My Top Three Work at Home Challenges

I’ve been working from home since January 2006. You would think by now I wouldn’t find myself struggling with the same issues I encountered back in the beginning.

While I’ve gotten a lot better about things than in the past I do still have three main areas I find myself struggling with.

Work at Home Challenge #1 – ‘Business Hours’

The reason I put that in quotes is because one of the reasons I work from home is so I can work when I want and don’t have to abide by someone else’s business hours. However, to make things easier on my clients I did designate a specific set of hours that I work every day. The point of that was for the purpose of being available to clients for phone meetings, etc. But one of the benefits of working from home is just because I have business hours doesn’t mean I can’t take time off to head to the beach, out to lunch, etc. I have the flexibility to work whatever hours I choose to work on any given day.

I truly thought I was doing myself a favor when I set business hours I would work. It was honestly my attempt at conforming myself to what I saw some others doing and it worked for them (I’m learning that just because something works for others doesn’t mean it’s going to work for myself!)

I haven’t figured out how to overcome this challenge yet – but I will!

Work at Home Challenge #2 – Shutting Down for the Day

This ties right into work at home struggle #1. As I stated above, one of the reasons I work from home is so that I can work whenever I want. But on another note, one of the reasons I work from home is to be here for my son. As a single mom I find it even more important that I’m at home for him and available to him during the evenings especially during the school year when there’s homework to do, basketball games to attend, etc.

Because I don’t stick to those business hours I mentioned above, I find myself working when my son gets home from school and needs me. I find myself working at night when I should be hanging out with him vegging before it’s time for him to go to bed. Which obviously that arrangement defeats the whole being home for him! Sure I’m here but I’m distracted by work and not giving him my undivided attention.

This challenge is really important that I figure out a solution that best suits me so I can make myself 150% available for my son. Once I figure out the solution to this problem it will probably also make a solution to challenge #1 above.

Work at Home Challenge #3 – Saying No

I have definitely done a lot of growing in this department. Back in 2006 when I started my VA business the word no wasn’t even in my vocabulary. I was afraid to say no to work. I thought I had to take on every project that crossed my path because I couldn’t afford not to take them. Thankfully I eventually learned I couldn’t afford to NOT say no!

While I’m at a place now in my business where I don’t have the option of saying yes to every project that presents itself to me (because I’m busy with regular client work) there are times I will find myself not saying no and that ends up leaving me feeling overwhelmed, stressed, working non-stop and not enjoying owning my own business – not exactly a good place to be at and a place that I shouldn’t allow myself to be. I’ve actually accepted a job before only to have to go back and tell them sorry for the inconvenience but I’m not going to be able to help you but here are the names of some other VA’s that may be able to assist you.

Unlike the first two challenges I mentioned, I’ve pretty much got this one figured out and am learning to handle it better and better! Knowing my limits and what triggers stress for me makes overcoming this challenge a bit easier.

Just because these are the three work at home challenges I face doesn’t mean that’s what you struggle with. We’re all at different places in our business which means they’re probably are different things we all face.

I’d love to hear your comments – please tell me what you struggle with most!