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Original poster

self employed, working from home

30 replies

emma123456 · 12/12/2018 10:25

I'm fed up.

I miss the daily interaction with people. I miss being able to shout across the office to get someone else's opinion.

I'm fed up with clients that dont respond to my requests for information to complete their work.

I'm fed up being the default cook/cleaner/washer/childcare as well as running my own business just because I'm at home.

I miss being able to put on work clothes and feel like a proper professional. I'd like a Xmas party!

I do however like the independence of managing my time and being around for the kids. I like the extra ££, and I make more doing this than I would working for someone else. I like not having to commute.

Do you enjoy working from home? How do you cope with working solo? How do you keep your motivation and drive?

Thanks

OP posts:
FetchezLaVache · 12/12/2018 10:32

I absolutely love it - but then I am a miserable sod who actively enjoys NOT interacting with people on a daily basis! Is there no scope for you to get back into a 'proper' job?

(In passing, it is shitty that you have ended up with all the shitwork just by dint of working from home. Obviously you can do things like hang out a load of washing in 5 mins, etc, but it shouldn't all be for you. Well, it is for me, but I'm a single mother so it'd all be for me anyway! There should be more respect from your partner for the fact that you are working and he/she still needs to pull some weight around the house.)

NorthEndGal · 12/12/2018 10:39

I love it, I can message people or that if I feel like it, but I love the time to myself.
Our kids are grown, so there is no one distracting me, other than the bloody cats!
I love being able to work at 6 am if I get the inspiration, or a 3 pm or 3 am.
I like being able to have a quick nap if I need it.
I dontike that I am not always as productive, but I'm getting better.

Bunnymumma · 12/12/2018 10:43

I love it too but I'm in a different situation as my husband also works from home, so I have plenty of interaction.

It's a double-edged sword isn't it? Doesn't help when people say how lucky you are either! It's not all sitting around in your pants and drinking coffee!

peachypetite · 12/12/2018 10:44

What do you do OP?

Horses4 · 12/12/2018 10:47

I do both. I have a salaried office job two days a week, and freelance two other days. It indulges my misanthropic tendencies without disappearing into them entirely, and gives me the flexibility I need as a lone parent to care for my two children, one of whom has long-term illness. Meant to be at work Christmas do today, but too lurgied.

cloudtree · 12/12/2018 10:49

I also love it but I'm fundamentally unsociable and prefer my own company. I also get to hang about on MN

nessus · 12/12/2018 11:12

Would short term FTC (3 - 6 months) in-house/client side be an option for you? Then you get the best of worlds possibly.

NC4Now · 12/12/2018 11:15

I also love it, but I mix it up and use a coworking space a couple of times a week. I like to have people around sometimes.

Original poster
emma123456 · 12/12/2018 11:18

I'm an accountant. My husband has a 'proper job' that involves lots of travel so he cant be relied upon to help with the kids/ walk dog/ do anything in house. That pretty much means I can't get a proper job - well I could, lots do it - but I dont think it would make life easier.

If I could get an office based job for a couple of days perhaps that would be the answer. However, my fixed costs to freelance are high so it would just erode my profit margin.

Argh! I'm just bored... need more human interaction. I can go days without talking to an adult

OP posts:
Original poster
emma123456 · 12/12/2018 11:20

I did used to network a lot but I got fed up listening to the weekly brag -a-thon….

And I got really busy working so couldn't spare the time.

OP posts:
JontyDoggle37 · 12/12/2018 11:20

Look at using a coworking space one day a week if there is one near you. Lots of opportunities for discussion, networking and drumming up new business, and you still keep your business then rather than working for someone else

Original poster
emma123456 · 12/12/2018 11:27

I've thought about co working - but I dont know how to effectively do it as most of my data is on NAS drive at home. I've also got a good set up with dual monitors which allows me to look at one screen and work off the other. I'm not sure that I can use a co working space.. as presumably you just rock up with a laptop?

OP posts:
SpoonBlender · 12/12/2018 11:52

Could you spend time on-site with your clients? Three or four weekly trips might get you over this fascination with other humans :)

Co-working is what you make of it. Rent a desk or rent an office room, fit out the workspace with your own monitors (or they may provide), desktop or docking station for your laptop.

