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Original poster

anyone else work from home?

32 replies

katierocket · 01/03/2003 14:42

I didn't go back to work last year after having DS but now work from home 3 days a week. It's great in terms of flexibility but god I'm finding it hard to get motivated at the moment. Oddly the more work I have to do the more I avoid it - I end up doing housework / washing / surfing etc - anything other than work.
It doesn't help that my office (the spare room) looks onto next door neighbours vile wall with rusting satellite dish - hardly inspiring.
Any other mumsnetters work from home? do you miss the interaction of office life? any motivation tips?

OP posts:
lucy123 · 01/03/2003 14:57

Me too.

My motivation tip is to get your workaholic dp to work in the same office (spare bedroom) as you and then listen to him nagging you to stop looking at Mumsnet and get on with it.

Also I find certain times of day are better than others for motivation - if I get straight on with it in the mornings I get loads done, whereas if I work an afternoon, or have a quick surf before starting work, I don't!

Original poster
katierocket · 01/03/2003 15:02

lucy 123 - the time of the day thing is very true - I've been really busy this week so have loads left over that has to be done. I decided to try and do it this afternoon and DP has taken DS out but I cannot get motivated. Have just spent 2 hours messing around and surfing! eek. will try to get on with it. Do you have a nice office?

OP posts:
lucy123 · 01/03/2003 15:10

lovely. very spacious with a view of the Sierra Nevada. Cold in winter though - I'm wearing 3 jumpers and a scarfe. What do you do?

Original poster
katierocket · 01/03/2003 17:05

oh god now I'm really jealous - fantastic. How long have you lived there? am I right in thinking you're a programmer? (I think I saw on another thread).
I do PR for my sins, I gave it up about 4 years ago and got into new media (project management). but this was not the kind of thing you could do and be flexible so back to PR it was.

OP posts:
GillW · 01/03/2003 17:23

I do (in theory) one day a week from home. In practice, as I'm having to go to London at least once a week, which means getting up at 5 and not getting home until 7 on a good day or 9 on a busy one, I tend to reclaim some of those extra hours and work a shorter day - usually just 8am until 1.30 - on the day I'm at home. That was the promise of time off in the afternoon is motivation enough to ensure I do actually get on with things. Having said that I can get more done in the time anyway, so I can do the equivalent of a full day in the office and still take a couple of hours out without anyone really noticing.

I think I'd find it quite hard to work exclusively from home, though.

My office just has a view of the garden, and the backs of other people's houses - though someone who lives behind us (don't know them the fences are too high to chat over) obviously works from home too, as I can always see her at her PC from my window. I'm always tempted when I'm bored to wave at her and see if she responds!

Tuscany · 01/03/2003 17:27

I used to have an office in my conservatory - I ended up hating it. It was supposed to make having kids & working an easier option but that just didn't translate.
I think a big problem was that I didn't have to dress for work so I never felt very professional, even on the telephone.
I also couldn't stand knowing that there was all that work to do in the next room so I ended up never taking time off. I shouted at ds for making noise when I was talking to a client & was generally a grump. It had to end.

lucy123 · 01/03/2003 17:32

katierocket - we've lived in Spain for almost three years (6 months near the Sierra Nevada).

But I do miss the social aspect of a normal job - and being in a foreign country exacerbates that.

Luckily although I m a programmer, my job also involves talking to clients (sometimes for hours on end), and I have mumsnet! Think I should get out more.

Presumably in PR you have to have some contact with people? could be worse...

GillW - I think working exclusively from home beats getting up at 5 any day!

CAM · 02/03/2003 11:52

lucy 123 I'm being my usual nosy self here but I remember you said on another thread you moved to Spain from Brighton. Whereabouts did you live in Brighton?I lived there for nearly 10 years but left 7 years ago.

Scatterbrain · 03/03/2003 12:50

I'm working from home too - and although was expecting to love it I hate it with a vengeance !!

Really miss office life - sometimes don't need to speak to anyone for days as I have to do a lot of research and thinking (Management consultancy) before preparing reports !

