Working at home better than a 'real job'

It can’t hurt us home business owners to reflect on all of the reasons why working at home works for us. Here we explore some of the best bonuses of not having a real job.

I have just been on holiday for a couple of weeks. I took my children to Disneyland and was ensconced in the moment every moment. Work was not number one priority in my mind. It was wonderful.

But as happens, I returned home, got my children back off to school, got the unpacking done properly, you know so everything was organised so I could really focus on work.

Then I just thought I would get a few household things out of the way so I could, well, really focus on work. And then I thought the reason I get distracted throughout the year is that I haven’t really set up my office as I want it, since I moved here a year ago. I’ll get that done so then I can really focus on work.

Okay, I had no interest in work, whatsoever. I was supposed to be back working but didn’t feel like it.

Lucky I don’t have a real job.

If I did, I would have been there pretending to be really focused on work. Instead I was anything but, but at least I was being real.

But I was worried that I was changed permanently and my drive would never return. Maybe I should see a doctor. I mean I need to work and I am after all, well, driven. What if it never came back?

That saying seemed to resonate with me too. Like I’d said it before. What if it never comes back? I had in fact said it before – after every other holiday I had returned from in recent years (and that’s a lot, they are a priority for me. Indeed, I am really focused on them.) I never feel like working when I come back from holidays, but it seems that I forget this after every time I come back from holidays.

It takes a few days or a few weeks for my drive to return, but it always does despite my fear that it never will.

If I had a real job, I would have to get up, get dressed into real job clothes, get to work ready to start at real job starting time (which I understand to be several hours before noon) and then go about the business of doing a real job or a reasonable facsimile thereof. Even without my drive.

One of the many great advantages of my home business life is that I don’t do any of the above real job stuff ever. So returning from three or four holidays a year still in holiday mode means it’s not really a problem. I work when I feel ready, whether it’s days or weeks after my return.

Usually when my drive is back I work at high-energy spewing forth all of the ideas that percolate in a brain on pause mode. In future, I do have to remember to not worry that my drive will never return and just enjoy that my household gets a really good overhaul in the meantime.

You know, so I can really focus on work.

Karen Morath of M Power consults, trains, speaks and coaches in public relations, personal effectiveness, life balance and all things empowering.

2 comments | Add your own

As they say in the funeral business - "you're a long time looking at the lid". Grant Hyman from Sydney | Read my articles
Couldn't agree more Karen. Over 6 months ago I decided to make a lifestyle change and work from home. To keep myself focused I ensure that I visualise each working day as I would like it. In my mind I have been there before and my days seem to flow productively. It's very easy to get distracted at home however by setting certain boundaries it can be reduce stress and also become more productive than working in a busy office. www.nationwidenetworking.com.au Ben Angel - www.nationwidenetworking.com.au from Melbourne

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