Many people don’t mind the hustle and bustle of commuting to work, and on some level, actually seem to thrive on being a part of the “daily grind.” Others, such as myself, really want no part of that lifestyle and would much prefer a work from home job. Work from home jobs require no commuting and great perks such as working in your pajamas if you so choose.
Sound peachy? Sure, that part does, but what some people do not realize is that it takes a certain type of person to actually be successful working from home. First of all, the obvious. You have to have a legitimate job or career lined up to make money working from home. Most work from home jobs are simply scams, so be careful before “giving up your day job,” and make certain you have a legitimate opportunity. Many real companies are allowing their workers to “telecommute,” or work from home. So if you find a job like that, you are truly blessed.
So, let’s assume you do actually aquire a real job you can do from home. That’s the hardest part, but now other factors come into play. Can you actually be as productive at home as you could be in an office? If you are left alone to complete certain tasks, are you someone who can actually follow through and get things accomplished? Or do you function better with someone else being the “boss” and giving you deadlines and instructions? These are important things you should ask yourself before taking on a stay at home job.
Home presents many more and different types of distractions than an office or other work setting might. For example, if you’re in the middle of an important project for work, and your two kids get into a huge disagreement, and the dog starts barking, and milk gets spilled on the new carpeting, all at the same time, will you be able to deal with this and eventually get your work done as well?
Another thing is, will your family take you seriously or simply think you’re “playing on the computer?” My 7-year-old likes to come up to me while I am typing my articles, and it takes a lot for me to convince her that mommy is trying to work. I’ve learned to work around it and still give her plenty of attention. Now, she likes to peek over my shoulder while I type and try to read them, which can be a little annoying but kind of sweet too, so I don’t really mind.
Keep in mind when thinking about working from home, your kids will still be there doing kid things, your dog will still need to be let out to do his business, there will not be total silence when other people are around. The phone may ring, the doorbell might chime and those potato chips you have in the cupboard may start beckoning to you halfway through your project. Your favorite television program might come on…well, you get the idea! There will be many distractions, so think of ways to minimize them if this is an issue for you or learn to tune them out so that you achieve your work goals.
After finding the right work opportunity, if all of this hasn’t scared you away yet, you just might be a great candidate for working from home. Best of luck to you in all of your endeavors!