Making people realise that your are WORKING

[franke1]

The most difficult part is to make people realise that this is work. You need to be left alone for a short while.
It takes time but it does sink in sometime later.

[Audrey]

Which peoeple are you wanting to realize? Family, neighbors, friends? What I found happened quite often when my kids were younger, was other moms who would ask me for help with various things since I was home. After turning them down time and again, they finally quit asking.

[Lori]

I think it's really important to take breaks! This helps my kids see the difference between when Mom is working and when she isn't. If I sit here at the computer all day -- how do they know when it's a good time to bother me? :dunno:

[eapoosmama]

I ususally announce my plans to my children of what I need to be doing that day I am working. And that if you want something now it the time to ask cause I am unavailable during x and x times.

some days it works and others it does not work as well.

[autumn1220]

My biggest problem is with family members who are constantly asking me to babysit. People think that since I am home all day I am not doing anything important. Between working at home, taking care of family and keeping a semi clean house there just isn't enough hours in the day sometime! Still I wouldn't trade being home with my son for anything!
Judy

[Audrey]

Judy,

What if you just say "I'm sorry I can't help you today?"

[OffAssist]

Say No.

I know, it seems simple, but it's a lesson I had to learn several years ago. Just say no, I'm working that day.

[Lori]

Yeah -- saying no seems so hard until you try it out a few times! :good1:

It's amazing how the world actually can go on without our help! LOL.

[longroad]

Tell me about it!

Sometimes Im sure they think I am sitting playing games all day. Hardly!

It is hard for people to really understand as 99% of people have the mindset that you need to GO to work to have a job. And anything else is just a hobby.

[Audrey]

Can I turn the tables? Oh I'm such an instigator <g> Are you really working? Is your business producing an income? Are you a person who starts projects and 3 months later ends them?

All of these are factors that will lead others to not take you seriously and to believe you are not working.

Sometimes, a schedule or set hours can be really helpful. If your family knows you are working from 9am to 1pm and can't help them and you do this consistantly they will being to know your pattern. They will begin to believe you. It also helps your kids know when they can count on you to help with homework, drive them etc.

This act of balancing is a great topic.

[longroad]

Yes, if you dont have income coming in, people will find it hard to believe you are working.

Its not until they literally see the money that they will begin to believe you.

[Betsy]

It's actually my husband who sways me away from doing my business. He is a Horse Mounted Police Officer but has Friday and Saturday off one week and then Thurs., Fri. and Sat. off the next week. I have a regular schedule of things I do during the day for my candles and then BOOM! he is home and wants to do things since it is his day off. I have become so routined and then when he is home, the routine is shot. I have found a middle road now when he is home. I plan to get all the "quiet" tasks done in the beginning of the week and then I plan things that he can help me with when he is home. He is SOOOO loving it ;) :hearts: .

[Audrey]

Betsy,

It sounds like he is off every single Friday, every other Thursday and every Saturday. Are you working your business on Saturday? If not, then we're talking about 6 days per month, right?

Are you able to limit your work time on these 6 days? Maybe work just 2 or 3 hours and then spend the remainder of the day with your husband?

[Betsy]

Audrey,
You are right...I have been able to work my schedule so we can do things on his day off but it just seems like when I schedule it, I receive orders that have a timeline or I have to have something done by the next day.
It may sound like I have an ogre of a husband when in reality I have the most supportive husband ever. I guess I just have to plan better and free myself up tp spend more time. Thanks for the reminder that I am in control of my schedule and the excuses are just that....excuses. Talk to you soon.:D Betsy

[Audrey]

Betsy,

Over the years I have lost sight of why I made the decision to work at home, and I've had to make adjustments. When you love what you do, the plus side is that you can work 16 hours per day and feel fine with it. The downside is you can work 16 hours per day and end up neglecting those we most love.

If you have a wonderful husband then hang on to him :)

What can you do to help your business? When he's off both Thurs and Fri, put a new message on your phone that says "I will be returning calls on this day at this time". When we know what to expect as the customer, it's usually ok. When I wait 3 days for a call and I thought I"d only wait a few hours, I get upset.

What about an away message on your email that says "I'm away right now, I'll be returning my emails on this date, at this time?"

These are small things you can do to help your customers understand your schedule :)

It's wonderful that he is so supportive and wants to spend time hanging out with you :)

[Betsy]

There you go...those are wonderful suggestions that I will take. Never thought about leaving an away message through e-mail. I will do that today. Thanks again Audrey, you have wonderful suggestions. Betsy

[robin123]

Its also hard for family members to understand you are working when you are on the computer... as most of them think of working as getting dressed , leaving in the morning, going to a j.o.b. and coming home at 5.
Its hard for those who are unfamiliar with network marketing to understand when they say " what are you doing?" and you say "working" when you are sitting on the computer... however my husband began to understand when the commission checks started rolling in and then bought me a laptop so that I could at least be in the same room with him! :cheers:

[bairnsmum]

The most difficult part is to make people realise that this is work. You need to be left alone for a short while.
It takes time but it does sink in sometime later.

It took me 6 months to make my husband understand that I needed TIME to work in the evening. I finally said to him over Christmas break, if I didn't get quiet time in the evenings to work, I would look for a part-time evening job outside of the home.

