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It was an easy decision: working from home (removing yourself from the office politics, the tedious paperwork) was to be a salvation. It would offer you the income you needed and the hours you wanted. You could dedicate yourself to your family, rather than hiding behind a desk and waiting for recognition that was never going to come. You could instead be a mother, with a career tucked neatly behind. It was to the perfect compromise… or so you thought.
Being a stay a home mom is a new thrill — one you aren’t entirely prepared for. There is suddenly a wealth of wonders to discover: from sleeping in to playing with your children to even daytime television. The world is quite different from the corporation you have fled; and it is a convenience you don’t wish to deny.
So you don’t — and you achieve very little.
Those who were once governed by a strict routine (waking at a specific hour, having to meet fast deadlines) can find themselves overwhelmed by the comforts of home. Each day can be an exercise in relaxation; each moment can be devoted to a family. The sense of urgency that once dominated a career is replaced instead to ease.
This is not helpful.
Mothers must instead remember that their career is vital. While it’s tempting to spend all hours with your children, it will also prove useless in generating profits. A routine is therefore necessary to ensure that everything can be accomplished.
Establish specific times to telecommute. These blocks must be free of distractions or diversions. You must simply do your assignments. Don’t allow your children to coax you into playing; don’t let the Internet lead you astray. You must instead work.
Create a routine to follow throughout the day: space breaks after each work period to offer yourself some relief; allocate certain moments purely to your family; and balance life.
It’s not easy but it is essential.
