Gone are the days when only fathers provided for their families. Both parents now share the load as more and more moms find means to earn. Some of them, seeking a balance between working and staying at home, look for a work-from-home job setup.
An anonymous mom asked about shifting careers in the Facebook group Smart Parenting Village. Currently, she works as a government nurse and earns Php60,000 a month. However, she is pregnant and has 5-year-old child, so she considers working from home so she could "take care of the children."
Parents share work-from-home challenges
In the comment section of her post, parents shared their experiences. Mommy Rudith Miranda said, “Sa dami ng nababasa ko, kung goal ng mga WFH ay maging hands-on mom, parang hindi rin talaga yun magagawa kasi magtatrabaho ka din naman, kakailanganin mo pa din ng katuwang.”
One mom shared that she has tried both working onsite and working-from-home, and said that the latter was more exhausting. “Ang dami kong pahinga pa pala nun [sa onsite], kesa nung full-time mom [ako]. Pahinga means, kahit mag-work ako ng mag-work, walang kumakalabit sa akin at nagpapakalong, no fights na need i-referee, and no many requests on the side. Concentrate ka lang sa ginagawa mo, walang distraction ba.”
Daddy Nick Fernandez, a work-from-home dad, also shared, "Like it or not, walang stability sa freelancer lifestyle. Clients can change their minds overnight; thus, your situation can change overnight as well."
Advantages of working from home
Despite the hardships that work-from-home parents shared, they said this work setup still has its fair share of advantages.
Mommy Angel Pagulayan shared that she and her husband used to work in a BPO company, but after her maternity leave, she resigned and chose to be a stay-at-home mom. When she tried working from home, she did different project-based and freelancing gigs. Although she didn't have health benefits, she said, "The good thing about freelancing is unlimited income. Sa project-based, kahit anong oras ka pwedeng mag-work, walang boss. Sa freelancing in general, nasa bahay ka. Hindi nakakapagod mag-commute or mag-drive pa work. Maraming time sa family.”
Daddy Nick, who has been in a WFH setup for more than two years now asked the anonymous mom to consider how she manages her time, "Nasa bahay ka, lahat ng temptation andiyan. Anak mo andiyan. So make sure you can manage your time well. I know freelancers who got fired dahil nahuling nakakatulog sa trabaho or may ginagawang iba. Some clients use time trackers, meaning they can see what you are doing real-time on your computer."
For him, the best part was that he could fulfill the role of a stay-at-home dad. "We saved a lot since we didn't need to hire a helper since our baby was born," he added.
Tools to help work-from-home parents
My husband and I also work from home. Cliche as it may sound, it's not easy, but it's worth it. We can pursue our dream jobs while working at home, running a business, and managing our household.
If you are an aspiring work-from-home parent or already are, it is more challenging than it looks. Working from home is double the hardships, but you can change your attitude toward your chosen lifestyle and embrace it as both a blessing and an opportunity to serve.
1. Planning Board Daily Planner Chore Checklist for Kids (Php 86)
One good thing about children with work-from-home parents is that they learn early independence. My 5-year-old preschooler knows she must play independently when her mama is working. We use a checklist, which she can finish during your working hours.
2. Grab & Go Learning Activity kits for 2-6 yrs old Kids (Php 149)
Keep your little ones busy with engaging activities such as this one from Grab and Go. They provide kits for learning that are sure fun to keep the little ones occupied while you're working.
3. Rapoo VH310 USB 7.1 Noise-Cancelling Headphones (Php 869)
When it's time for meetings, it's best to invest in heavy duty, noise-cancelling headphones. Rapoo brand is known for its quality.
4. Baby Wrap Carrier (Php 461)
Even if you have a baby, you can efficiently multitask by babywearing! Lots of working mothers have found that babywearing enhances their ability to balance work and home responsibilities seamlessly. Babies are more likely to behave and sleep when close to their mothers.
5. Stationery and desk accessories
Never underestimate the organizational skills of work-from-home parents. We have everything planned from budget to meals, task list to household calendar. Check out these stationery and desk accessories that may be helpful for you!
If you're always at your working table, have a tumbler filled with water to hydrate yourself. Water intake can help maximize performance and productivity. Get a quality insulated stainless steel tumbler from Aquaflask.
Clutter adds to stress, so if you want to stay focused on your work, keep your environment organized and clutter-free. Get this desktop rack storage organizer.
Time-blocking works for me as a working mompreneur. It helps me stay disciplined with how I use my time. I make sure that I also input break time, playtime, and exercise to avoid burnout. Having a flexible time from your job may help you improve your day-to-day schedule rather than simply writing a checklist (without knowing when to accomplish it).
Work-from-home has its rewards--no time travel, more time with family, flexibility, higher income, and more. It is rewarding only if you consciously try to change your lifestyle and habits. Read more work-from-home tips from Saab Magalona here.
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