How to Weigh The Pros and Cons Of Working From Home: It's Not All Bunny Slippers and Bon-Bons

We have all seen the picture showing the perfectly groomed mom working diligently from her spotless desk while the happy child plays quietly on her lap. Those who actually work from home loathe that picture. Why? Because working from home is anything but picture perfect and easy; it takes a lot of discipline and sacrifice.

That is not is not to say that a mom cannot successfully blend work and family from the comforts of home, because it can be done. However, before you buy into the hype of leisurely eating bon-bons and wearing bunny slippers all day, it is important to know what you are getting yourself in to. Below is a small list of the pros and cons of working from home.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Weigh The Pros Of Working From Home
   
   No commute to work: To most people, this means saving money on gas and car maintenance.
   
   Flexibility: People can plan their work around their extracurricular activities, such as household chores, their child's school schedule, or shopping.
   
   No dress code: Since, for the most part, professional attire is not a requirement, most people save money on clothes.
   
   Tax write-offs: People working from home are able to write off their home-office and business expenses on their taxes.

2. Weigh The Cons Of Working From Home
   
   Office space and equipment expenses: For those just starting out, purchasing new equipment can be a major expense.
   
   Distractions: A person must exercise self-discipline to work during the times when there are other important things to do.
   
   Lack of social interaction: Being isolated to one’s home for many hours per day can leave a person craving socialization. The key is to get creative about how to get away from the office, or even the family, for much needed social time.
   
   The end of a set paycheck: Many people who work from home are independent contractors who accept work on a project-to-project basis. This means that some weeks or months may have a lighter cash flow than others.

3. Now that you have weighed the pros and cons of working from home, it should be clear to you whether or not you can successfully work from home.
   
   If it is clear that working from home is not for you, do not feel like you have failed. Different work environments work for different situations, so it is up to you to decide what is best for you and your family.

Tips & Warnings

• Successfully working from home requires a great deal of self-discipline, dedication and energy. However, for those ready to take on the challenge, the rewards are worth the sacrifice.

[writeitout]

on 1/7/2009 great article, thanks!

[BodyLogique]

on 11/18/2008 Very True! I like the "Bunny Slippers and Bon Bons" reference. Great article, Thank you.

[wlrahilly]

on 11/7/2008 Wow! This article is so true. People that work outside the home think that us stay at home mom's (or dad's) have it so easy and that is far from the truth. I think it is much harder to work from home (with children) than it is to go out and work. Thanks for the great share!

[leanan]

on 10/25/2008 This is an awesome article, very informative for all those starting out :)

[2besure]

on 10/16/2008 Great article on the reality of working from home.