Working from home is not as easy as it sounds. These 7 questions will help work-from-home moms in India get their schedule and priorities in order.
Working from home may sound like the dream we all aspire to, but there’s a little more to the life of a work from home mom than that.
Whilst no commuting, and more time with your family are definite plus points, there’s plenty of other things you need to consider as a work-from-home mom.
7 Questions Every Work-From-Home Mom Needs To Ask Herself
Working from home is not as easy as it sounds. These 7 questions will help work from home for moms in India to get their schedule and priorities in order.
1. Will I be taxed differently?
Your tax can change depending on where you work. For example, if you are an Indian citizen and you work for a company operating abroad, the income you earn will be automatically converted to INR. Rule 115 of the Income Tax Rules apply here.
Moreover, you should ensure that declare your income in Schedule FSI. Even though all these might seem difficult, take the time to get it right.
If you turn your back on your new lifestyle before you even get started, then you’ll never know if it’s for you. Speak to an accountant, and you’ll have a much better idea of what you’re dealing with.
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2. Can I find a workspace that I can call my own?
Whether you work for an online business, or you make crafts to sell from your home office, you need your own space. Of course, the specifics of your space will be determined by the nature of your work. That’s a given, but the key point is that it needs to be yours, and no one else’s.
It may be tempting to try and work on the couch in front of the TV, but you won’t get all that much done. Because there’s no one pushing you or watching over you, you’re the one that needs to push things forward.
Find a room in your home that’s away from the hustle-bustle, shut the door, and get down to some serious work. You can also check some forums where you will find Indian freelancers with whom you can rent a working place, away from distractions.
“The very act of closing the door and sitting at your desk will enable you to be more productive. It will focus your mind on what you need to do so that you can power through the task at hand,” says Karen Yates, Remote Editor at Trust My Paper.
3. Can I maintain my motivation levels when no one is pushing me?
If you’re struggling with the idea of staying motivated at home then take the time to think about what you want out of life.
Do you want the freedom to work at home so that you can spend more time with your family? Or do you just want to avoid going to the office at all costs and work as many hours as it takes to keep that lifestyle?
See the difference? The first one is aspirational and allows you to see what you will get at the end of the tunnel.
Whereas the second one puts you in a mindset where all you will do is work in your home office. It will allow you to waste time and work slowly all day — and that’s where a lack of motivation will quickly creep in.
Set yourself daily goals so that you have something to focus on. In the absence of a boss looking over your shoulder, these goals are what will keep you working hard every single day.
On sites like Truelancer, Touchtalent or FreelanceIndia you will find plenty of Indian freelance women who are open to collaboration and discussions.
These work-from-home motivation tips and methods to improve productivity will show you some remote work best practices for working from home.
Looking for remote jobs, WFH jobs or work-from-home business ideas without investment? Learn how SHEROES helps women achieve financial independence from home.
4. Can I deal with all the inevitable distractions?
A lot of people see work as one big long distraction. You have colleagues asking you for help, meetings, and plenty of office politics.
You may think that you can get so much more done at home as you’ll be free of distractions. Unfortunately, it isn’t always like that.
The key thing to understand about working at home is that you’ll become distracted by things in life you care about even more. Your partner, the kids, TV, your new mountain bike, an extra couple of hours in bed.
No matter what it is that you love in life, it will be there as a constant distraction when you work at home. Closing the door to your home office and working some set core hours is the best way to focus the mind.
Do that, and you’ll be well on your way to making your new way of working a success. Furthermore, you should also let your family and friends know about your schedule and ask them to respect your working hours.
If you have a work-at-home business, you can learn how to increase focus on your business and how to stay focused as an entrepreneur even when starting and growing a business in challenging times.
5. Can I separate my work life from my home life?
The art of achieving balance is all about keeping your work life and home life distinct. If you find that you’re answering emails over dinner and writing reports in front of the TV, then you haven’t struck the right balance.
The problem with a work from home mom’s daily schedule is that leads to burnout as you’ll never have the closure that comes from leaving the office on a Friday evening.
Keep your laptop in the home office when you’re not working on it. Make the time to have at least a whole day off each weekend, just like you would if you worked at a traditional office.
When you want to find the right balance, it can be harder than you think, but it’s what will make your life all the more enjoyable.
It may not be easy but start with some core hours, close the home office door, and then when you’re done give your family your undivided attention.
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6. Can I work on my tech skills so I can stay relevant?
Tech skills are essential for any remote worker. Even though there is this misconception that women are not so tech-savvy, you’ll need to stay connected with colleagues, clients, and customers.
Therefore, you should put all your ambition to learn how to master tools like Skype and Slack. If you can do that, then you’ll be able to quickly and efficiently get in touch with anyone that you need to.
7. Will I need daycare when the school holidays roll around?
The final thing to say is that, unless you live with elders who can help out, you might need daycare for the school holidays. Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean that you can give your children your attention during work hours.
They will be the ultimate distraction, and the downside of this is that you will have far less time with them in the evenings and on weekends. Treat your work hours just as you would if you worked in an office, and book someone in to look after the kids.
Even though it is difficult to be a mother, you can work in a separate room and still take care of your children. This is the way to achieve the work-life integration that home working is all about.
The secret of working at home is treating your work like any other job. Your location doesn’t change the fact that you need to get through the same workload.
The way to do this is by working through the above tips so that you can create a work from home mom schedule that properly separates your work and home lives.
Practising self-care for women is absolutely essential. Taking care of yourself while caring for others will help you look after yourself and your family better.
This 21-step daily self-care checklist will help you work at home productively without compromising your health and well-being.
About the author:
Marie Fincher is a content writer at Trust My Paper company and an enthusiastic blogger interested in writing about technology, social media, work, travel, lifestyle, and current affairs. She shares her insights through blogging.
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