Move your data into Dropbox/Box/OneDrive/iCloud/Gdrive so it's portable and synced (and backed up!), if you need that.

I currently work from home 70%, office the rest. After a decade of working from home full time except for client visits I find that a decent balance, but I could easily go 80%.

Original poster
emma123456 · 12/12/2018 12:53

Thanks SpoonBlender. Plenty to think about.....

OP posts:
NC4Now · 12/12/2018 17:03

The coworking space I use has the option to rent a desk on a more permanent basis. I just turn up with my laptop but some people have tower style PCs and monitors set up.

billybagpuss · 12/12/2018 17:07

I love it, I do like going to work in my slippers.

But I agree with the Christmas party, or lack thereof, thing.

We should run a self employed peoples Christmas party night Xmas Grin

Monday55 · 12/12/2018 20:32

I like my own company too therefore I find working from home blissful. I hate commuting and I definitely hate the unnecessary small talk in the workplace or public transport.

Clavender · 13/12/2018 10:34

A co-working space sounds like it might help you - or do more networking. If you've been to a group where people just brag, find a different one, some are really supportive, and women-only groups can be good like this. Even if you don't need the extra work from the networking, it'll give you human contact (and some probably have Christmas parties so you won't miss out).

Hoppinggreen · 14/12/2018 06:53

I love working at home on my own.
occasionally I think it would be nice to work with other people and then I spend some time on a client site and realise I’m better off on my own!

delilahbucket · 14/12/2018 22:42

I love being self employed and working from home but I struggle with the lack of interaction with others. To combat this I joined a choir. I also take ds to activities and get to know others parents. Otherwise it's a lonely profession to be in.

surreygirl · 14/12/2018 22:59

I do odd freelance projects from home. Money fluctuates. Miss people interaction especially at Xmas too or when there's something big happening on tv or in the news that you would normally chat about at work so now head to Mumsnet/Twitter to lurk and eavesdrop and I often pretend to work in a coffee shop for an hour just to be around others!

Now volunteer at kids' school and also meet up and network with other freelance mums locally which has helped.

Don't miss commuting, leaving home in the dark and getting home in the dark, having to be dressed up for an office. Love being able to do school runs, assemblies, school holidays. And I can watch crap telly & films while home alone instead of hoovering in my quiet periods...and I can nap during the day when my sodding menopausal insomnia is bad. Know I'm dead lucky.

zebrapig · 14/12/2018 23:31

I work entirely remotely but spend 2 days at home and 2 in an office with DH and the girl that works for him. It's a good balance for me as I'm predominantly happy in my own company and I love having time to get stuff done at home when I take a screen break. I got very grump last week when DH decided to work from home too; I like my own space and quiet to work, he loves music/noise.

EverardDigby · 16/12/2018 08:22

I like it sometimes but I do also miss the contact. We have no casual co-working spaces near us, I could pay for a hot desk but that would be about the equivalent of a day's work a month, so I decide it's not worth it. I sometimes go and sit in a cafe for a bit to get out, though the Christmas music is driving me nuts at the moment! Overall I wouldn't go back to a proper job, I like the freedom and not having to deal with annoying co-workers!

Goandplay · 09/01/2019 19:48

I’ve looked at renting a desk somewhere but as PP said it’s not financially viable for me.

I struggle with school holidays and when the kids are home. I work from my kitchen table. DH will expect me to facilitate the children’s drink requests as I’m there. It breaks my concentration. I also find it hard being visible to the children but not physically available to them.

My DH is noisy and chatty. He works shifts so doesn’t understand that I don’t want to chit chat all the time when I trying to work.

Overall I prefer it but like everything it has it’s cons.

Northernsights · 09/01/2019 19:54

Just spotted this. I freelance mostly from home too- tend to have to travel 1-2 days per week. Mostly I love it, especially being able to work almost full- time but still be around for dc (they are older so don’t need looking after as such but I like to be around). But totally get the interaction/ colleagues thing! I try to get out a few tines a week at least. Today a coffee with friend who also freelances, tomorrow a Pilates class. Need to do that to save my sanity!