Whether you've just had a baby and don't want to leave your precious bundle of joy or you've been commuting hours a day for years, many people fantasize about working from home. Let's face it, commuting from your bedroom to your dining room via the fresh pot of coffee in the kitchen sounds like heaven.
The decision to work from home is a big one and there are several things to consider before you hand in your resignation letter:
1. Why do you want to work from home and does it make sense?
* Commute Time and Cost: Do you currently have a two-minute or two-hour commute. In addition to the time spent commuting, how much does it cost? Monthly commuter tickets can be expensive, not to mention the wear and tear it puts on your car if you drive to work. Last check, gas prices were still climbing.
* Job productivity: Do you find that countless administrative meetings are taking you away from getting things accomplished? Will you be more productive working from home?
* Physical Wear and Tear: If you are one of the unlucky ones and have a long commute, how do you feel by Wednesday or Thursday morning? Is your energy level the same as it was on Monday, or do you spend the rest of your time counting the hours until Friday at 5:00?
* Family: Who spends more time with your kids, you or your day care provider?
* Creativity: Do your creative juices flow better when you're in your cubicle dressed in business attire or do you find that sitting on your back porch in your jammies with your laptop creates a stream of creativity that is hard to stop.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. There are other topics to consider like:
1. Am I cut out for the work from home lifestyle?
2. How will it affect family dynamics?
3. How much money do I need to make?
4. What type of business should I do?
5. I've decided on my business what do I do now?
6. Alternatives to Working From Home
7. Where can I get more advice?
To explore this topic in detail, read my eight-part series on Working From Home (http://www.tidbitsandstuff.com/articles/family/home101.shtml).
Felicia Williams is a Freelance Writer and owner of the family-oriented website http://www.tidbitsandstuff.com.
