Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Have Kids - Help them Adjust to your Work at Home

So you finally have a job working at home. Just what you've been hoping for. You are set up and the kids are outside playing, you sit down to type and:

Here comes little Jimmy crying. Big brother hit me and won't let me play with him. Whaw, whaw, will you play with me. What am I goin to do.

Well, Mom, it will take a little patience and creativity to help your children adjust and understand your new schedule. The first thing you can do is consider their schedule and try to work around it. If they are in school during the day, your in like Flint. But what about the summer when they are around the house and bored. Try to plan activities that will keep them busy (a little TV is okay but we all know too much is a bad thing). Do they have some hobbies that they can be involved in during the day, day camp during the summer, can you see them playing in the yard while you are working inside. I actually designed our house so that I could see the kids while I was on my PC. If the kids are loosing it, fighting and crying, take a break, go get an ice cream. Explain to them how their understanding with your new job will help them also. Maybe it will make it possible for the family to make a trip to Disneyland. Now before they demand your attention they may think about that trip to Disneyland.

Can you work in the evening when Dad is home and spending some quality time with his children?

Sometimes you will find it difficult but hang in there and be patient. It will get easier with time.

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Do you stay at home, work at home or just want to be at home? Visit The Light Keeper.com, a site dedicated to those who Keep the Light at Home! You'll find articles, ideas, links, resources, information, tips - everything you need to help Keep the Light in your home. Sign up for our free newsletter, too!

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Managing Your Time

The NUMBER ONE reason home workers fail is bad time management. A lot of the contractors that we have used over the years are moms so I will present this from that perspective.

Strategies:

Get up early. If you rise 30 - 45 minutes before the rest of the family you will a few minutes to collect your thoughts, have a cup of coffee and start the day prepared.

Have a plan: what needs to be done today. Do you have 5 hours of data entry plus need to pick up the kids and go to ballet lessons. Write down on a note pad what you are going to accomplish and when. This will also help you see if what you are expecting of yourself is realistic. Don't forget to leave a few minutes for personal time and the little chores that will creep in. You might have some items that need to be done through out the week that are secondary. Do most important thing first. Use discipline and stick to the Plan!

Group your running around: If you have to drop the kids at practice and pick them up in an hour, do your grocery shopping.

Get enough rest and relaxation time: Don't fall into the habit of not getting enough rest - it will catch up with you. Ask me how I know. Set some time to go for a walk with your family or get an ice cream. It will keep you balanced and your family will not resent your job (so much).

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How to Loose a Job

I have had many employees, home contractors and job applicants over the the years. I would like to share some of my observations and experiences with them.

EMPLOYEES

PERFECT: She shows up for work on time and dependably, will do anything asked in fact looks for ways to be helpful to me and her coworkers. She recognizes that the company must be profitable in order to be viable and keep her employed and works toward that end. She is pleasant to be around. She will be with me as long as I can keep her.

OKAY: She shows up late occassionally (currently we have a casual flex schedule that works well for us but, in the past, some jobs required a regular schedule), grumbles about what projects she is assigned or complains that somebody else has an easier project, but when all else fails, she does her work fine. I consider her a good employee but guess who is staying if I have to make a choice?

NOT SO MUCH: Complains, not dependable, sloppy work, arguments with coworkers, etc., etc. She's gone as quickly as possible.

CONTRACTOR

Pretty much as above but not under my supervision.

PERFECT: The ideal home worker is dependable, never falls off the map, cares about doing a good job and takes responsibility for the quality of her work. She will also not complain about assignments and makes her self available for whatever needs to be done. I will try my best to keep this person busy and happy.

NOT SO MUCH: The problem home worker pretty much likes the idea of working at home and would like a check but isn't really into the work stuff. She may be unavailable when needed and will be gone ASAP. She makes excuses about missing deadlines and begs more time (because she hasn't managed her time well). You would be amazed at home many of these we have hired, trained, set-up and supported over the years. Turned out I was the one working at their home - not them.

APPLICANTS

PERFECT: Applicant 1 shows up on time, neatly (but casually dressed for us is okay), passes the typing test without a problem, asks about what our needs are and sincerely considers how it fits with her situation. This person is my ideal.

NOT SO MUCH: Applicant 2 may show up late and not call, gives me a headache with her perfume or cigarette smell, may have a child with her that cries and demands while we are trying to talk, can't pass the typing test (hasn't practiced as I always suggest), is unorganized, asks all about what the job will do for her and tells me all about her requirements for a work at home job. Has no idea (nor does she care) about the companies needs to be viable.

Guess who got the job!

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