It’s many mums’ dream, isn’t it? Being able to stay at home with the kids AND earn an income?
Being a WAHM can be very satisfying but it definitely takes a lot of work. Here are MM’s top tips for getting started on the road to being a successful WAHM….
Decide what you really want
Many mums decide they want to work from home and jump straight in to looking for work at home and business opportunities without first having figured out exactly what they want. You can save yourself disappointment, wasted time and money by researching closely why you want to work from home, how many hours you want to work and how much money you want to earn. Work out these points and you’ll have a clear idea of what you want to do before you start.
Create a work schedule
Just as you would do in an office, it’s important that you create a work routine or schedule for yourself at home. One of the main reasons why people choose to work from home is because they think that can ‘do their own thing’ as and when they want. But, if a business is to be successful, it takes discipline and a business-minded approach. So, if you’re going to work from home, set yourself a routine from the outset – and stick to it!
Create a proper work environment
Even if it’s just a small corner of the dining room or if you’re lucky enough to have a spare bedroom, it’s vital that you create a distinct working area for yourself.
Don’t let yourself be distracted!
Just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean that you’re a coffee stop-off for every passing friend! Make sure that your friends and family understand that you have working hours and ask them not to call you until you ‘finish work’. It can be a tricky one to sort….
Organise your childcare
It may sound a little silly, but organising your childcare is one of the first things you’ll need to do when you’re planning to work from home! That’s because, unless your work-at-home idea is to run a crèche, it’s practically impossible to work successfully at home with small kids at your feet. The good news is that you certainly won’t need as much childcare as you would if you were working outside of the home, but you’ll certainly need someone to come to the house and distract the kids – even if it’s only for a few hours – while you work.
Keep on going!
Just as with any job there will be days where you’ll be fed up and feel like running off so, just as with an office job or whatever, take the odd day off or book yourself a week off from time to time. Give your head – and yourself – some space!