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Some of the Grim Realities of Working from Home

: Image via Wikipedia

For the most part, working from home is a dream come true. There are a number of perks that come with having a home business. However, it is important to realize that there are also downsides to those perks. If you think that working from home is going to be a dream all the time, you need a little dose of reality. Here are some of the grim realities of working from home:

Sometimes, you aren’t your own boss

It’s nice to have a home business and say that you’re your own boss. But sometimes you’re not. Sometimes your client or customer is your boss. As a freelance writer, I work on deadlines. And sometimes I do work to certain specifications. And occasionally (but not very often!) I have to redo some of it. There are times that I feel like I have 10 bosses instead of just me being my own boss.

Your hours might be at someone else’s mercy

While you can set most of your own hours, sometimes you don’t get to. Sometimes, I have to wake up at 3 a.m. to interview someone in China. Believe me, if that someone was available at some other time, I wouldn’t be attempting coherence at that hour. And, of course, there are times when you have to work longer than you thought to wrap something up on time. When you work from home, there’s no leaving it at the office to finish tomorrow. This happens a lot when distractions at home keep me from finishing in a timely manner.

Sick days and vacations aren’t always sick days and vacations

When you’re working from home, you can’t just call in sick. If you have something that has to be done, you still have to do it. Sometimes, I spend an hour or two while “on vacation” doing a little bit of work. When you’re your own boss, running a home business, you have to be open when others expect you to be.

Even so, I wouldn’t trade working at home for anything. For the most part, I have a great deal of flexibility and enjoy what I do. But I have to admit that it isn’t always chocolate and roses.

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Motivating Yourself When Working From Home

by Miranda Marquit 1 Comment

: Image by Tim Patterson via Flickr

Sometimes, one of the hardest things to do when working from home is to stay motivated. There are days that I just don’t want to do anything. And when you are your own boss, it can be easy to take a “day off.” (Of course, that can often come back to bite you later when you have to catch up on everything you have procrastinated with.)

The good news is that there are some things you can do to keep yourself somewhat motivated when working from home. Here are some suggestions from WAHM.com to keep yourself going:

* Make a list: Being able to check things off will provide you with a sense of accomplishment.

* Break it down: Large projects should be broken down into parts and milestones.

* Set workable deadlines: Try to avoid unrealistic expectations for your deadlines.

* Take frequent breaks: Taking regular breaks to refresh yourself can help. I like to take these after I have accomplished two or three things on my list.

* Reward yourself: Sometimes you need to give yourself a pat on the back — especially if you’ve managed to be productive.

Do you have tricks that you use when trying to stay motivated while working from home?

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Friday Fun Video: Here’s A Home Business Idea…The Bar

by Miranda Marquit Leave a Comment

It’s everyone’s dream. A way to make tons of money without doing hardly anything. And, it’s even better if you can get some people under you who can make money for you as well. That way each level below helps support you and build your earnings.

Wait a minute…

Anyway, while this might be serious and legitimate, I have my doubts. But I thought the video was worth watching anyway. Amusing in a sad sort of way.

Happy Friday!

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Friday Fun Video: Mariachi Style Michael Jackson

by Miranda Marquit Leave a Comment

After a long week of working from home, it’s nice to get out of the house. I know. One of the things about working outside the home is that you get out every once in a while. With a home business, sometimes it feels like you never get out. If you live in the Birmingham, Alabama area, you might head down to a local Mexican restaurant and see this cool rendition of “Beat It” by Michael Jackson by a Mariachi band.

Happy Friday!

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Tips for Helping with Applied Focus

by Miranda Marquit Leave a Comment

Last week, I mentioned that you can use an applied focus technique to get more accomplished during your work at home day. The article I mentioned, from Advanced Life Skills, also included some helpful tips for things you can do to help you increase your focus. Here are some of the suggestions that may help you limit distractions and increase your productivity:

* Have only one window open on your computer.

* Time your applied focus sessions.

* Get up from your work station. I like this one. During your periodic breaks, leave your home office and go elsewhere. It will help refresh you.

* Prepare ahead of time. The example offered by Advanced Life Skills suggests that you do research in one session, and then do any writing or another task in another session.

* Plan email and phone calls for their own session.

Can you think of other ways that help you stay focused?

