While sitting at your desk at work, breathing exercises can bring you back to a calm state.  Going outside for some fresh air also helps.
Walking or running for 20 minutes can release endorphins which relieve stress. Listening to classical music lowers the blood pressure, and brings calm within.

Sometimes, however, stress reveals itself in other ways.  Lightheadedness, an inability to focus, feelings of pressure and palpitations are all symptoms of stress.  Moreover, continued stress can produce anxiety, panic, and the fright or flight syndrome.  Here is one such case of how stress can simply overwhelm and, in some cases, debilitate.  A secretary was called into her administrator’s office, which was quite large and comfortable. As she was taking dictation, she suddenly found it hard to breathe; began to lose focus; and a queasy feeling in her stomach ensued.  She could no longer concentrate on his voice, and ran out of the room. 

Unbeknownst to her, she had just experienced an anxiety attack brought on by stress.  However, while there was nothing stressful going on at the time, she later identified the cause.  An unpleasant thought had entered her mind while she was taking dictation, causing fear to take over forcing her to flee the office.

Upon further examination, it was determined the stress in her home life simply became too much, and filtered its way in to her work day.

If stress is getting you down, examine the cause.  Determine the origin, and discuss it with a professional or a loved one.  Stress, if not acted upon, can cause serious health problems.  Avoid it at all costs, if you can.

Finding Enough Hours In The Day

I’m guessing that it took you about a week to find out that there just aren’t enough hours in the day when you work from home and still take care of your family. Your list of things that need to be done seems to be getting longer each day. Here are a few things you can do to get more done in less time. Give them a try and see if there aren’t enough hours in the day after all.

Avoid Productivity Killers
We all have some things that just kill our productivity. This could be anything from having a radio or TV playing while we try to work, to having too big of a to-do list or knowing there is still something on the list you just don’t want to have to do. Find those things that kill your productivity and do your best to get rid of them. Find a quiet place to work or adjust your to-do list. Do whatever it takes to keep you motivated and productive.

Prioritize
Before you start any work, take some time to determine what is most important and most urgent. What will make the biggest difference to your bottom line. Grab a pen and prioritize what you need to get done today and then sort by importance and urgency. A great way to do this is to number the items on your list 1 being the most important, 2 the next important one, etc. Then just work your way down the numbers until you run out of time. This way you know the most important things keep getting done, no matter what. 

Automate
Periodically take a look at what you are doing and see if you can’t automate some of those tasks. There are all kinds of software available that will make your life easier. Set up a helpdesk for customer inquiries and use a shopping cart to have electronic products delivered automatically.

Outsource
If you can’t automate it, see if it you can outsource certain tasks. Anything that’s repetitive, or that you simply don’t enjoy doing is a task that can potentially be outsourced. It may be worth paying someone $10 an hour to take care of those tasks if it allows you to focus on higher paying work, or growing your business.

Work at Home Mom Summer Survival Guide

by Sherry Frewerd

Working at home during the summer creates challenges for the WAHM. As the summer begins, there’s a lot to keep the kids entertained and give Mom time to work on her business. As the summer progresses, however, choruses of ‘Mom I’m bored’ ring out, causing otherwise mild mannered Moms to throw up their hands in complete desperation; right before they start planning an escape route.

Moms can’t escape for too long however, and kids have an uncanny knack of finding the hiding spot anyway. So what can you do to keep your business in tact during the summer months when the cherubs are effectively running the show?

How flexible are you? No, I don’t mean can you play a mean game of Twister while baking a pan of blueberry muffins, but rather, how willing or able are you to adjust your normal work at home day to meet the ever changing demands of tireless children?

Leslie Spencer, founder of http://hbwm.com , suggests using a laptop with a wireless internet connection. You’ll be a mobile mom, able to take your work anywhere your kids go.

Planning and preparation will make your life less stressful. Before summer vacation begins, do some research to find local youth programs being offered and enroll your kids. Make lists of ‘things to do’ and have ready all of the needed supplies so your school age kids can entertain themselves.

Be realistic. Come to terms with the fact that you may not be as productive during the summer, and schedule your work to make the best use of your time.

Summer challenges for WAHMs do not have to cripple your business. Find local groups and activities for your kids to participate in and remember, time with your kids will pass all too soon, and summer vacation is just one part of WAHM life.

Article Source: Lady Pens

Balancing Work and Home Life

One of the hardest skills to master when you are working from home is to find a good balance between work and home life. Since you are working in the same place where you play with the kids, cook dinner and do your housework, it’s hard to separate the two. That’s when you end up doing laundry when you should be finishing a report, or spend your evening working because you walked over to check your email.

One of the best things you can do to balance work and home life is to define your workspace. Set up a little home office of sorts, even if it’s just a bedroom corner. Having a defined space will make it much easier for both you and the rest of your family to determine when you’re working and when you’re “just Mom”. If you can set up in a room that allows you to shut a door, even better. It will keep distractions to a minimum and makes it easy for even the youngest child to know that Mommy is working and shouldn’t be disturbed.

Setting a schedule of when you work and when you are available for the rest of the family is another great tool. Sit down with your significant other and come up with a few blocks of time each day or week that you can work uninterrupted. Sure you may need to check email or take care of some simple tasks outside of those blocks of time, but having a few hours each week when you can expect to work uninterrupted (while hubby takes the kids to the park or plays with them) will allow you to get the majority of your work done. At the same time, set aside some time to be spent with just the family. Don’t forget to give yourself one or two days a week off from working at home – yes, that means no email or instant messaging. Once you have a schedule in place, do your best to stick to it.

Set some rules for the rest of the family. Make sure they know this is serious work you are doing and that you expect their support. For example, if the rule is don’t bother mom while she’s working unless it’s an emergency, don’t let them interrupt you to find out what’s for dinner. If you stand your ground on your work rules, they will quickly become habits for you and the rest of the family, making it easier and faster for you to get your work done.

Don’t forget to reexamine every once in a while if you are still achieving a good balance between work and home and adjust accordingly