Who Else Wants to Know how to Dispel the Work at Home Myths?

(6th in a series about working from home.)
Those of us who work from may, at times, be accused of not really working. There are misinformed people who firmly believe that working from home isn't really working; and, that home workers have all the time in the world. Those who have spent any real time working from home know for certain that a little time and effort go into performing optimally. Our best laid efforts can be sidetracked by friends calling us in the middle of the day, or by spouses expecting that we do more chores while at home, or family members who make uncomplimentary remarks regarding our real jobs.

Many stay at home moms also work from home; friends who work regular jobs find it hard to understand that your days are not free. Unexpected calls while you're working, invitations to go to lunch, and the dreaded uninvited guest turn your work schedule upside down. You have to be firm with friends, letting them know about your schedule, so that they will respect your commitment.

Establishing a clear work schedule for yourself is the first step. By establishing precise office hours for yourself, you can convey the message to those around you that you are serious about your work; this helps to set boundaries for your time. Inform your friends about which hours you will be unavailable to them. Gently let them know that, either before, or after those times, you can be reached. Be bold enough to turn off your telephone, if needed. If someone does call you during your work hours, let them know politely, but firmly, that you won't be able to chat until after a certain time. Visits and lunches should be scheduled for one day a week; this will reduce the unexpected drop-ins and the ill times invitations.

Many spouses have a hard time understanding why, since you have been at home all day, some housework isn't done. To best solve this misunderstanding, acquaint you husband with the nature of your work. Let him see exactly what you have to get done each day, and how long each task takes. Let him see first hand your work schedule, and how much time you need to devote to work each day. Letting him in on how much money you earn by working from home will also help change his perspective.

You then ask him to make suggestions about how you can work at home and maintain the household. List all the chores that need to be completed each week, and, if they're old enough, assign some chores to the children; do likewise with both, you and your hubby. This makes all the household chores a family responsibility, something that you all have an interest in. Keep a work calendar on the wall, so that he can be prepared for any special projects; he will now see your work schedule clearly. The reason why you had ordered pizza for dinner several times last week now becomes apparent.

Depending on your personality, you may be one of those WAHMs who takes offense regarding offhand comments about your job from relatives, and even friends. They may suggest that you should have taken care of this or that, because "you are at home." You have two choices here: you can either, get upset and reply with sarcasm, making the situation worse, or you can calmly say something like this, "Let me review my schedule. I don't really think I'm available for that on the day that you say" or "I was, in fact, thinking about how to work that into my schedule, I can do it on Friday afternoon, which is when my work schedule permits those activities."

Remember, although the numbers of WAHMs is growing, this is brand new territory for some. It may take some time for some people, and that includes you, the worker, to understand the commitment and rigorous scheduling needed to work from home effectively. Unfortunately, you will encounter some folks who are just too narrow minded to alter their views and accept that you can be even more productive by working from home.