Home Life Archives - Page 2 of 24

Thinking Of Working From Home? Start Here

The thought of no longer commuting is extremely appealing to people. When I was a teenager, my Dad commuted every day back and forth to a big city. He was constantly stressed out, hated being stuck in a tiny cubicle, and was always grumpy. It’s really bad for your health! But, since he worked with computers, he was able to transition to working from home instead. The difference was noticeable almost instantly. If you would rather work from home, see if your company offers telecommuting! If not, or if you are a stay-at-home parent looking to make some extra cash, check out these legit websites from Bob at Christian PF. They all are rated by the Better Business Bureau, and can make you some real money:

–LiveOps: These guys offer call center services and provide opportunities for folks to sign up as work-from-home agents who answer and field telephone calls.

–Global Test Market: Pay you about $5 per survey that you take.

Photo Credit: David Martyn Hunt

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Working From Home and Overwhelmed? Read This Post

by Kathy T.

Work from home jobs are seriously the best thing ever, but they do come with a few drawbacks. You can do your work from your bed with Netflix running in the background, but it’s honestly extremely hard to stay focused. Working in a cubicle with an overbearing boss breathing down your neck is worse, but at least you get your work done. When working at home, it’s extremely easy to let the projects pile up- not to mention housework, or even taking care of kids. It’s also extremely easy to get overwhelmed. So, take a deep breath and get back on track! Check out this post by Johoanna Robson at Bubbling Cauldron Project for the best ways to press on and ease the anxiety:

-Don’t be afraid to say no, and stop people pleasing

-Delegate- put your kids to work around the house. Hire designers for logos and other projects. Team up with another writer for certain posts.

-Better your time management with to-do lists: (I would literally never get anything done without mine!)

-Take responsibility- If there are some projects you can graciously get out of, then do it. Work through those that you can’t. Set goals and work steadily towards them. Before you know it your plate will be clear again.

Photo Credit: Monica R

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Beating the Blogging Blahs

by Kathy T.

We all get writer’s block. It’s totally natural: you can only post so much, and come up with only so many new ideas before you just get burnt out. Especially if you work from home- sometimes, all you want to do is just curl up and sleep all day. It’s really hard in the winter- the weather is gloomy and cold and completely uninspiring. It’s easy to put off work and procrastinate when you have access to your bed, pajamas, and Netflix. But, you have to make yourself push through it! If you’re going through a slump right now, this post by Melyssa at The Nectar Collective should motivate you! (some NSFW language in link)-

-Figure out what you’re afraid of- Will something take a long time? Do you think your results won’t be spectacular enough? Figure out your fears, then tackle it from there.

-Cut yourself off from social media- Turn off notifications on your phone. Set specific times that you’re allowed to check social media sites (and ONLY check at these times).

-Create rewards for yourself for completing projects/ posts.

-Organize! Having a put together workspace will help motivate you.

-Know when to give up, and don’t beat yourself up. Some days you’re just not going to feel it and pushing yourself to work when you absolutely CAN’T will probably only result in mediocre results and even more overwhelm. Play hooky for the day or a few hours. Relax. Take a freakin’ break.

Photo Credit: William Brawley

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Need A Job In College? Here Are Some Ideas

by Kathy T.

… That you don’t have to leave your dorm to do. Some people think that the work-from-home world is solely for stay-at-home moms, or for people who live in rural areas that telecommute to a major company. However, that is simply not true! There are all kinds of work-from-home jobs out there, for people from all walks of life. Work-from-home jobs are especially great for college students. It’s a great way to earn extra cash, without taking out valuable studying time to commute. If you are in college and looking for some work opportunities, check out this post at Freebie Finding Mom for some ideas:

-Become a tutor and work through your college, or out of your own home.

-Dog sit or Babysit

-Freelancer- Are you an English major? Into graphic design? Studying a foreign language? There are all kinds of freelancing jobs out there. Freelancing is an option for many industries including finances, graphic design, IT, copywriting, translating, and administrative tasks. Depending on your industry, there are specific websites you’ll want to check out. For example,99designs.com is great for graphic designers and artists. You may also want to look into www.elance.com.

Photo Credit: Audio-Luci-Store

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Extra Money When Working From Home

by Kathy T.

Whether you are already working from home, are a stay-at-home parent, or just have some free time where you’re looking to make some extra cash, there are plenty of ways to turn your time into money without getting out of your pajamas. If you’re already working from home, you can simply add these options to your current routine. If you’re looking to start, some of these are great ideas for first jobs. It can be hard to find legitimate work from home jobs, so this post from Suzanne Kearns at Money Crashers is awesome because it tells you how to avoid scams as well. Without further ado, here are a few ways to make extra money at home:

-Freelance writing

-Sell your knowledge by teaching online classes

-Start a bed and breakfast in your home

-Sell produce at a farmer’s market

-Sell your crafts online or at a fair

-Sell your time and voice at a call center

-Work as a consultant and sell your knowledge and experience

-Use your computer skills and work as a medical transcriptionist

Photo Credit: Adikos

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Freedom From The Rat Race: Work From Home

by Kathy T.

