The idea of working from home is kept on a pretty high pedestal, and frankly, we think it deserves that status. Working from home can become a bit of a balancing act, however, and some new stats bring the issue up yet again.
In a poll on the Business Opportunities Weblog, 48 out of the current 57 respondents said they do household chores while working. Only nine do not. This seems to make it clear that working from home helps the home - that pile of dirty laundry isn't left waiting to be washed at the end of the day - but one has to wonder how it helps the work.
The Weblog points out, "If you leave your home office to get a drink of water, dirty dishes may beckon. Moreover, your spouse may assume that because you are home, you should be able to squeeze in some chores during the day."
Also, if you go to a college library, and you'll see students all over the place. Some of them have stopped off between classes, and others actually require access to books. A lot of people just find it necessary to get away from their room or apartment in order to accomplish something, though.
This is an issue worth considering if you, or your employees, are thinking about working from home (or are already doing so). The idea's fantastic; everybody just needs to make sure the reality is, as well.
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Comments
Kids and chores take time
As one opts to work from home, wether as a freelancer or as a telecommuter, you really need to set limits. The limits are as per the article, the spouse who thinks you can quickly run down to the store to get the "missing" ingriedient for dinner, or kids who are in the bath.. and need to be seen to as the lunch is overcooking. Yes its all there.. just follwing the "just a quick nappy change honey.." etc etc
So now for the limits. As a developer I need time.. solid continous time to visualise my work and concentrate on the code. For this you need a room which is away from everything, bright.. quite and setup like an office. Yes.. we cant escape that.. and being by your self in a room you need a co-worker. This bring to mind an article I read several weeks back.. "Get a plant" So now. time limits. 3 hrs in the morning.. no disturbances, 1 hr break which may include running down to the store, then again 3 hrs. Now you may include quick 20 min coffe break.. but set the limit! It stops at 20 min, otherwise you will be buring the midnight oil.
If you can handle it, get 2 hours in the evening.. if you can.
SO thats the reality of working from home.
Working From Home
RE: Establishing A Balance When Working From Home
It is easy to get off track sometimes, but those chores such as laundry can be very beneficial too - we always hear that every hour, we should stand up and get our circulation going for a minute or two. It's the perfect amount of time to go switch that load of laundry or take the dogs outside, etc.
I guess I look at it like this: if I still worked in an office, I would take 2 paid 15 minute paid breaks per day, plus an unpaid lunch break. Being self employed doensn't make me any less entitled to breaks, even if no one is paying me for them. Instead of reading a book in my car for 15 minutes and praying for the day to hurry up and end, I'm petting my dogs, taking out the garbage, cleaning up the kitchen up, etc. which makes less chores to do "after work". Knowing I have a clean house and happy dogs helps my mind be less cluttered as I work, making me more productive. But I am also a workaholic, and it's not unusual to find me still working at 5am even though I started at noon, so that could be another reason that I don't feel bad doing the occasional load of laundry. ;)
Working from home
Doug, you have brought to the attention a most pertinent topic. With all the hype and discussion about Gen Y and the supposed "skills shortage," working from home is going to be debated for some time.
I wrote an article which was published widely by many magazines here in Australia, entitled: "Work from Home - Is it a business or a hobby?"
In the article I listed five key components to successfully achieving a positive outcome when you work from home. The response was overwhelming from many sectors.
Recruitment and retention strategies are going to change, the perception of "working from home" will gain greater respectability over time in my opinion.
Rgds,
Ric
Working from home
Great article Ric. Thanks for sharing.
Peter Abbott
pabbottjp@hotmail.com
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