I have recently lost my job and am at home with my kids - a 5 month old, pre-k-er, and 2nd grader. I would like to do some freelance from home, but seem to have a busy schedule as it is. I just can't seem to get anything done on my work. I guess I'm struggling to get on a schedule. How do other work at home mom's schedule their days in order to get work and play time in?
I am also a freelancer. I work only when our youngest is in daycare and oldest is in school. It really is impossible otherwise. With three young kids, I can't imagine how you would do it without some sort of childcare. At the very least, you might consider hiring a high-schooler or college student to come in after school for a couple hours and watch the kids, so you can get the solid work time you need.
Best of luck to you!
Hi H.!
I've worked from home for over 4 years now, and in that time, I've gone from being a mom with a 2 year old and a 4 year old to 4 kids ages 8-7-3-17mos. I love everything about what I do - but what makes it that way is organization and planning. I have set hours for each day...breakfast is always at the same time, my kids are very regimented with their nap schedules, and I do a lot of my work at night after I put them to bed (early! like around 7-7:30pm)
Naptime and bedtime are the best work hours for me, but I've also found that I simply MUST walk away from the computer before my big two get home on the bus. So from 4-7pm, it's ALL about FAMILY - no calls, checking email, computer, etc...until dinner, bath, bed routine is all done. Then, I have a good several hours to do what I need to get done.
I've been able to build my business up to a great income - we're even building our dream home in Broken Arrow right now because of my paychecks. I have helped many other moms work from home, with their kiddos right next to them, so please feel free to holler at me if you'd like to hear about how I've done it. :)
Blessings to you - hope you find a schedule that works!
S. M.
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Helping Moms work from a Healthy Home!
Hi H.,
I work from my home office a few days a week. The trick is that you have to set aside time when nobody is going to be bothering you. Presumably your 2nd grader (and maybe your Pre-K) are in school for several hours a day. Plan to do your work then. Your baby can play independently for a short period of time (on a play mat in your office, or in a swing, or in an exersaucer), and you can get work done while baby takes a nap as well. If your baby isn't on a good sleep schedule already, make sure to implement one so both of you can predict when naptime will be, and baby won't fight falling asleep.
I will tell you, having worked from home for a few years now, that you really can't get work done when your kids are at home and awake. It just doesn't happen (unless you have a babysitter there). So you need to re-think the times when you do your work. If you drop the kids off at school at 8am and they get off at 3pm, that's your window for getting most of your work done. From 3pm-8pm, forget about getting any work done and don't stress about it. You can log back on at 8pm if you need to finish some things up then. Or, if you're a morning person, get up early and do some work then while the kids are still sleeping. You just have to get a little creative with scheduling. =)
Hi H.,
I am an Arbonne consultant and I work from home plus I have a 2 year old Grandson that I keep several days a week, I work while he is eating or taking a nap. That is the benefit of working from home you choose your own schedule. I have set business hours I take and make calls 10 am - 8 PM only M-F unless it is scheduled in advance. I love working from home. You just have to get in a routine which takes practice. Good Luck to you.
Kay
I found the perfect work from home job a couple of months ago. I am still working full-time, but hope to be working exclusively from home some day. For now, I’m able to get some extra money by putting in a couple hours a week. Let me know if you want more information. Send me a private message or call me at ###-###-#### and ask for K..
I get up around 4 a.m. and work for a while. Then, I work when the kids are asleep napping and do some more work in the evening. Right now, my husband is deployed, so I don't mind working in the evenings. When he is home, in the mornings when the kids get up, I put the baby in the playpen and let them watch cartoons until around 9.
