Advantages of Working From Home

There are a lot of reasons that people are looking at working “home” businesses, rather than the 9-5 rat race.  Perhaps this economy is forcing many people to look for things to do from their home because of job layoffs and the cutback in their hours.  Some people just want to do “their own thing” rather than have to report to a boss every day.

Well, the reasons are many, and the lifestyles are so different among all of us, that each person has to map out his/her own “reasons” and desires regarding the work at home strategy.

I would venture to say that many of our readers, and those needing extra money, are in the “baby boomer” category just like me.  Or perhaps mothers with small children or children in school, but still want to be able to do something from home.

My biggest advantage of being able to work from home is that I can get my work done and still be able to interact with my 4 year old quadruplet grandbabies and their big 5 year old brother.  The little ones stay at our house about 2 days each week, just to give the parents some “breathing” room.  Hmmmmm, what kind of a “job” would I have to have in order to get 2 days a week vacation? None! 

I normally get up around 4:30 or 5 in the mornings, so can easily get some of my work done before they start getting up around 6:30 or so.   Then there is nap time, which gives me another hour or two of working, and they go to bed at 8:00, which gives me another hour or two  of work time, and still have the majority of my daytime “free” to do things with the kids.

I will have to admit that the work “hours” while the little ones are here is not a schedule that would work every day of the week for me, but the main thing is that I can STILL get some work done while they’re at our house.  If I had a regular 9-5 job, they would not be able to come to our house at all during the week.

Then there are the special days like “Grandparents eat lunch” at the school with our 5 year old kindergartner – something else I wouldn’t be able to do if working a regular full time job.

Assess your own situation and see what kind of home business would work out for you.  Are there ways you can get work done in order to make some extra dollars while working around your busy schedule?  It does take some time management and a strong desire to make it work.  However, once you’ve carved out some time each day for “family”, “work” and “self”, make up your mind that it WILL work, then stick with the plan.  You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish once you have a workable schedule set up.