Work and Vacation? Where to Draw the Line?
Everyone knows that freelancers enjoy a level of freedom, which allows them to work from any location: home office, back porch, library, coffee shop, etc. Before buying my first laptop six months ago, I didn’t understand the joy that comes with mobility. Now, I don’t leave town without my computer. Whether I’m headed off to enjoy a weekend getaway or family vacation, you best believe I have my laptop in hand.
Although my computer bag is the first thing I pack whenever I have plans to be away, it’s not because I plan to work. Although I have worked on vacation (not because I had to, but because I wanted to), the work was never from a client. Therefore, I didn’t have to worry about due dates or guidelines.
Sometimes, we can get so caught up in our assignments that we forget other interests. In my case, vacations present the perfect opportunity to enjoy a little creative writing…and that’s exactly what I do - amongst other things. Read more
Establish Ground Rules with Family and Friends
Although freelancers work from home and have all the time in the world to complete assignments, some find it difficult to stay on task. Too often, a telecommuter’s life is weighed down with interruptions and distractions. Between children vying for attention and the telephone ringing off the hook, you likely have little time to breathe, let alone work on an assignment.
In hindsight, working from home is the dream life. You can set your own hours, work at your own pace, and you have plenty of time to spend with friends and family. Ironically, the latter benefit can create problems.
Regardless of how much income you’re bringing into the home, some people don’t acknowledge telecommuters. Even if you spend 30 or more hours working each week, these people see you as another “housewife” or “stay at home mom.” As a result, they don’t respect your time.
An unannounced guest might show up at your doorstep, or a friend might call in the middle of the day and expect you to drop everything to run an errand. What’s more, your own immediate family members might fail to realize the seriousness of your business, wherein you receive a few dirty looks because dinner isn’t ready exactly at 6:00.
In order to run a successful home based business, you’ve got to lay down a few ground rules with family and friends. Check out these Ten Tips for Setting Family Ground Rules for Your Home Based Business. Stick to these simple rules and your family and business will receive the attention they deserve!
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Do Telecommuters Need a Babysitter?
I applaud every WAHM who can actually work from home and care for their children at the same time. There was a time when I juggled kids and a freelance career. I don’t have any children, but I worked in my mother’s home daycare for several years. It takes time to grow a freelance business, so I multi-tasked as a childcare provider and writer. It was hard, but I did it. Of course, my mother and sister were also in the house, wherein I could disappear in 30 minute increments to complete writing assignments.
Still, the laughter, crying, and constant movement was a huge distraction. A mini crisis occurred every time I got into a writing zone and I would have to abruptly stop my thought and care for the children. Staying on schedule was impossible. I would plan to write ten articles a day, but I was fortunate to complete four or five.
How do work at home moms do it?
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The Joys of Balancing Family, Work, and the Holidays
Around this time every year it seems that more and more blogs focus attention on how to balance work with the holiday season. We all need a little time-off. This gives us the opportunity to visit family, relax, or simply sit at home and do absolutely nothing. Yet, many freelancers dread the holiday season.
While the 9 to 5′ers get to enjoy paid vacation time and holiday bonuses, most freelancers will work throughout the holidays. We don’t have vacation time, nor do we receive year-end bonuses. In a nutshell - no work, no pay.
It’s one of the perils of being self-employed. True, most people can earn more money as a freelancer. Then again, they often work longer hours and enjoy little down time.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
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