A Hard Day For Successful Work From Home Mama

Saleswoman working from home with laptop

Welcome to a hard day in the life of a successful work from home mama.

A day in the life of anyone is hard to explain. In working from home, every day is different.

Calling myself successful is hard to do. You have no idea how hard that is to accept for myself. What do I think determines my success? My constant growth in my work-from-home income, my consistent business growth and plans, not to mention amazing business partners and the drive to succeed.

Motivation is something that I use to my advantage but on some days, today being one of them, my motivation is severely lacking.

Wanna know what my day looked like? Why I’m sitting on the couch, watching Dawson’s Creek episodes on Netflix and trying my best not to overeat sugar free candy that will definitely send me to the bathroom in a little bit. I’m exhausted.

Today…

Where do I start with my hard day?

I have six kids and they’re amazing. I love them so much, and it hurts. They’re my motivation to get up early and work all day, stay up late and try to gather some alone time so that I can do it all again tomorrow. And the next day.

Normally, I LOVE working from home. I do. It’s one of those things I’m grateful for every moment of every day.

In fact, even when I’m tired and frustrated, it’s still the only thing I want to do. I love sitting on my couch or in my office and listening to my kids or seeing them as I finish the tasks on my list.

What Made Today Different?

I got up today and I had to rush around the house getting ready for the day and to get breakfast going. Because I work from home, I had the opportunity to attend a political discussion gathering this morning which is why I ran all over the place to get to where I needed to be.

Using the opportunity of leaving the house to my advantage, I dropped my third child off at his friend’s and did the meeting, then went back home.

I then had to finish editing a book while my husband went to deliver some meals to less fortunate families in our neighborhood.

Editing is hard to do with four of my five sons running around the house and the backyard and the garage with BB guns and the call to shoot the icicles hanging off the trees like they were rampant zombies waiting to be downed.

Oh, that’s not all. I had to feed them! Apparently, we need to feed them at least three times a day. Whoduthunk? Obviously, I’m just kidding, but I did have to feed them and then help clean up some cuts and bruises. One of the kids thought it would be funny to give the cats a bath – yep, plural – which actually put them in the water. Then I had to help clean that up.

You mean, there’s more to the hard day?

Oh, wait, then I had to take the food out of the freeze dryer and package that and get the next load ready to go in. And then a client got a hold of me with questions I had to answer and they weren’t short answers.

Then, my husband decided to surprise me with a date night. Yay! But that meant I had to get the book edited before we could leave which was an hour from when he told me. And I’d have to shuffle all my work to after we got back and the kids to bed.

What’s next? Well, the kids went to bed at 8 PM. Thank goodness. Their constant energy is exhausting but so refreshing, too. It’s a conundrum.

Then my husband turned on the TV and I started on my work.

Here’s my to-do list for tonight (After I got my book edited)

Format book
And Format paperback
Also Format paperback cover
Upload to retailer
Upload to Bookfunnel for Review Crew
Mail out to Review Crew
Newsletter for client #7
Newsletter for client #12
Preorder set up for blog book
Take some ebooks onto wide retailers (which involves more than just uploading)
An article for Working At Home Mom
Client #32 Business Audit
A prospective client website proposal
Automation funnel for client #13
Check 3 posts for another blog
Work on Outline for next book
Send newsletter test to another prospective client
Notes input for co-author project
Update accounting practices for a financial client

Nothing is going to make me add a number 20. I just can’t.

I turned on Dawson’s Creek and I’m staring at the computer because I’m just run ragged already. But you know what? I have the list and it’s literally just a checklist and get it done kind of thing.

And you know what? Even with this crazy day that really, when I look back on it, wasn’t that crazy. I’m just tired. It was still a great day to be grateful for. I was here to help with my #6 kid’s cuts and when he fell. I was able to be here with the kids when they needed someone to referee their fight on the backporch, and the front porch, and the living room. Oh, my word. Everywhere.

What are the best things about working from home?

There are so many great things about working from home. Here’s my top five!

Being here for my children and my husband.
Wearing whatever I want.
Not needing to drive anywhere.
Eat my food at home.
Save money in a lot of ways.

What are the worst things about working from home?

I really struggled to find this list. I’m going to go with five to keep things symmetrical, but it really is harder than doing half my to-do list.

I can’t ever escape work.
Computer time is always work. It’s never just fun anymore.
Always thinking of ways to come up with more money. I even look at my kids’ bug hunting escapades as a possible way to make money. I have a problem.
I’m always home and people think that means that I’m not busy. This means a lot of people drop by out of the blue and don’t respect my time. It makes it hard to get stuff done unless I set boundaries.
Eat my own food. I’m a good cook and I like to eat. This does not make keeping the weight off easy.

Adjusting to working from home

The best thing to do when you’re put into the position of working from home, whether it’s by choice or by pandemic, is to get adjusted as quickly as possible. A day in the life of a work at home mom is every changing and adapting to change is the best trait to have.

Here are some great tips to get yourself adjusted to the new environment and expectations you’re going to have.

Set yourself a consistent workspace.
Limit distractions.
Pick your most productive times.
Dress comfortably, but take yourself seriously. Sweats are fine, but not if they’re stained and gross for days on end.
Let household chores sit until it’s time to do them.

You’ll survive your days at home with more success, if you approach your productivity with seriousness.

So while I feel like I wasn’t able to get anything done, yet, I get to choose the hours and when I get my work done. Since I’m taking a minute to appreciate the chance I have to work from home, I just found my motivation to dive back in and get this list done. Tired or not.

Let’s see if I can get this four hours of work done in two!

What’s your day look like?