Worth More Than Rubies

The Age has an article that’s recently come out about working from home. I encourage you to go read it. It discusses briefly about the pros and cons and the mixture of business and home life and how does one maintain the boundaries? I placed my answer and it was this:

I’ve been working from home for over 13 years, before the Internet entered the scene. My decision was made so I could be here for our 5 daughters. We were isolated from other family members who are interstate and I found it harder to cope with sick kids or school holidays, than setting boundaries whilst working at home.

It really was the best decision I ever made and there are ‘hidden’ benefits that many do not see if they are not working at home. My children have grown up with a work ethic, great office skills, excellent telephone manner and other skills because of what they have seen and witnessed at home. They also got to earn money when helping me in the office once they were in their teens. All are now in their 20s but don’t really remember a mum who was out at a job. And I truly believe my girls would have been different people if I’d not been here to help shape their lives – instead it would have been their peers or those they met out on the streets.

Working from home isn’t for everyone though, you need to enjoy your own company and not suffer easily from loneliness. You need to have initiative and self-discipline and be prepared to put in lots of hard work – you don’t have someone else doing the promotions for you. But it can be achieved and is definitely worthwhile.

It is true that not everyone would cope with working from home but I do believe it’s the dream of many and that it isn’t as out of reach as they might think. It does require some research and doing your homework but if you prepare and plan and the skills you have can be applied in a role at home, then moving back home to work might be closer than you think!