Many more people these days are taking advantage of the Internet to work from home. It might be that they run an online business, or it might be that they have a job that allows them to “telecommute”, so they can do all of their professional work online. A great many telecommuting based jobs allow for flexible hours and pay on a freelance basis.

Working from home has freed up a lot of people’s time and given them more opportunity to spend with their family, take care of emergencies with children, keep up the house, run short errands, make sure dinner is cooked, and so on.

Cutting out the commute time and the preparation time (showering, shaving, getting dressed up, packing a lunch, etc) really adds up to a lot more home and personal time. The flexible work hours are extremely helpful, since work can be scheduled around home and personal life, rather than the other way around.

The Internet revolution has helped many moms work from home. Now Hockey moms, PTA moms, and mothers with small children can have good paying, satisfying jobs or businesses without undue stress. They no longer need to sacrifice or put off the fulfilling experience of motherhood.

Clearly there is a catch to all this freedom and that is the increased personal responsibility. Not having to be at a job outside the home at a specific time five mornings a week and not having to stay at work until a set time each day can be a double-edged sword. The work at home freedom of routine can, and does, lead to lack of discipline for many moms. It can make some women suddenly inept at managing their time – whether work time, personal time or both.

Work and home life must still be balanced. There are ways to achieve this so the benefits of working from home can be maximized and enjoyed.

1) Keep a work schedule if you have flexible hours.

This sounds similar to commuting to an office and it is, but with a couple of very important differences. You can break or change the schedule temporarily whenever you feel the need. You can put family first without losing your source of income. You can work during hours when it’s most convenient or productive for you. Just keep it as regular as possible.

2) Keep your “office” very organized.

No, the children cannot play around in it just because it’s part of your house or not “really” an office. Keep your office as if you have a manager who is going to come in and inspect it.

3) Don’t use your work-at-home status as an excuse to neglect your family or yourself.

Some people say, “Great! I can do chores, run errands, and spend time with my husband and children whenever I want. Now, I don’t have to worry that I’m not spending time with them anymore!” Not so. Be conscientious of non-work time. If need be, keep a schedule for these times too so you are not spending too much time working and no time with your family.

4) It may help you to work two or three part-time sessions per day.

Depending on your temperament and the nature of your work, you might get burned out after just a few hours. You don’t have to force yourself (assuming you have flexible hours) to work non-stop for 8 hours straight. Work some, then take personal time, then go back and work again later in the day. This can make you much more productive. Once again, try to keep a fairly regular schedule.

5) Be judicious.

It may be best for the work at home mom to schedule her work time for when the kids are in school and/or asleep at night, rather than try to work “around” them. Whatever it is that you need to work around in your personal life, do so if it makes it easier for you to balance work and home.

As a work at home mom, you do have the luxury of a flexible schedule that you have more control over. That shouldn’t mean you spend every day in an uproar because you haven’t set some guidelines and routines. Find a routine that works best for your family and your business and go with it.

posted by Chris Simpson