Sometimes they do not go hand in hand…
I am doing it today, and it just has to happen for those of us that are balancing work and home and families and Lord knows what else!
I am not sure about you, but sometimes, I forget that I am actually supposed to be WORKING at home. I love my job more then you can imagine and I consider myself incredibly fortunate to be able to do what I do, and have the flexibility to spend time with my girls, pick them up from school, go to events and even get a pedicure mid-day if i feel like it. 🙂
However, there is still the house and I occasionally have to remind myself that the housework will always be there waiting for me it’s not going anywhere. However my clients and potential paycheck will leave if I am not attentive and making sure that everyone is taken care of and things are running smoothly. So as I have always said (you are probably tired of hearing it by now) it is important to schedule your work hours. To go a step further, if you have the ability, even if its not every day, you may need to force yourself to work by removing yourself from distractions…as I have today.
I had a meeting in the morning, and now I am sitting at one of the nation’s favorite coffee shops along with about 15 other people and their laptops getting work done. (and drinking my fav indulgence..iced caramel macchiato of course) I am NOT running a load of laundry, getting distracted by daytime TV, prepping dinner, picking up toys, doing dishes.
I made the decision that my work and home life will benefit greatly if I spend my only two days a week that I have without small children needing another juice box or wanting to play fairy dinosaurs, (I know really get it either but I do know that I have very well rounded little girls) and I am removing myself from distractions and sitting here to get work done. ONLY work! And I am going to make sure I am focused on my to do list.
I promise you….my house looks like it imploded on itself at the moment, I have photographic evidence of the four loads of laundry that need to be folded. I ignored it, I walked in, grabbed my computer and walked back out. I know it will be there waiting for me when I get home, and I know that when I get home i will have completed most if not all of my work for today and be able to tackle that laundry pile, make dinner and play with my kids with out any distractions.
That is the key, wherever you are spending your time make sure you are doing it in the most effective way. The more you do this you will find the less time you will actually be spending working and the more work you will get done…isn’t that a great idea?
Your home life, your family and friends will appreciate that when you are with them you are spending time with them, and listening to them; not checking your phone, answering an email, texting a client etc.. Everyone wins 🙂
Ashley Nialetz
Ashley Nialetz is a Social Media Consultant and Virtual Assistant through her company www.FatPugTech.com and recently www.Shuteit.com. She is also a wife, mom of two, caffeine addict, customer service pro and superhero by night. She loves working with other women looking to start their own businesses and offers private mentoring programs. Prior to working in the in the virtual assistant world, she had 10+ years of experience in customer service and administrative management roles.
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