The big question of the last few years is should moms work from home? I don’t believe it is just moms, but everyone can ask themselves this question. I want to really focus on moms for this scenario because we tend to balance it all. I am a mom, and this is something I ask myself a lot, especially in the morning hours when I am packing everyone up for the long day ahead.
Pros if Moms work from Home
If moms had the ability to work from home, I believe it would significantly improve our stress levels. There could be less running around, less worrying about office wear and much more! I like the ability to log into my office space whenever and wherever I can.
I am a project person, and I like to measure my work by how many projects I have lined up for the week and how many I will knock out. A long to do list that I am always crossing off. I have this to do list for the office, as well as for home. If I had the ability to do both at once my household would run smoother.
I would like the ability to take five minutes throughout the day to flip the laundry or throw something in the crockpot. At the moment I come home after a long day and try to fit all the little chores into the evening hours, while balancing the kids and their to dos.
Remote work provides the means of comfort, sitting in a cubicle at the office isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes I just want to stay in sweatpants and lounge on the couch. I can be just as productive there as I can from kitchen table. Here is the guide on how to stay on track when working remotely.
Cons if Moms work from Home
I mentioned many pros that can sometimes be our demise. We could get very distracted because we are working remotely. If we keep on track and focused, the balance would be perfect. I know if I was home all day, my vision may wander, and I may be looking around at all the chores in the house that I feel need to be done over work.
Remote work may not work for the extrovert who wants to chat with their coworker and need the human interactions. I do enjoy the small talk I have in my office. It is nice getting to know other people and being right there if anyone does need help. I am a people person and I do prefer talking face to face rather than always having to get on a phone call.
Covid gave us all the experience of remote work and being stuck at home. Some of us thrived during it and some of us suffered. Sometimes we need to get out and do new things every day or at minimum once a week.
But sometimes working from home can make us lazy. We are more likely to order take out or get everything delivered to our front door. When instead it doesn’t cost us anything to do these things ourselves and actually save ourselves money. Instead, we get fond of our home and the homeyness it brings, and we can’t bear to leave it.
My Own Experience
I only got to experience working from home once. I was put on bedrest last year due to complications with my pregnancy and had to work from home for four months. At first, I was completely like ugh… I was stuck in my walls and not able to do anything. In my situation I wasn’t allowed to do much due to the limitations of my high-risk pregnancy.
I slowly adapted and started to enjoy it. I was able to knock out a lot of my projects by early afternoon and actually get ahead of my workload. This is something I was never able to accomplish from the office. Instead, I would be constantly interrupted and just trying to hide to get things done.
My stress level was at a minimum during this time period. Being at home, I was able to get things done while also working. I was able to keep up with the everyday chores and not fall behind. I was also able to be available if someone needed me home or at an event. My flexibility options were endless.
There are too many times that I can’t predict when I will be home or when it is late than it prevents me from being the best mom while I am home.
My Future Goal to Work from Home
I want to go back to remote work. A hybrid schedule would be idea for mel because I am a social person, but my family would prefer me to be fully remote.
I want to feel like I can get everything done that our household requires during the week, while feeling like I am contributing to the financial part of the household. Either way I have to work because inflation has prevented our family the ability to live on just a one-person income, we could never pull it off.
I have two options for working from home. Growth in my career, is my main focus. I want to feel the challenge and that I am reaching for the next position. I need a company that promotes this while working remotely. A position that I can always keep learning with and developing new skills.
I am still searching for this perfect company, but I do know it is not with the company I am with now. There will be a change in my future, I am just waiting for the new one to come around.
My perfect option would be to create my own business opportunity. Something I can be proud of and call my own. I would love to put my own touch on something and see it grow. This blog for example has been through so much growth. It was really simple in the beginning, and I have also gone through phrases of being on and off. One thing this blog does provide me is growth and learning.
The online world is ever changing and developing, and I love reading about it. With this self-learning, my blog can only grow in a positive way. I have seen it change and it gives me hope that I could monetize this and make it my full-time opportunity.
Should this be an option at every company?
Why shouldn’t every company have the option of remote work? The world is changing, and this is a chance to bring development to every company and growth with lower costs. Remote helps to retain employees as well as keep them happy in the work environment or the option to work how they please.
Every company uses a data base of some type, which is on a computer, so I believe remote work is necessary to everyone. I currently work for a non-profit that is very hands on and in person. I am technically not allowed to have remote workdays unless a family issue arises, but we can access everything from home.
When I do work from home a.) I get so much more done and b.) I know this can be an option because yes, we can do everything at home that we can do in person. One remote day a week would be a great compromise and I could be a happier employee if this was an option.
Closing Thoughts
As a mom what do you prefer? What are your struggles with work life balance? Is there a perfect answer to this question? I would love to know your thoughts and what your future plans to work could be.
I like to get to know other moms in my dilemma and what their career paths have been like. Sometimes just connecting with others can open up our thoughts and ideas to new ideas and opportunities. We may never have known these exited or what else is out there without talking to one another.
