Flying by the seat of my pants

I realize that for the next six months or so, my life is going to be like an episode of Survivor. Well, except no one around here will be fighting over a can of rice or looking like they haven't eaten in 30 days. But I will be just trying to make it through to the next day will most of my hair still on my head.

I went from full-time college professor, to part-time college professor with a very fussy baby, to a sort of SAHM, to an almost full-time WAHM over the course of the last four years. And for someone who usually has pretty damn good time management skills, I've found this whole working from home thing extremely challenging.

I'm still trying to figure out how to not take half the day checking and answering emails, since much of what I do is email based. And I'm learning to delegate chores and work projects that I can do with the kids awake versus ones I really need to save for when I have a sitter or when they're asleep at night.

And I'm adjusting to working with a baby hanging from around my shoulders or attached to my boob.

My hope for 2009 is that once my book manuscript is handed in (eep), I can focus on creating a reasonable work schedule that allows me to balance my writing, my working, and my family. On some days I feel like I get a lot done. On others, I feel like I'm piddling away at the keyboard and missing out on quality time with my kids.

Of course, this might still mean I'm flying by the seat of my pants, but at least I'll have an actual flight plan to work from.

If you have any WAH suggestions, I'd love to know. I have to take conference calls at least once a week, but most of my work is blogging -- writing, email checking, and posting.

*****

I'm super pleased to post this as part of our last blog blast of the year with BigTent, a fantastic and free online group hub that allows you to organize everything from your playgroup, to church group, to blogger groups and more. We use it for two of my neighborhood groups and it's about 4000 times better than Google Groups (I swear).

If you want more info on how to participate in the Blog Blast (and enter to win a $250 gift card from Target that you'll get before the holidays), click here. The odds of winning are in your favor, and it can't hurt to enter.

However, if you decide to sign up yourself and your group (of at least 10 members) by 12/31, you'll be entered to win a $1500 life coaching series from Compass, and you will automatically win a one month membership to Compass. It does take a few minutes to sign up to BigTent, but it's well worth it, particularly if you're trying to clean up your inbox and reorganize your life this new year.

Comments

[Assertagirl]

Although I don't have kids, I do work from home and I can understand the challenges that working at home present.

In terms of e-mail, have you considered scheduling time for dealing with e-mail? Have you thought about shutting down Outlook (or whatever e-mail program you use) unless you're dealing with messages specifically? It's hard to break the habit, and hard not to respond immediately to that little envelope icon in your system tray, but after you get used to it, it can be very freeing to just shut e-mail down when you're not dealing directly with it.

Good luck!

[Mom of 5 who wishes she had an office]

Find a way to work at least one shift, or one day NOT in the home. Use the library or coffeeshop or even the lobby of a decent hotel. Bring headphones to block out the ambient noise and you will be amazed at how much work you get done.

[Christina]

I'm learning to prioritize, which seems to help. Looking over my to-do list and starting with the things that are most important (although probably not as much fun) helps a lot.

But at the same time, I still have a hard time scheduling work times, because I tend to only write when I'm in the right mood for it. Putting it in a two-hour block or whatever guarantees bad writing for me.

Good luck. I'm trying to figure it out right along with you.

[TheFeministBreeder]

Oh good, it's not just me. I always saw the pantyliners in the aisle, wondering what kind of woman needing something so stupid hanging around in her underwear. Then I had two babies, and the leaking has never stopped. It's not urine though.... it's NON-STOP cervical mucous.. like I'm ovulating 24/7/365. I bought pantyliners for awhile, but God I just HATE those things. Plus, undoubtedly my husband would do a load of laundry and leave one stuck to my underwear (hey, I'm exhausted, and I undress in the dark a lot), and it would come out of the dryer, permanently affixed.

Now I just have nasty underwear. Oh well.

[liz mccarthy]

Let me know when you figure it out! I too can't seem to find enough time for everything! It's hard for me to get work done at night, as I'm so exhausted but refuse to go to bed as it's finally MY time!

www.micropreemies.com

[liz mccarthy]

I too am having a tough time of it all, managing my time when I do have help to watch the kids....

Great blog, just came aross it!

www.micropreemies.com

[claudia]

it's hard. you're never really 'away' from work. I'm a WHAM in Italy, have been for years, and what really works for me is starting to work really early (around say 5-5.30 AM) when everything's quiet but I'm fresh from a night's sleep. And I have a cleaner in twice a week
Love your blog, it's in my favourites and read it every day, you have an Italian fan!

[Gina]

WAH is tough. I work from home 2 days a week and everyone (including my husband) seems to think it's all soap operas and bon-bons. But I find that those days are busier and more stressful than my office days.

