Yes, I Do Home Based Work. No, It’s Not A Cakewalk! #WomenOnTheMove

Home based work is assumed to be a piece of cake! In our weekly Twitter Chat, #WomenOnTheMove, readers bust all the myths you may have about home based working.

Here is a funny quote doing the rounds on the net about working from home: ” I am out of bed and I made it to the keyboard. What more do you want?”

The cliche no longer holds true. Over the decade, more and more companies, to boost employee morale and to retain them, offer flexible timings and home based work options. So ‘work from home’ is no longer a laughing matter. Besides, many women also run small and mid-sized businesses from home. But – this flexibility comes with a price.

Yet with all its freedom, a home based work schedule can be stressful, in-fact more so when compared to the normal office-goers. A Guardian report on Work-life balance suggests that flexible options can actually make you ill as it fosters an always available culture. Employees never know when to back off.

Earlier this week, we had our weekly #Womenonthemove chat over at Twitter, and this is what we discussed. And we got plenty of suggestions too!

(If you’re not yet following Women’s Web on Twitter, do now, and you can come over for the chat too, every Thursday 6-7PM IST).

The challenges of home based work

No need to commute except for meetings=Boon.The assumption that you are always available for errands=Bane @womensweb https://t.co/vid2yOBP5f

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— Rupali Mehra (@rupalimehra) August 11, 2016

A1 When kids are at home — sick/holiday. Throws my schedule off. Difficult to stick to deadlines. #WomenOnTheMove https://t.co/AWLF99q9iK

— Rachna says (@rachnaparmar) August 11, 2016

A1. When houseguests turn up…. sigh… that’s another challenge. I wish I had 9 hands and three brains! #womenonthemove @womensweb

— Vidya Devi Sury (@vidyasury) August 11, 2016

@womensweb nobody gets the seriousness of it. Guests, phone calls, make yourself lunch, etc. Too many distractions.

— navya shanbhag pai (@navyashanbhag) August 11, 2016

@womensweb A1 Time Management as it takes discipline to focus and compartmentalize between work and other chores.

— Kasturi Patra (@PatraKasturi) August 11, 2016

The positives

@womensweb A2. No, despite the challenges, I get more office work done and also get to pursue my passion for writing. 🙂 #womenonthemove

— Kasturi Patra (@PatraKasturi) August 11, 2016

@womensweb A2 a “yes”. In terms of visibility, focus, better infrastructure, ability to network, work more efficiently #womenonthemove

— Akshata (@Awestruck_Aks) August 11, 2016

A2. I often considered that & solved it by creating a workspace at home. I dress to work #womenonthemove @womensweb https://t.co/m5ERIYVPag

— Vidya Devi Sury (@vidyasury) August 11, 2016

@womensweb The time and place of one’s work should be clearly demarcated, to avoid any hindrance.

— Elasticjobs.com (@elasticjobs) August 11, 2016

@womensweb A2 with such high traffic and all facilities available at home, “work from home”is a better option anytime.. #womenonthemove

— Bass Ek Raah (@bassekraah) August 11, 2016

@womensweb A3. Once u settle down in ur career & no more aspire to be a part of the rat race u start working on ur own terms #womenonthemove

— Archana (TSW) (@BeingAHappyGirl) August 11, 2016

@womensweb Freelancer consultants are paid much higher than the regular employees, they negotiate on projects.. #womenonthemove

— Bass Ek Raah (@bassekraah) August 11, 2016

@womensweb Yes it is a double edged sword. The key is disciple and how seriously we take ourselves. #womenonthemove

— Reshmy Pillai (@ReshmyPillai) August 11, 2016

Flexibility of home based work, both a benefit and a problem

Flexibility: is a huge perk and the benefit is bigger than the problem! 🙂 I can say that confidently #womenonthemove @womensweb

— Vidya Devi Sury (@vidyasury) August 11, 2016

Helpful tips

@womensweb A3. For a confident woman salary is not a benchmark but freedom. And that’s why lot if women are now working fm home #womenonmove

— Archana (TSW) (@BeingAHappyGirl) August 11, 2016

@womensweb it’s very important to know when to say NO. Saying yes to lower paying freelance jobs doesn’t pay in the long run #womenonthemove

— Archana (TSW) (@BeingAHappyGirl) August 11, 2016

@womensweb my advice totally non-work related! Get out of home sometime. Else totally kills your creativity. #womenonthemove

— Aparna V Singh (@editorsahiba) August 11, 2016

A4.Never make the mistake of working 24 hours. Prioritizing, Focus at work & time discipline =crucial habits. @womensweb #Womenonthemove

— Vidya Devi Sury (@vidyasury) August 11, 2016

@editorsahiba @womensweb yep! Join some clubs/hobby related/running/diy/reading anything to meet folks outside your comfort zone. helps.

— rads (@rads) August 11, 2016

@womensweb Take yourself very seriously. And don’t be lazy just coz you can work in your pajmaas. @justkanchana@SHEROESIndia

— Reshmy Pillai (@ReshmyPillai) August 11, 2016

When starting out on home based work

@womensweb When u start WFH, b preprd 2 work for less money with a reputed comp. Don’t chase money. Chase quality assignments.

— Kanchana Banerjee (@justkanchana) August 11, 2016

@womensweb As freelancer always b professional. If u do a bad job it cd put off the client from all freelancers 4 ever.

— Kanchana Banerjee (@justkanchana) August 11, 2016

A4 #wfh is just a change in place but that shudnt change ur attitude towards work @womensweb @justkanchana @SHEROESIndia

— Rakshita Dwivedi (@Raks_d) August 11, 2016

@womensweb be shameless whn it comes to using ur contacts 2 get freelance work. U spent a life building thm. Time 2 use thm #WomenOnTheMove

— Archana (TSW) (@BeingAHappyGirl) August 11, 2016

Some last words…

A4. Most important, do NOT start the day with social media or email. “Just 10 minutes” NEVER works. @womensweb https://t.co/ieXIpLEQct

— Vidya Devi Sury (@vidyasury) August 11, 2016

@ReshmyPillai @womensweb @SHEROESIndia I dress well before sitting down to work. Always

— Kanchana Banerjee (@justkanchana) August 11, 2016

A4 u need 2 b more disciplined with a morning plan everyday while you #workfromhome @womensweb @justkanchana @SHEROESIndia #womenonthemove

— Rakshita Dwivedi (@Raks_d) August 11, 2016

@womensweb My biggest learning with #WFM? Never give up. #WomenOnTheMove

— Vidya Devi Sury (@vidyasury) August 11, 2016

@womensweb @SHEROESIndia It’s not easy. Needs enormous patience. Continuous pitching to get rolling. Money is sporadic. Have realistic goals

— Kanchana Banerjee (@justkanchana) August 11, 2016

Taking yourself seriously and prioritizing things helps a lot. Learning to say ‘NO’ when necessary is an essential skill too when working remotely. The good news? These skills get better with practice. So don’t give up when faced with challenges. Remember, “When the going gets tough, the tough gets going.”

Image: Woman writing from Pixabay

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