Thread: Balancing Work & Home

Has it ever occurred to you that it may be simpler to work OUT of the home?!?

Honestly, working at home has its blessings- and its distractions!

How do you balance your work and your life- in the same location??

Some tips I've picked up and developed:

1) Do work that requires full concentration when the kids are out or sleeping! When the kids are around I'll flag emails that need my attention, but not answer them.

2) Take some time for yourself: It's so hard to overlook this one- however you must be nurtured before you can effectively nurture your 'babies'- the children and the business! Read, exercise, whatever works to relax you!

3) Keep the papers separate. I keep my biz stuff on my desk and all the household bills and things on my husband's desk upstairs!

What works for YOU?

I do pretty much the same. When my kids are around though and I'm in the middle of a webdesign I will let them help with graphic design stuff. My one daughter (7) is getting pretty good at Adobe now LOL! They think its fun atleast but it allows me to multitask work and hanging with the kids on those tough days. I also get most of my intense work done at night after they go to bed, makes for long nights but I just love being able to be home with them that I don't mind.

I work from home part time. My wife works from home full time. Sometimes I am busier than she is. Sometimes, it's the other way around. We each try to pick up the slack in those times.

For example, if I know my wife has 3 cakes to make in one day and she'll be very busy that day, I'll take our daughter to a movie, just to get her out of the house for a few hours. It's so much easier for my wife to get things done then.

I think its alot of give and take. I had friends that thought I was taking the "easy" route staying home with my kids. My one friend always was determined to be nothing more in life then a stay at home mom. When her first child was born she was not able to financially do it and always felt the guilt of working outside the home. Finally a couple years ago when her last child was born she was given the opportunity to stay at home with the kids and work... it lasted one week! She called me saying "I don't know how you do it! My kids are driving me crazy" Now it was not meant in a negative, she just finally admitted it is harder then she ever had thought to do. It made me feel better, I hate people that think stay at home moms have it easy. I've worked outside the house, not since I was a mom but prior and I can say that was alot easier to work 9-5 with a set schedule and no distractions all day. Staying at home with your kids is the ultimate sacrifice in my opinion... one that I will NEVER regret :-)

You're right, Kim. It can be very difficult sometimes. But, we also never looked back.
Words can not adequately express how amazing it feels to never have to turn our kids over to a total stranger to take care of them. That was (and is) a big deal to us as parents. Our kids have mom at home with them full time and me at home with them part time (which is much more than most kids get from their fathers). I have had the opportunity to see my kids grow from birth and spend so much more time with them than some guy with a 9-5 job (which often becomes a 9-9 job). It's amazing.

I am doing a decent job of balancing a fulltime job, working at home, a husband and 4-year old daughter, and teaching. It gets hectic and crazy quite a bit, but it's good.

I am fortunate that my husband understands and supports what I do. He's been doing an excellent job of keeping up with household affairs when my workload is high. But, I like to pay him back for that either by cooking or cooking.

To be honest, I don't know if I'd do it differently. When I worked from home only, I was adamant about keeping my hours, 9-6. After that, no more work. It's hard to keep that b/c I work 8-5, come home and hang with the family for a bit, than hit the computer for a few more hours.

For some reason I have totally lost my balance. I am having a hard time balancing wrk (which the workload is pretty out of control right now) and running a house. I am sick of living in a disaster and my family are not clean people. I spent yesterday re-claiming my house. I can't work with the clutter.

I think that is the hardest. I may have gained a job by starting to work at home a few years agao, but it doesn't mean I get to stop all the other day to day duties like cooking, cleaning and all that. Alot to juggle and I can only hope to keep all your balls in the air.

Originally Posted by kdemonte

For some reason I have totally lost my balance. I am having a hard time balancing wrk (which the workload is pretty out of control right now) and running a house. I am sick of living in a disaster and my family are not clean people. I spent yesterday re-claiming my house. I can't work with the clutter.

I think that is the hardest. I may have gained a job by starting to work at home a few years agao, but it doesn't mean I get to stop all the other day to day duties like cooking, cleaning and all that. Alot to juggle and I can only hope to keep all your balls in the air.

I can sorta relate. My boyfriend is a drop and leave it person, this goes with clothes, dishes etc, wherever it plops. He's a pig. I don't like working in clutter either. It would be nice if a grown man could clean up after himself. I don't think I do balance, they seem to run into one another..

Since I work at home on my computer, my girlfriend just became my computer.... its a pretty solid relationship.


on a serious note, I work during the day, work for my self at night usually online, and still found time for my girlfriend. it helps alot when she supports what i do too.