For the last 2 weeks, I have been able to work from 6 pm to 9 pm with minimal interruption, and he's been doing the supper dishes and keeping the littler kids busy. WOOHOOHOO!

[longroad]

Well it's good (I guess) to know Im not the only one who has to explain, or try to explain, that I am actually working when I'm at the computer!

People I guess are just stuck in the 9-5 job mindset, and do not see a person at home on the computer as actually working - even though we can potentially earn many times what a "real job" pays!

[Audrey]

My kids have always been involved in my business from the time they could lick a stamp. There were always newsletters to mail, reports to be entered into the computer etc.

Right now, one daughter is in charge of myspace marketing and the other daughter is in charge of other online marketing.

They know that a computer is much more than just a "toy".

[Audrey]

For the last 2 weeks, I have been able to work from 6 pm to 9 pm with minimal interruption, and he's been doing the supper dishes and keeping the littler kids busy. WOOHOOHOO!

That's awesome!!! My husband always did dishes and reading at bedtime. I worked really hard at a schedule. I would do dishes and bedtime on a night when there was preschool that day, meaning I got daytime hours to work at home, uninterrupted. I am a strong supporter of schedules and day planners.

[robin123]

Hi Everyone!
My husband hardley ever saw me during the evenings as that seemed to be the only time I was able to sit down to the computer.. and our computer was a desktop in my daughters room...:rolleyes:
So for Christmas he bought me a laptop and now he sees me ALOT more because I am still able to work but sit in the room with him ! :D
Its working much better as I dont feel guilty for sitting in another room while hes home in the evening!

:cheers:

[Audrey]

What is he doing while you're on the computer? I ask because I find t.v.'s, radio's etc to be really distracting while I'm working.

[robin123]

What is he doing while you're on the computer? I ask because I find t.v.'s, radio's etc to be really distracting while I'm working.

Hey Audrey,
He is usually watching tv.. but so am I. I find it nice to be able to rest my eyes from the computer screen and look up at the tv sometimes and take a break! We talk about our days , he reads and I work! It works for us.. the tv doesnt bother me at all! I do better when I have the background noise even when Im the only one in the room so I usually have it on unless Im on a call! :angel:

I also have a chihuahua curled up in my lap too! :t12:

[Audrey]

Very often I'm writing and the noise really does bother me. I really need a more quiet atmosphere to write.

[Candace]

I agree that setting specific times helps tremendously! It helps my kids know that I am working every afternoon from 1-3. It also helps me remember that I am working, so when the phone rings, I let it go to voicemail. I also schedule time to be out of the house for some big catch-up - usually on a Saturday. That way, I am working outside of the house and completely without disruption... it is really good for some big work that needs to be done.

[crsuccess]

Hi,

I hate to admit it but right now it feels like i'm on it all the time..
I do need to set a time limit and certain hours of the day or night to be on.
i find night time to have more people on line than day

[Simply Working At Home]

I agree with Audrey.

Setting patterns is vital to you and your kids sanity. Whether it be working, bed times, dinner times, study time, etc.

Obviously you can't schedule everything that happens in life, but family life seems to be much more balanced when we try to set time frames for activities, working, quiet time on so on.

Love working at home!! Its a much easier balancing act now.

:heart: Shamayne Ashton

[Marlo Boux]

Hey there;

I am pregnant with my third, have an eight year old who is both gifted and learning disabled and a very 'demanding' 2 year old girl. Mix that all in with a big dose of 'morning sickness' that lasts ALL day (LOL) and the balancing act can prove challenging.

For me, I prune the branches, so to speak, and keep my work load down to a minimum. Based on the needs of my family and of my health right now I have a cap on email consulting clients, coaching clients (phone) and other work like helping moms with ad copy etc. Putting this cap in place makes it really easy to say no to things that don't "fit" or put me over my client limit.

This is how I keep balance in the most effective way. The computer is off by 3pm most days and now I only work about one to two evenings per month - after the kids are in bed. This works well for our family...having the laptop in the dining room during the day has been a real life saver :)

[MamaSoul]

There has been some fantastic advice in this thread...I just wanted to reinforce what some of the others have had to say.


I think that the hardest thing for some of us when we first start working at home is to say "no" to favors. Believe me, it gets easier and if your friends and family really want the best for you, they'll eventually understand.


Get a routine and stick to it. I am a full time student (studying at home as well) and I run a home business. Thankfully, all three kids are in school now, but there still aren't enough hours in the day unless I stick to my schedule. First I get the kids off (husband leaves for work at 5:30). Then I go for a long walk (1.5 hrs). The walk is the most important part of my day...it's where I get my thoughts in order, plan my day, meditate & exercise. When I get home it's usually 10:30 so I make myself a cup of coffee, hang out the washing (i live in New Zealand, we don't use dryers), then I get to it! I don't do any other housework until the late afternoon...when I can get the kids and husband to help.


I make it known to all my friends and family that I cannot do coffee, visits, baby sitting, shopping or lunch M-F. Sounds harsh, but it would be the same if I had a full time office job.

Peace
Shauna