Motivation for a work-at-home Mom

[LynnieLew]

I realize that the title of this thread is misleading, as all stay at home moms already “work”.

I have a wonderful job which allows me to work from home so I can stay home with the kiddos.

The problem I run into is motivation. My work is done on the computer and I get so distracted and time just slips away from me.

I am curious how you manage your time and, most importantly, get motivation to work while in the comfort of your own home.

LynnieLew

 

[catholic_woman]

My motivation is my paycheck. If my work does not get done, it will be noticed. I am an accounant and my employer is the best. He allows me to work from home. Luckily, my son is in kindergarten and my daughter goes to pre-school in the morning and takes a 2 hour nap in the afternoon. That leaves me a good amount of time to do paid work. When my motivation slips, I think about having to go to the office 8 hours every day and not seeing my son when he gets home from school. If I get fired for not doing my job, where else am I going to find a job that allows me the flexibility my current employer gives me?

You have to find something that WILL motivate you. Is your job something that you could find elsewhere easily? Is it in an industry that is primarily “work from home”? Think about NOT working from home and having to leave your children every day. That is my biggest motivation.

Hope this helps!

 

[Little_Mary]

I, too, work from home and there are days when it’s hard to get going. Should I open that file or empty the dishwasher??

It does help that my office is apart from the rest of the house - so to speak - I also try to work in the morning, until about 1130, then lunch, then be mom for the afternoon.

 

[Toni]

Sorry wish I could give you some great advice on this. But I for one can not imagine working at home. To tempting to curl up in bed and watch Lassie, Little House and the Walton’s with my grandchildren.

 

[asquared]

set regular hours, just like punching a timeclock, put your computer in a home office that is dedicated to nothing else, and keep it a dedicated office space. get kids and others to respect your work hours, that also includes the same tactics you would use if you worked outside in an office: using voice mail and email, setting certain times to take and answer messages, not taking random calls and visits to disrupt your work time, scheduling appointments, arranging for child care if necessary.

making other appointments and demands outside of worktime, not during. Dress for work, don’t slop around in your jammies all day. don’t need a suit and heels, but make your dress and demeanor businesslike. you have to do this so family respects your time and your work. do not volunteer for things that cut into your worktime. be professional in dealings with clients, in communication–no conference calls with kids wailing in the background.

 

[Forest-Pine]

In my house, the problem is quite the opposite. By both of us working at home, it is easy to have work time overlapping into home time. We’ve set boundaries on when we don’t work, then fit our work schedules into the times we do.