Do any of you work from home?
- Thread starter jharris35
- Start date
I did, I used to be a RN, but when we moved I took over office management for my DH's practice. I do all of the billing from home and go to the office usually one day a week to deal with staff and stuff that you need to be there for. I'd say I do 85% at home. It was a career change for me and somewhat of a paycut, but life is a lot easier as a family because I am home more and available to shuttle the kids, be here after school. Then you have the freedom to work when you need to and at odd hours. It is difficult, don't get me wrong to get it all done, and be motivated to work at midnight if you need to. HTH.
Lynn M.
Cathlete
Hi Jenn-
I work at home, have done so for about 15 years. I work for a food company doing national account sales, so I do have to travel quite a bit. But, when I am not on the road, I am at home working.
I love it, and have been doing it for so long, I can't imagine doing it any differently. I feel like I get as much done ( if not more) than someone in a traditional work place.
There are a couple of things to consider though before you try to make the move. First, it can be a bit lonely, especially if you are in a workplace where there is alot of cameraderie. Second, you have to be disciplined to not get distracted with the things that are going on with your house. Third, you also have to be able to separate your work life from your home life. This is probably my biggest challenge. Often if I've got alot of stuff going on with work, I'll end up cutting into family time to eliminate whatever work stuff I have that I feel is hanging over my head. It can be challenging.
Have you talked to your superiors on doing this yet? What are their thoughts on it? If you can go to them with some sort of proposal on how it would benefit them, they might be willing to try it and see how it works out.
Good luck, I hope it works out for you!
Lynn M.
I work at home, have done so for about 15 years. I work for a food company doing national account sales, so I do have to travel quite a bit. But, when I am not on the road, I am at home working.
I love it, and have been doing it for so long, I can't imagine doing it any differently. I feel like I get as much done ( if not more) than someone in a traditional work place.
There are a couple of things to consider though before you try to make the move. First, it can be a bit lonely, especially if you are in a workplace where there is alot of cameraderie. Second, you have to be disciplined to not get distracted with the things that are going on with your house. Third, you also have to be able to separate your work life from your home life. This is probably my biggest challenge. Often if I've got alot of stuff going on with work, I'll end up cutting into family time to eliminate whatever work stuff I have that I feel is hanging over my head. It can be challenging.
Have you talked to your superiors on doing this yet? What are their thoughts on it? If you can go to them with some sort of proposal on how it would benefit them, they might be willing to try it and see how it works out.
Good luck, I hope it works out for you!
Lynn M.
I worked in an office for 8 years. When we moved to MD, my company offered me the opportunity to keep my job and work full time from home.
Initially it was a novelty and I was looking forward to it. Very soon I started feeling lonely and isolated. I turned to the fridge for comfort and and ended up gaining a lot of weight. I missed my friends from the office, missed being around people in general.
That said, after a major adjustment period it is one year later and I am doing much better (and losing weight). I actually really enjoy being here now. I have to agree with Lynne in that there is a difficulty in drawing the line between work and home life. That can be a problem during times when I have a heavy workload.
Another perk about working at home is that I can be here full time with my 4 legged, furry child!
Initially it was a novelty and I was looking forward to it. Very soon I started feeling lonely and isolated. I turned to the fridge for comfort and and ended up gaining a lot of weight. I missed my friends from the office, missed being around people in general.
That said, after a major adjustment period it is one year later and I am doing much better (and losing weight). I actually really enjoy being here now. I have to agree with Lynne in that there is a difficulty in drawing the line between work and home life. That can be a problem during times when I have a heavy workload.
Another perk about working at home is that I can be here full time with my 4 legged, furry child!
nancy324
Cathlete
My DH works from home and has for several years. He's a computer engineer. It's funny, but once he steps into that office at 9 am sharp, he doesn't come out for the rest of the day except to grab a quick sandwich. He's on conference calls and IMing with co-workers so much that he often can't even take my calls. Because he's in constant communication, he never feels lonely or isolated. Because there's no commute time, he gets to go out bike riding early in the evening while everyone else is commuting.
He loves it, and it's great for me too. He's really good about doing the errands I sometimes give him, which really helps because I get home pretty late in the evening. I love that we can have all of our groceries delivered because he's always there to receive them!
He loves it, and it's great for me too. He's really good about doing the errands I sometimes give him, which really helps because I get home pretty late in the evening. I love that we can have all of our groceries delivered because he's always there to receive them!
I run my own business at home. I agree with alot of what others have said. It can get very lonely (no one to BS with), you feel like you never get out of the house. You HAVE to be consistant with working hours, the "I'll get it done later" does not work. The fridge is always there, which can be a good thing if you stock it right or a bad thing if you load it with junk. For me, the most important thing is being consistant with the hrs. I devoted for working. No excuses. I'm at work, I just didn't have to drive there.
http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/sports/barbell.gif ~Dallys~
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http://www.thesmilies.com/smilies/sports/barbell.gif ~Dallys~
www.picturetrail.com/keeponthesunnyside
I do 2 direct marketing things. Pamperd chef being one of them. That isn't so much work at home, but Ameriplan, my other Direct marketing things is soley at home.
Its tough, but I refuse for my dh to go back to a 60 hour work week and we never see him. It's hard to discipline myself to actually work, and not just play. It's a learning process, and I am still learning!
Its tough, but I refuse for my dh to go back to a 60 hour work week and we never see him. It's hard to discipline myself to actually work, and not just play. It's a learning process, and I am still learning!
chefkate
Cathlete
I agree w/ Mikkia - you have to be willing to work at midnight! So many people think that because you work at home that you are readily available to do whatever they need help with.
I've worked from home for 5 yrs. now and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I totally set my own hours. If I want to take my girls to the beach, we go. I'm always interrupted by phone calls, which gets to them sometimes, but I remind them (and myself!) that a lot of kids see their moms far less than we see eachother.
We have a family business (plumbing contractors) that is very busy and at times highly stressful. My ideal situation would be to not work at all but I'm way too controlling to let anyone else some into the office!
Good luck w/ your decision.
I've worked from home for 5 yrs. now and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I totally set my own hours. If I want to take my girls to the beach, we go. I'm always interrupted by phone calls, which gets to them sometimes, but I remind them (and myself!) that a lot of kids see their moms far less than we see eachother.
We have a family business (plumbing contractors) that is very busy and at times highly stressful. My ideal situation would be to not work at all but I'm way too controlling to let anyone else some into the office!
Good luck w/ your decision.