Is This Your Biggest Work-At-Home Trap? (Gentle Reminder For WAHMs Like Me)

I have been a WAHM for 10 years now. I started in data entry, moved onto mystery shopping, and ended in Virtual Assistance. I chose to become a WAHM when my second child was born. I knew that working in a brick-and-mortar business would not be worthwhile. All of my income would go for childcare.

My first two gigs as a WAHM were very part time. I did not get to dive in and do it all the time. The data entry and mystery shopping gigs were limited by availability of work. I could only get so many assignments. In retrospect, that was a good thing.

Though mystery shopping was fun, it did not provide a great amount of income. I began searching for work as a Virtual Assistant. I found Guru.com. Back then it was called E-moonlighter.com. I put up my resume and information. Within a few weeks, I was interviewed for a customer service position for a gentleman running an eCommerce business for Freemasons. He hired me on the spot.

This part-time customer service position quickly turned into a full-time VA/Business Management position. It did not take long for me to fall into the biggest work-at-home trap there is. I began working all the time. I was on my computer checking emails, order processes, and all the other things that position required. Taking time for family and fun was the hardest thing to do. Taking time for me was even harder.

I left that job four years later when I became completely burned out. I took a break and became an SAHM again. After a short time, life presented some challenges that caused me to go back to my former WAHM status. I learned transcription first and eventually returned to my Virtual Assistant career.

Once again I began to fall into that age-old trap of working all the time. Unplugging was something I had a hard time with. I love what I do. We all do. However, it became obvious to me early on that I was doing it. I had indeed learned my lesson.

I now make sure I unplug during certain parts of the day and as much as possible on weekends. I only check email, Twitter, and Facebook a few times a day on Saturdays and Sundays for a very short time. It keeps me from getting way behind but does not allow me the opportunity to fall into the workaholic trap.

You can avoid this trap by hiring a Virtual Assistant to do a lot of the daily things you do not need to do. You can also set intentions for taking time to unplug and do anything other than work. Commit to spending more time with your family and yourself by scheduling it on your calendar. Do not allow yourself to fall into the trap and leave family and fun behind. Working from home should free your time to enjoy life not consume it.