Be a work at home parent

Are You Ready to Be a Work at Home Parent?

Think you have what it takes to work at home? Being able to work from the comfort of your kitchen table or home office is an attractive idea, isn't it? Being your own boss is certainly appealing. If you're contemplating home-based employment, asking yourself the following questions can help you to see if you're ready for the commitment.

Do I have self-discipline?

When you work at home there is no one else to tell you what to do. It'll be up to you to take care of your daily tasks and meet all of your deadlines. Working at home isn't for the easily-distracted. You'll have to keep procrastination to a minimum. There will be no supervisor standing over you to make sure you do the work properly. In many cases you'll have to train yourself and proofread your own work. There aren't many sick or late days when you work out of your home, and some telecommuters even handle their jobs while on vacation.

Do I have time?

Working at home isn't for everyone. You'll have to have at least two or three spare hours each day to give to your employer. It's a lot to ask a mom to work full time, but you still have to be able to devote part time hours to your job.

Do I have space?

You don't need a whole home office to work at home, but it is ideal to have at least a quiet corner dedicated to where you can park your laptop, keep your files, and get the job done in comfort.

Will my family be supportive?

Is your spouse willing to assume parental duties while you work? Will your children understand not to be needy during your working hours? Will your family become upset every time you sit down at your computer? Without a supportive family it will be very difficult to work at home.

Am I organized?

All of your work related material will have to be neatly organized so you can find what you need "at a glance." You will also need a large calendar to schedule all of your work commitments as well as family activities.

Can I afford to invest in the necessities?

The type of equipment you'll need depends on your career. It's safe to say you should have a computer loaded with current software, high speed Internet service and a desk or work area.

Am I motivated?

Will you be able to do to your job every day, even when you don't want to? There are no paid sick days for most independent contractors and no paid vacations. Your employer will want to count on you to do your job in the agreed amount of time.

Am I reliable?

Will your clients be able to count on you to complete all of your tasks without "flaking out?" You don't want to tarnish your good reputation by agreeing to do tasks and backing out when you realize it might not be as enjoyable as you had in mind. Unreliable workers quickly find themselves unemployed.

Will I be lonely?

If you're working when no one is home, you may find yourself wishing for company. When you work at home there's no socializing around the water cooler, or pleasant chit-chat among co-workers. Be sure you won't mind the isolation.

Where Will I Find Work from Home Jobs?

First off, be aware that while there is no shortage of job sites claiming to have work from home jobs, many of these sites unfortunately are full of scammers, too-good-to-be-true business opportunities, and ads-posing-as-job leads. So it's wise to use free resources such as WorkatHomeTruth.com and Undress4Success.com to make sure that work from home job sites are reliable and legitimate. If you're serious about finding a work from home job, there are worthwhile subscription services, such as FlexJobs.com. These types of services can save you a ton of time and energy, because they do the hours of research and hand-screen the job opportunities so all you have to do is login.

Other Considerations

In addition to answering the above, you'll have to determine whether or not you have the desire and the drive to compete with hundreds of other home-based workers for the same position. Work at home jobs fill quickly and you may have a frustrating few weeks or months go by before you land that first opportunity. You're also going to have to give up much of your free time. If you're planning on working while the kids are in preschool, it might mean no more cups of coffee with other preschool Moms. If your free time was spent at the gym or going for a walk, you may have to give this up as well. Working at home is a huge responsibility, one that requires discipline and sacrifice. If you feel you can handle all of the above, it shouldn't be a problem.