Being a work at home mom is a dream come true for me. I have been doing it for 13 years now (on and off, but mostly on), since my oldest son was born. Even though my kids are in school, I still choose to work at home, for myself, rather than entering the workforce. It is as much a commitment, though, as a privilege.
The benefits of being a WAHM are many…
I can set my own hours and work in my jammies.
I can work almost anywhere (with wi-fi).
I can take a day off and chaperon a field trip.
I can take on as much or as little work as I want.
But as much as I love my ideal situation, it is not without its challenges…
The schedule flexibility is a double edged sword. There haven’t been many vacations taken without my laptop.
Dinner and deadlines sometimes happen at the same time.
I have to be the accounting/sales/marketing/administration department all at once.
But by far the biggest challenge is finding balance. The balance between family time and work. Husband and children. Housework and health. Shopping lists and sports. The list is endless.
It is a constant challenge, this balancing act. And I am certainly no expert. But I have figured out a few strategies along the way to help me keep some sense of order…
Schedule, Schedule, Schedule - iCal is my biggest asset. In it, I have everything I do listed. I schedule walks, dinner menus, soccer practices, grocery runs, work projects…everything. Looking ahead each week means no surprises (or at least fewer ones). Getting a system established helps you keep track of all the things you have to accomplish and get into a routine.
Set Time Limits – Do you ever notice how computer time is warped. 20 minutes suddenly turns into 2 hours. When you have little ones vying for your attention, that cant be healthy. Set a timer. Work for an hour, then play a game with them for an hour. Don’t let the clock dictate you…you dictate the clock.
Say No – How many committees are you on? How many charity events do you help plan? There are so many things to be involved in…worthy things. But no one can do 100 things well. Pick a few things to be involved in, and do them well.
Don’t feel guilty to say “I would love to help, but I am already involved in X, Y and Z”. Weeknights are always busy for us and I have no problem saying “I’m sorry, we’re busy” simply because we have dinner and a tv show planned. If you have the freedom to do so, schedule your work as well. I don’t take on new projects during the weeks that my kids are on break. I am a WAHM, not an indentured slave.
Don’t Feel Guilty About Putting Yourself First On a Regular Basis – When I fail to take time to exercise, relax or just have some alone time, I fail to give my best to my family and my work. Take time…on a regular basis…for yourself.
Get Some Help – Amazingly, children can do chores. And so can husbands. (I know. You can thank me later.) Enlist the help of other family members to do housework. Or hire someone to come in to do it. Trade babysitting time with your friend or ask grandma to watch the kiddos for a few hours. Its amazing how people are willing to help if you just ask them to. Don’t be Superwoman. You don’t need to do it all alone.
When You Get Off Track, Get Back On…Quickly – Life doesn’t like to play fair sometimes. Kids get sick. You get sick. Holidays come. And everything can happen all at once. When it does, carve out a tiny bit of time to sit down and get a game plan. Instead of stressing and getting down on yourself about how behind you are, get a plan of attack. Sometimes I think we waste more time stewing about our busy lives than actually having busy lives.
How about you…are you a WAHM? What is your biggest challenge? What’s your best tip?
I’m with you on the balance thing. I’m for the most part a WAHD and I often find it difficult. Sometimes I miss the go to work from 9 to 5, come home, and leave it all behind you. I wish I had an office where the kids couldn’t find me and distract me, or do I?