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Must-Have Criteria
Discipline
We have to be discipline if we want to be trusted by our bosses/client and our family too. When we are working from home, we have to be able to deliver our work on time as how we would be expected to be doing when we are working from office. We should stick to our deadlines and time-table as much as possible. At the same time, we should also try not to be overworked and neglect our family time.
Commitment
We have to be committed to our deliverables just as we stay committed as a wife and mom. We cannot expect others to pardon our late delivery or any poor quality work in order to succeed in our WAHM career.
Time Management
We have to learn to juggle our balls(work, family, personal) well to succeed. Being WAHM, some people might think we have all the time in the world and start asking us to run errands for them, etc. We have to learn to say No, if our time does not allow that. Otherwise, it might turned out to be a snowball effect and such requests will be never-ending! We have to let others know that we are also working just like them, the only difference is that we work from home but we too, have our deliverables to meet as well!
Integrity and Accountability
We have to be accountable for our work. Same applies for our family household chores like cooking, preparing the kids for school etc. Sometimes we might need to get some external sources for help like a temporary sit-in babysitter or even packed meal in order to meet our target or deadline. But make this as fun and as less frequent if possible! I am sure not only you benefited from this arrangement, your family might actually love having this special occasion of packed meal once in a while. Make it like a picnic or restaurant-like meal with a movie at home, a picnic mat, etc. My DH simply love the once-in-a-while pizza delivery when I am too tired to cook :) So no guilt or whatsoever!
Accessibility
We have to make known our accessible time or hour so that people know when they can discuss things over with us. For example, make it known to others(colleagues, team member, clients) what time you'll be online for online support or online meetings. And make it known to your kids(if they are old enough to understand) that from this time to this time, mommy would be working so if there is no urgent matters, they should learn not to disturb your working hour. And an answering machine would certainly be a helpful tool if you really need to be away for errands yet phone calls need to be attended! Technology does makes our life easier! So make full use of it!
Understanding and Respect
To be a successful WAHM, it is BEST if we can have the blessings and support of our life partner(a.k.a. husband/wife). Even though we might not get the support from our parents or parents-in-law as for them, they might think that it is simply a waste time and money spent on higher education which we have gone thru' or maybe they felt that you are just wasting your time and talent being "at home", but at least you have one and most important ally that is your "LIFE PARTNER"!!! That matters a lot!
And respect counts a lot too! First respect yourself, of your choice to be a WAHM. Respect your Work from Home Biz/task. Perform it with your BEST effort!
Working condition and environment
If possible, set a corner or room dedicated for your WAHM task. If you bake cookies as your biz, then kitchen would be your "working" space. If you are doing online support, then make the workstation corner/study room as your workplace. Place a "Do not Disturb" sign or make it known to your family members that once mommy is in there, mommy is on "working" mode. So anything that does not require urgent attention, no one should disturb mommy at that specified time. Make it a comfy and special place for you! So once you are in there, you are on your "productive" mode!
Clear Priorities
At times, a WAHM starters might be overwhelmed by the load of work-from-home job and work as mom and housewife 24/7 with a long list of never-ending tasks. As more often than not, both work and family commitment might clashed and it might made us lost our priorities. And if the reason we set out to be a WAHM is to create a work-life-balance, yet we neglected our family and worked even harder, spent even more time "at work" and less time with our family, then we should really looked back, rearrange our work and reschedule our priorities!
These are some of the must-have criterias I felt a WAHM/D should possess or nurture? Do you have any to add on my list? Please feel free!
Let us share our tips, experience, secrets on how to become a better and more successful WAHM!
Cheers!
This post is also published in Mombloggersplanet.com as part of my monthly contribution to their column :)
Do pay them a visit folks, if you are a passionate mommy blogger/reader too!
Happy reading and sharing!
Cheers!
2 comments:
What a helpful entry! I'm taking steps to be a WAHM, and so far my biggest issue is "discipline", "balance work & family" and "lack of work space" (this last one can't be helped for now, but hopefully after i move into our new home later this year, i will set up a work space immediately!)
Just wondering, do you notice any difference in the convenience/inconvenience of balancing work VS the kids, as the kids get older? Right now the only time I can get any work done is if my younger son (10mos) is distracted, breastfeeding or napping. Rasa mcm susah sgt to do any work, so most of my work gets done at night, after they sleep :/
Hi glam mama, thx for dropping by!
Yup, I do find it different depending on the age of ur kids n wahm task. Having school-going children gives u at least half a day working time compared to a highly-need bb or toddler. For most wahm with such tender age kids, I found dat they mostly engage domestic helpers in order to manage their wahm n family duties.
All the Best towards our WAHM goal!
Cheers!
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