Also waste a lot of time on Mumsnet and surfing in general ! Am now looking for a proper job - but not finding a lot out there !

whellid · 03/03/2003 13:51

I work from home too, and do 4 days a week. Unlike Scatterbrain I was expecting to hate it, but thought I'd give it a chance, and I really enjoy it. I spend a lot of time on the phone though, so don't miss the office chat too much. Also spend a lot of time surfing, but I justify that by thinking of all the time I would waste talking to people if I was in an office.
Motivation wise it took me a while to get going, but then it took me a while to build up work. Now I tend to work to deadlines so have no choice, and I resent having to work in the evenings so do as much as possible while ds is at his childminders.
When I get fed up I just try to think of the advantages, and as in my case they far outweight the disadvantages (even the thought of the hour long journey I used to do to and from work is enough) I feel better!
Also I hate housework, so would rather work!

elainew2003 · 13/03/2003 15:57

I'm hoping to work from home soon working for Phoenix Trading. I'm currently full-time and hate being away from my daughter all day so I am building up my card selling business on the side so I can jack in my job. Fingers crossed! [email protected]

Joe1 · 14/03/2003 09:03

Elainew2003 please let me know how you get on as I am trying to find a venture to do from home.

elainew2003 · 14/03/2003 09:15

Joe1 if you want a free info pack email me and I will be happy to send one, I am doing quite well have made back my outgoings in my first batch of sales and I am now in profit. [email protected]

grommit · 14/03/2003 10:29

I have been working from home for some time now and do actually enjoy it - beats getting up an an ungodly hr and battling with London traffic or British Rail! My hours are very flexible - the attitude of my comany is you work whatever hours you like as long as you get the work done. I find working from home useful as I can put the washing on, do the ironing/gardening/whatever during conference calls and can tailor my hrs around dd. I would recommend MSN messanger or any other chatware - this really keeps me sane as I can chat with colleagues/friends throughout the day. I also would recommend getting out for a walk each day just to clear your head - otheriwse you can feel a bit tied to the house! If you have difficulty with motivation then set yourself a working schedule -start time, coffee break, lunch hour etc. and lock yourself away from distractions. HTH

meTracyH · 01/05/2003 22:56

I love working from home. I have a successful business with Usborne Books at Home.

I am the opposite to an earlier poster, I work really hard at my business to avoid housework, shopping and ironing!!

If anyone would like some info about the opportunities with Usborne, drop me a line at [email protected]

In short - fab product, no sales or booking targets, work when and where you want, take the kids along too, discounted books for the children, great fun!!

Tracy

booklady · 09/05/2003 01:44

I also sell Usborne books. I've been doing this since January and I really enjoy it. If you want to know more take a peek at www.booklady.co.uk I find it's great as I fit most things in the morning as my eldest is at nursery and if I go to a M+T group I take the 1 year old with me. I've also found it easy to get bookings for this as the product is excellent and the contacts are all in place due to being a Mother

myopicmuppett · 03/06/2003 19:02

anyone wanting to work from home considered becoming a registered childminder? you have company for your own children plus having the flexibility to choose the hours/days that you want to work. The earning potential is great, and the job satisfaction fantastic! you are at home for your own children for potentially as long as they need you ... and whilst childminding you can study towards childcare qualifications such as the nvq in childcare which is a sought after qualification which will get you a job in a nursery or school when childminding is no longer for you. I worked as a childminder for 6 years, studied for my nvq 3 which is all done in your home by way of an assessor from the local college visiting you on regular occasions to watch you with your little charges, then upon completion of my nvq i studied for my assessing qualification, which means that now my own children are both at school i work hours to suit from home and earn double figures per hour, i make my own appointments which i fit in around school hours, child sickness and holidays, and generally have a perfect home work life balance ...

kevsbabe · 21/08/2003 10:56

Hi
Another Usborne book lady here, who also works part-time at a 'proper' job. I woudl love to hear from anyone in hte Windsor/Slough/Bracknell area who would like to hold a party, for themselves or their local nursery or school, there are some fantastic offers available to the schools. You can contact me on [email protected], for information or a booking. Look forward to hearing from all you avid readers!!
Oh and by the way it is great fun and not like work at all.

Batters · 21/08/2003 11:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Slink · 21/08/2003 21:37

Help i would love to work from home as it would be ideal forme and my dd can you all give me some info especially about how i get involved with Osbourne books. my god why have i not seen this before i am going md thats why please any advice will be grately appreiciated

love you all scatty slink xxxxxxxxxxx

Slink · 22/08/2003 21:08

anyone there have i scared you all off, please talk to me..................

Jenie · 22/08/2003 21:40

I do some childrens poems that I'm hoping to have published and I'm just looking into a craft project that could be lucrative.

The possibilities are endless, honestly.

There's bound to be something out there for you.

booklady · 25/08/2003 11:21

Hi Slink

If you want more information please email me at www.booklady.co.uk as commercial postings aren't allowed on here and I got into trouble last time

Original poster
katierocket · 25/08/2003 11:27

bit cheeky that booklady. we're watching you....

OP posts:
Batters · 25/08/2003 12:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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