It has been a stressful few weeks since we came back from Bluestone – it seems like we have only started to catch up with everything – I had tons of emails to catch up on plus Steve was starting his new job as soon as we got back – we’ve barely had time to think! Add to that numerous illnesses, some family emergencies and the worst hayfever I have had in years and I can’t wait for this month to be over!
Sometimes I find myself wondering if I did the right thing, jumping ship into working from home full time. Don’t get me wrong, I love what I do – writing is my passion and I love blogging here and on my other blogs plus freelance writing for a number of different clients. When months like these occur, however, I sometimes find myself debating whether it is really worth my time – spending days catching up on emails and chasing up payments that should have been paid before I went away! Add to that the fact that we can’t afford childcare on what we earn right now so can’t put Jack into pre school until he gets his free 15 hours a week – and working can sometimes be a little stressful. Having to work round children is not always easy but sometimes you just have to do it – and I have been working until early in the morning just to ensure I meet deadlines.
Sometimes I just want to shut the world out and relax… grab my current read and lock myself in the bathroom until I have soaked all my stress away. There is just something about lazing in the tub for ages that really relaxes me, much like others, I bet. For once, I would love a night out with my friends or a night out with Steve where I don’t have to worry about work at all! I know I need to establish a proper routine but with a partner who does shift work, that isn’t always easy. I am definitely making steps towards having a proper routine though – and will be giving myself at least one full day off a week before I go mad. Maybe I will take a walk around my local common, have a picnic in the park with Jack – just forget about work for a while.
Do you work from home? Do you find everything overwhelming sometimes? I know in my heart of hearts that I did make the right decision for me and my family in working from home – but sometimes it really doesn’t feel like it.
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Even though I don't work from home, I get you – we juggle the care between us, until we can get the free nursery time! I always thought it would be great for me to work from home, but actually going to work couple of days a week is like a bit of break from home duties for me (as bad as it sounds). I hope it all works well for you, so you guys can get some time for yourself! x
It can still be stressful working from home, some people don't realise this. Make sure you start to get some time to yourself at least once a week. You have done the right thing as you are spending time with Jack 🙂
I always worked at home when I had my twins, wanted to be there for them, never regretted it but its lonely at times, boring, juggling jobs when they were little was tough. I am in the same boat now, struggling with all the issues but with an elderly lady. Just back form hols and it feels like a million years ago. I cannot get out for the forseeable future at all and spending time with husband/partner is key to a happy family, so make sure you can get out if its doable, you definitley need a structured week as work starts to leak into evenings and weekends and it then becomes not only stressful but actually taking over your family time which is perhaps why you wanted to be at home. Hugs xx
I do a few bits and pieces of freelance work, but find even that a struggle now my toddler has given up napping! It is hard to juggle everything sometime isnt it!
I always feel bad for answering emails when my children want my attention so can't imagine how difficult it must be juggling work too. Hope you find a solution soon.
I often work from home if I have loads to catch up on, in the office I get constantly interrupted whereas at home I can just get on with things x
I don't work from home but I do work part time and I find trying to keep up with emails, blogging, social media and family life nigh on impossible sometimes and quite often feel like I am drowning in it all – good luck. I am sure it will get easier once Jack can go to pre-school.
I am still working on creating a better routine for myself now that I work from home. I find myself working at all hours of the day and night and constantly checking my emails. It's almost like an addiction!
I am working so hard to get where you are right now. It's hard but nothing great in life is ever easy.
I feel for you. I have a two-day a week job and I juggle freelance work around it – the two days I'm properly 'in work' feel so much easier somehow. one thing I find is that I get more done out of the house – coffee shop, library, co-working space but this is easier for me as mine are all in school or pre-school. But when your 15 hours kicks in, maybe it's worth looking into. Good luck – you made a brave decision!
Yes I do and struggle all the time trying to find a balance
It does sound like so much pressure on you, I hate it when things build up to a point like that. Especially if it's back to reality as soon as you get back from a few days off, that just makes it feel worse! With only my blog to do I still find myself catching up for a week, and thats with no other free lance stuff to do. I hope you manage to find an enjoyable balance.
I work from home, and have three girls who are homeschooled so life is very hectic ha! def never quite or lonely here
I am hoping to turn blogging into a work from home thing. Fingers crossed something clicks and it all works out okay.
When it's hard it's hard isn't it. But you know when things go right I think that it feels more like an achievement – does that make any sense?
I so hear you. I work out a couple of days a week and from home the rest. I work constantly – every moment of spare time is on work and my only refuge is my 30 mins in the bath. It is hard, but honestly I think working out of the home for little appreciation and attending ridiculous, meaningless meetings is SO much harder and I'd choose home working over that every time!!
I hope you're feeling a little better and now so overwhelemed now – it might do you good to have something that gets you out of the house on your own once or twice a week.
I don't work from home but do struggle to balance everything though, I sometimes feel like my full time job takes over, I have been off this week and had numerous calls regarding stuff that aren't even a emergency which didn't require a call to myself, so that makes me worry about work and not able to shut off! Hope your feeling better bex x
JustJulie | Beauty Blog
I think that it is hard to switch off when you work at home, you never get away from it. However it is easier with children x
It is tough juggling work & family (I live with my 81-year old parents who need a fair bit of help) but what gets me thru' is making lists. I was always laughed at because I've been a listmaker since I was little, but it provides a structure to my day/week & it means that I can schedule in 'me' time which is essential. The same applies to your other half – you both need to allow time to just be yourselves, together. Don't worry about next week, it's going to happen anyway so try to do whatever needs to be done so you don't carry stuff forward. At the end of the day, what's more important?
I will be working from home in September. Hoping it'll be a little easier for me as 7yo is at school so I can concentrate between school hours.
I'm blogging from home at the moment but not earning a regular wage from it. I'm hoping to work more from home when, like you, my youngest starts Nursery. Nursery fees are too expensive for me to even contemplate actually going into a place of work, other than my living room, at the moment! I think after they get the free Nursery hours, that things will get much easier work-wise. I hope that July is a better month for you and your family.
I work from home and find it incredibly frustrating as your work is around you all the time and you cannot switch off.
The worst bit for me is that I don't have the regularity of a payday either as I am self employed…….I find people don't pay you on time and it can be incredibly difficult to make ends meet