Lesser Known Challenges to Working From Home By Leslie Truex Updated September 26, 2016 There’s no doubt that starting a h...
Lesser Known Challenges to Working From Home
By Leslie
Truex
Updated
September 26, 2016
There’s
no doubt that starting a home business has many perks. You get to be
your own boss. You can work how and when you want. You set your own
fees, essentially earning what you’re worth. But there are a few
drawbacks that many home-based entrepreneurs forget to mention.
1. You’ll get less respect or be asked when you’re going to get a “real” job.
Although
this is a little less than it was 10 years ago, for some reason,
many people don’t view home businesses as legitimate career
choices. Instead, it’s something people do on the side to make a
few extra bucks, or until a real job comes along.
2. People will think you have all the time in the world to do them a favor.
Because
you work from home, you must have time to let the cable guy in for
your neighbor, pick up your sister’s kids at school, and have
lunch with your mother. To avoid becoming the go-to on-call helper,
have set work hours and be a stickler to others about respecting
them.
3. You’ll use more mental energy than at a job.
While
jobs do require mental energy, owning a business, in which you’re
in charge of every aspect, and your success is dependent on how well
you manage it, means you think a lot about your business. Even when
you’re not working, you’re thinking about it.
4. Work isn’t always fun.
Even
if you start a business doing something you love, there are aspects
that aren’t fun. Some of these tedious jobs can be outsourced
to a virtual assistant,
but even then, you’ll have days where you don’t like your
business.
5. Work is rarely ever done.
Calendars,
schedules, routines, and to-do
lists will
help you stay on top of tasks, but you’ll probably never come to
the end of your list.
6. You’ll sit more.
Because
you don’t have to get up, get dressed, and commute to a job,
you’ll move less. Unless your home business is in landscaping or
fitness training, you’ll likely spend a great deal of time at your
computer. This can lead to weight gain and related health issues. In
fact, health experts indicate that sedentary workers don’t need to
exercise more, they just need to sit less. So get up more often.
7. Work and life lines blur.
Having
your career in your home means it’s easy to work when you’re
off, and be off when you’re supposed to work. While flexibility
can be an advantage of running a home business, if you’re not
consciously making decisions about work and off time, you can begin
to feel overwhelmed and scattered. This is where time
management can
make a big difference in the quality of your work and personal life.
8. It’s lonely.
The
quiet and solitude of a home business are nice for being focused and
productive, but it’s lonely too. There’s no water cooler for
gossip or feedback from a colleague. Social media and online groups
can help with this, but it’s important to make an effort to
connect with people in real life. This can be done through live
networking events, co-working facilities, or MeetUp groups.
9. It gets harder to go back to a traditional work situation.
Once
you get used to having your own schedule and working without a boss,
it gets difficult to want to go back to that situation.
10. You’ll work too much (or maybe not enough)
Especially
in the beginning, home businesses take a great deal of time to get
up and running. You may not have a day off for weeks or months. This
can cause problems
with your family.
Or, it’s possible you’ll not work enough. A home business is
flexible, but not so flexible that you can make a living during your
child’s nap times or working only an hour a day.
11. Some days you may not get dressed.
Working
in your p.j.s is a perk of having a home business. But spending the
entire day in your jammies will make you feel frumpy. Many experts
suggest getting up for your home business just as you would for your
job; shower and get dressed.
12. You’ll be home all the time.
Living
and working under the same roof can get tedious. On the days you
don’t get dressed, also means you don't leave the house.
Fortunately, many home businesses can be run from other
locations and
since many public spots have free wi-fi, you can take your work on
the road for a change of scenery.
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