Originally Posted by kdemonte

I can only hope to keep all your balls in the air.

mg: :twisted:

^ Ok, bad phrasing LOL

Boxxa- it is definitely nice to have support. My husband works online too so it makes it easier, but the rest of my relative and friends are totally clueless as to how you can have an internet online. I've given up trying to explain it. I think its a pretty simple concept, but tell them, as long as the checks kep coming, just be happy :-)

Originally Posted by kdemonte

^ Ok, bad phrasing LOL

Boxxa- it is definitely nice to have support. My husband works online too so it makes it easier, but the rest of my relative and friends are totally clueless as to how you can have an internet online. I've given up trying to explain it. I think its a pretty simple concept, but tell them, as long as the checks kep coming, just be happy :-)

Exactly. one thing my girlfriend asks is if I have to do work at night, I just grab my laptop and sit in bed with her. That makes her happy I try to be flexable but an understanding is key and also, sometimes she might not like it but deals with it so I do stuff I dont like to do typically but know means alot to her to sorta give back.

Originally Posted by Kaos

I think its alot of give and take. I had friends that thought I was taking the "easy" route staying home with my kids. My one friend always was determined to be nothing more in life then a stay at home mom. When her first child was born she was not able to financially do it and always felt the guilt of working outside the home. Finally a couple years ago when her last child was born she was given the opportunity to stay at home with the kids and work... it lasted one week! She called me saying "I don't know how you do it! My kids are driving me crazy" Now it was not meant in a negative, she just finally admitted it is harder then she ever had thought to do. It made me feel better, I hate people that think stay at home moms have it easy. I've worked outside the house, not since I was a mom but prior and I can say that was alot easier to work 9-5 with a set schedule and no distractions all day. Staying at home with your kids is the ultimate sacrifice in my opinion... one that I will NEVER regret :-)

I too will never regret being home w/ the kids. For instance my daughter has a severe food allergy we just found out about. Long story short the school called saying she wouldn't be able to play a game a school because it was w/ jolly ranchers. She would also not be able to have a special food that the teacher was making. I was told 45 minutes before my little momma's heart was going to break! I ran out searched the shelves for jolly ranchers-enough for the entire class-and a snack for her. (As long as I hand her food which has nothing to do w/ her allergy and accept the responsibility she can have it. If I still had my 'old' job I couldn't of done it, my commute was from 45minutes - 1 1/2hrs. The running around and worrying had me very flustered but it was well worth her smile and big hug!

Working from home is more time-saving for me than working in the office, because if I work from home I don't spend time for the road to the office.

1. I try to wake up early, because I have a better work flow in the morning and I get hungry slower

2. Leave home after you have done 80% of your work, because otherwise there are chances you won't finish

3. If you don't have a family, plan your social life, try to meet a friend daily, it keeps you motivated and mentally healthy.

well thanks for the info

hi) i haven't got children yet, in my work week the biggest problem is cooking because i like to cook very much, but when i come home from work i am very tired and as a result i don't cook( but we with my boyfriend now cook togerher) and i'm sure that if you don't communicate with your friends your life'll be not happy.

Fortunately! I am not married so no more children i learned the art of free lancing from home but these days due to enough stress after office hardly allows me to work from home!

However i balance my work @ Weekends

well thats nice tutorials. thanks

utilize all the online help to automate your work and to create work-life balance.

I only work part time from home and not yet office because of my research work but still alot of time for fun and enjoyment comes out

I think working from home requires quite a lot of motivation and a lot of self discipline. I know I couldn't do it as I am so easily distracted and would probably end up procrastinating the whole day.
I definitely respect all of you on here that manage to secure a job from home and look after children. You an inspiration to all working mothers!

I agree with the column nomber 2. that we must keep our families and babies. I like it.

theres nothing more balanced than working at home... we can be present on our houseworks at the same time.. hope i can do that too... convenient job>>

We have a snow day here and the kids are home today- it's always challenging working from home, especially when your family thinks that you're really playing on the computer

I am agree with your second point. i have kid while working she will disturb me lot. If i am doing some work, that work will take only half-nour. if my baby is there the work will take for 1 hour or more then a hour.....

while working every one have to avoid distraction.

Hello all. Sorry I haven't got time to look everywhere. I will do my profile as soon as I can. I have been playing with earning on line for 2 years. Surveys and the like.
It leads you down the serious path of article writing and freelancing.
For me this isn't about what is easier in life. I have been in sales since I was 15, after that I was in customer services. I am a stay at home mother of 4 children and it is not possible for me to work out side the home. All my wages would just go on child care. My husband is a factory worker so with just him we would starve. I have no choice but to make this work and it doesn't matter how hard it is.
We probably work for less that a few pounds a day, but it is what we buy or pay off with that money that matters.

How about balancing work, studies, physique(gym) and home . Yea I have to manage all this. Though I don't have to worry about home since I'm not married or have kids and I only work as part time.

I am also doing job, studying and also online jobs in which my SEO is essential. I have to manage all these things in my daily life and so far going good though there were some problem in starts.

I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. I cant hardly wait want to hear the statement.