Is Working From Home for You?

by Sarah Smiley

A friend who recently married and quit her city job to work at home said to me, “Maybe I should have children sooner than I had planned.”  She thought the freedom of working from home would give her renewed stamina and creativity for her job. Instead, she feels restless and bored, and the idea of children seems very appealing when she hears other women at home talking about trips to the park and making macaroni and cheese for lunch.  She has succumbed to procrastination and disorganization. For some, it seems, the pressure of an office and an in-the-flesh boss provides the motivation they need to get their work done.

Focus and discipline remain the biggest issues for work-at-home professionals. “For me, it was very hard to stay on task,” says M. J. Lauer. “ Not because I didn’t have a boss over my shoulder, but rather there was always something else that needed to be done, and I’ve always struggled with prioritizing when it came to my own business.“ 

Jennifer suggests that keeping regular working hours plus a separate telephone line specifically for work helps to maintain one’s focus. Santella adds that having a specific routine also makes it easier to stay on task. “I get up at around the same time every day regardless of my work specifics,” she said, “and I have an office above our garage.”

Ultimately, most work-at-home spouses are in agreement: When deciding on whether or not to transfer your job to the four walls of your home, give serious consideration to your ability to motivate and monitor yourself, but don’t overlook the many wonderful aspects of being home and available to your family.

The military may move you and your family.  Your “boss” in diapers may create distractions. But if you can manage the finer details of working from home, in the end, it just may prove to be a rewarding and flexible (for the most part) alternative for you and your military family.