[Gina]

WAH is tough. I work from home 2 days a week and everyone (including my husband) seems to think it's all soap operas and bon-bons. But I find that those days are busier and more stressful than my office days.

[Gina]

WAH is tough. I work from home 2 days a week and everyone (including my husband) seems to think it's all soap operas and bon-bons. But I find that those days are busier and more stressful than my office days.

[Trista]

You have probably heard this before...but I am a wahm, I run a day care out of my home. I rotate the toys. When I get out a new set of toys, the kids will play for hours with the "new" toys. It won't work everyday, but you might put a few really cool toys up only to be pulled down when you need them to leave you alone.

I also have a toy swap with other sahm's. Once a month or so, we get together and swap a few toys....keeps us from having to buy them and the kids get new play things to entertain them

Just a thought!

[Heather]

It is so challenging to work at home without someone getting short-changed. It usually means that I'm up waaay too late at night.

[goodfather]

Great topic! And great post. I've got this exact issue going on right now, and like Heather, I just stay up all night to get my work done, heh. I've never heard of Blog Blast or the contest, so I'm heading over to check it out! Thanks for the tip.

[Heather]

It is so challenging to work at home without someone getting short-changed. It usually means that I'm up waaay too late at night.

[Heather]

I hear you. It is so hard to fit work in without feeling like someone is getting short-changed. It usually means that I am up way too late at night.

[Kimberly/Mom in the City]

The juggling IS challenging, right? I find email to be my biggest time waster. So, I'm trying to implement primarily checking it at 10am, 2pm and 4pm. (I picked up that tip from the "4 Hour Workweek" book.) Good luck!

[Aine]

I'm a WAHM and home schooler to a 3 1/2 year old autistic boy and a 2 year old girl, and a new baby due sometime in late May or so. I save all my phone calls and the treadmill for when they're napping since they're too loud and crazy to take or make calls when they're awake. And with the home school I tend to do 20 or 30 minutes blocks of activity with them, with snacks and meals and free play in between...that's when I do emails or research that I need to get done, etc.

Also in the mornings before my husband leaves for work I do my first run at checking and responding to the most urgent emails, that way he can deal with the kids while I get some mostly free time to do my most urgent morning emails.

When the third baby comes I plan on going completely insane.

[Karen Sugarpants]

It is freaking hard. So first, you gotta give yourself some credit. Most work I do is while kids are at school or in bed, which makes for some odd hours, but most of my clients know that.

For blogging at Craftastrophe, I use the thing on the post where you can post entries scattered through the day/week by posting ahead. Then at the end of the day I Digg, Stumble, Kirtsy, etc.

For web design work, I just do it in between life's demands and in those big blocks of time when kids are not around, I turn off email and IM so I can concentrate on the task.

Editing out the things that make you no money (blog reading, twitter) is sometimes hard, but I use those things as a treat when I do complete my work.

As for household tasks, I'll admit my house isn't always spotless, but if I put on some music and go at the house 3-4 times a week, it stays relatively clean. Having older kids helps. It does get easier as they grow into eager child-labourers. :)

[Deb@Bird On A Wire]

All I can tell you Kristen is it takes time to get it worked out right. And about the time you get it right, something changes. So roll with it. It all works out in the end. My 27 year old now says he appreciates what I did back in the early days, trying to make ends meet and balancing kids, working at home, and in the real world. I'm working on family 2 now and things are much the same, hopefully, they'll be as well balanced. Just remember, you're not Superwoman, sometimes you just need to kick back, and enjoy the kids being kids.
Merry Christmas!

[mothergoosemouse]

Dude. How I wish I had an office.

Because even when I've got all the kids (and Kyle) out of the house, I'm still distracted by my surroundings. Ignoring that kitchen floor is getting tougher and tougher.

[Heather]

For me, I just decided that the WAH part just didn't work. I'm taking a small office in Feb. It's close to home, I'll still have the sitter, but it's away from the shrieking and I can actually have conversation w/ adults in the shared office spaces. TG. It comes w/ free coffee/espresso.

[MommyNamedApril]

let me first say. i <3 blog blasts.

second. wish i had WAH suggestions. wish i had some WAH period. :-/

good luck!

[sueinithaca]

Good luck! I've been working at home for a couple of years now (I'm in possession of a 4 year old and a one year old). The only thing that saves me is that I work with a partner who also has a young child (2) - *usually* the kids don't all freak out at once, so we can pick up each other's slack. An sometimes I make liberal use of Blue's Clues when I have a deadline. It's HARD though.

[Jill]

Good luck! I've been working from home with my kids at daycare/prescool for years now and I still have horrible time management skills! haha Let me know what you figure out!