During my teenage years, my dad had a job he hated. He woke up every morning, drove an hour in city traffic, and sat in a tiny cubicle doing paperwork for nine hours a day with bosses he couldn’t stand. We all knew how unhappy he was, but there weren’t a whole lot of options. We needed the money, and my mom was still job hunting. Then, he decided to start working from home– and the change was instant and extremely noticeable. While I’m relieved that he’s happy now, it sometimes got really upsetting when he was commuting. My dad and I have extremely similar personalities, and if I learned one thing from that experience, it’s that I never want a job like that. Sitting in a cinderblock cubicle, doing nothing but staring at spreadsheets and getting yelled at by egomaniacs– I can’t think of anything worse for a job. I’d honestly rather be flipping burgers again. Luckily for me, I’ve found something better than either of those: I work from home as a writer. Seriously, it’s my dream job. If you feel trapped in the “rat race,” and would like to transition to a work from home career, read this inspiring post by Bob at Christian PF:

“If you won the lottery and the first thing you would do is quit your job, then you need to quit your job.” – Dave Ramsey.

Now that I have spent over a year working for myself I can’t imagine doing anything else. For as trapped and held down as I felt before, I feel the opposite extreme of the joy of freedom. Just to be clear, self-employment has its own challenges and difficulties, but I honestly think they pale in comparison to what I went through while spinning my wheels in the Rat Race.

The rest of the post details exactly HOW he started his own business, and took the chance to become his own boss. Definitely worth the entire read!

Photo Credit: Kevin Dooley

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Keeping Yourself Healthy At Home

by Kathy T.

Working from home is great for lazy people (like me!) I’m not saying all people that work from home are lazy, (most are stay-at-home parents who work their tails off!) but it’s a great option if you like sleeping late, setting your own hours, and staying in your pajamas all day. But, since you don’t have to wake up early, get ready, commute, and go out into the world like “normal people,” it can be really easy to let your health sit on the back burner: especially if you’re sitting all day.You kind of adopt an “anything goes” attitude: my diet consists of almost all fast food, and my exercise routine is non existent. Why should you care? It’s not like you have to look good for anyone. This attitude can be really bad for your health, though. Check out this post by Jennipher Walters at Spark People for ways to stay healthy when you have a work at home job:

-Choose your chair: sit on an exercise ball, an ergonomic chair, or even a treadmill desk!

-Set a timer- make it a point to stand up and walk around every hour

-Create a routine- set a bed time, a wake up time, work time, and gym time- stick to your schedule!

-Use your kitchen- keep it stocked with healthy, fresh foods

-Go outside whenever you can!

Photo Credit: Nina Matthews

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Becoming A Less Lazy Blogger

by Kathy T.

Working from home as a blogger can seem like a dream job for less organized people. You can stay up as late as you want (as long as you eventually get around to work), you can stay in your pajamas all day, you write about what you love, and the hours are extremely flexible. However, without a solid plan and at least a little organization, it can be extremely easy to let yourself slack off. This can lead to lackluster content creation, or even missing deadlines and losing readers. Check out these tips from Laura at The Turquoise Home on how to keep yourself on track and become more efficient:

-Have a designated office space- give yourself a private area with NO TV or other distractions

-Use a planner- plan your time by the day or by the hour

-Create office hours- and stick to them! Make a strict line between work and home life

-Use “pretty” organization. Folders, dividers, pen cups, and other supplies work much better when they are eye catching.

Photo Credit: Laurence Simon

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Is Homeschooling While Working At Home Impossible?

by Kathy T.

If you work full time from home, it’s really helpful to have your kids out of your hair for 7+ hours a day. But, what if you’re not impressed with the quality of education in your area but can’t afford a private school? Can you even imagine working from home while also having your children with you? Is homeschooling while working even possible? Well, it’ll be like working two full time jobs. But, many people work multiple jobs and still manage to get along- even though it’s a lot to juggle! It’s all about time management. This post by Jimmi Lanley at JimmiesCollage has some advice– check out the full article for a complete guide! She covers everything from making the economic decisions, meal planning, housework, juggling work and lessons, and dealing with outside opposition to your decisions. It’s really in depth and impressive. If you homeschool and are considering getting an at-home job, or if you work from home and are considering homeschooling, it’s a wonderful place to start.

At the core, the answer to being a WAHM who homeschools is to bedisciplined. For some people that may mean a military style adherence to checklists and schedules. For me it a flexible outer manifestation but a very firm mental resolve that keeps me focused on my goals.

Photo Credit: Tim Pierce

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Working from Home While Raising Children

by Kathy T.

Working from home can sometimes be bittersweet. On one hand, you get to stay at home in your pajamas all day and not go out and deal with people. On the other, sitting comfortably at home can sometimes be a huge drain on productivity. When you have kids, cleaning, unlimited snacks, and Netflix right in front of you– all demanding your attention– it can be really easy to let work fall to the bottom of the priority list. Therefore, it’s extremely important to stay motivated at all times! Dawn at Designed By Dawn Nicole has some great tips. The first one? Ditch the pajamas.

Get Dressed. It’s really tempting to stay in your PJs or yoga pants all day when you work from home, but getting dressed can help you feel more ready to work and you’re a lot more productive when you’re in the right mindset.

Set up an office or space devoted to work time. You don’t have to devote an entire room of your house to it, but a desk in a corner somewhere with all your work items will help you stay focused and organized.

Find a schedule that works for you. Be straightforward about the fact that you work from home. It’s ok to tell clients that your hours are non-traditional. Set a routine and stick to it.

Use the kids’ nap/rest time wisely. What kinds of things can you only do while the kids aren’t around? This is the time to focus on those things.

Get a little help with the kids. If you don’t live near family that can help out, consider a Mother’s Day Out program for your child(ren).

Photo Credit: Erik Hersman

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