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Breakfast: An Essential Part of the Work from Home Day

by Miranda Marquit Leave a Comment

: Image by Martin LaBar via Flickr

We’ve often heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And it really is. Even though I am working on losing a few extra pounds, breakfast is not a meal that I skip. That’s because breakfast is extremely helpful when it comes to getting the energy and focus that I need to continue with my day. (My day usually starts about two hours before breakfast.) Here is what Lynette Chandler from Sparkplugging says about eating breakfast:

No matter what, I try not to skip breakfast. It is really amazing how big a difference just a small bowl of cereal, a serving of protein like yogurt or stick cheese and a fruit can do to fuel you up. If I have my breakfast, I think clearer, work faster, am able to focus more and get a lot more done by noon, and I am not hungry all the time. If I don’t, I’m unorganized, lack energy, just outright distracted and feel like I have to forage for food all the time which of course disrupts the task at hand.

It really is important to concentrate on what is going into our bodies as well as what we do with them. Working from home (for me, at least) creates a temptation to eat more junk food, since it is readily accessible. I’ve tried to replace the sweets with things like baby carrots and grapes, and I’ve tried to eat a good breakfast as part of my day. It can be tough sometimes, but it really is important.

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Using Applied Focus to Boost Productivity when Working from Home

by Miranda Marquit 5 Comments

: Image by Damien Basile via Flickr

One of the biggest challenges in a home business is being productive as opposed to just being busy. There are a number of distractions throughout the day that can snare us when working from home. One way to combat that is to stop trying to multitask and make use of applied focus sessions.

Advanced Life Skills points out that applied focus sessions should last about 45 minutes. Then you should take 15 minutes to focus on something else. Here is what the blog points out about what should take place during your applied focus session:

It also means that during your 45 minute applied focus session you will not allow anything (except dire emergencies) to distract you. No phone calls in or out, no checking emails, and no twitter, facebook or StumbleUpon. The goal is 45 minutes of uninterrupted focus on a single predetermined task.

When my son is at home, I do have trouble with this. There is no bigger working from home distraction than a child. But it is made easier if he has a friend to play with, if it is the first thing in the morning and he can amuse himself, or if I get desperate and turn on the TV. When school starts again, though, I will be able to apply this technique with more success.

For now, my version of an applied focus session revolves around compartmentalizing. I do a batch of writing for a specific purpose, then take a break to check email or get lunch.

Do you think applied focus sessions would help you?

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Babysitting Exchange: Saving My Work from Home Schedule This Summer

by Miranda Marquit 3 Comments

: Image via Wikipedia

My brilliant plan to get a nanny this summer fell through, but I did find a day camp for my son this summer to help me find time to work from home. However, day camp is over, and it was only three days a week anyway. In between, the babysitting exchange has been a lifesaver.

The babysitting exchange works like this: I send my son to someone else’s house for an hour or two to play. The next day, that someone’s kid(s) come to my house. Honestly, though, it still gives me time to work from home when the other kids are here. This is because my son is thoroughly entertained. They play in the room next to my home office, and I can keep an eye on them while I work.

It’s a nice arrangement. My son’s at someone else’s house right now. And, happily, tomorrow when the neighbor kids come here, it will give him something to do. Of course, it is a good thing the neighbor kids are good kids…

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Friday Fun Video: Using MasterCard to Run Errands

by Miranda Marquit 1 Comment

I still really enjoy the “priceless” MasterCard commercials. A couple of years ago, one was run featuring Homer Simpson. It was actually rather funny. Always a classic.

Happy Friday!

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Impress Potential Clients as a Home Business Operator

by Miranda Marquit Leave a Comment

As a freelance writer, I don’t usually have to meet with clients. However, if I ever did, I certainly couldn’t ask them to come to my home “office”. Lead them through the somewhat cluttered living room to the definitely cluttered workspace I use? Not very professional. However, Mrs. Micah has some great suggestions for impressing clients (and potential clients) without having to spend a great deal of money:

* Go to lunch or for drinks. This is less expensive than dinner, and you might get some special deals.

* Don’t mention money. At least, don’t mention prices on the menu. Order something that is mid-range for yourself, and say nothing to the client about costs. Even though you are picking up the tab.

* Use a business card. You can get cheap business cards from a number of sources. This is a good idea, since it shows professionalism. I get my business cards from moo.com, but there are plenty of other places to get them as well.

* Keep in touch. After you have landed the project, keep in touch. You may not need to meet again, but you should update your client.

You can also rent a meeting place in professional buildings and other areas. Make sure you dress appropriately for a client meeting. This means either business attire or business casual attire. You want to project the right image.

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