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It has been so long since I’ve published anything new, and the truth is…life happened. I’ve experienced more work from home struggles in the past few months than ever before, and it prompted me to address this topic.
Work from home life is not always easy. It’s especially difficult if you have kids and/or a spouse who works from home. Who can relate?!
5 Work from Home Struggles You Probably Haven’t Experienced Yet
1. Constant Interruptions
From the time it took me to write the headline above to this paragraph, I have heard “Mom” about 6 different times from all 3 of my kids.
This is one of the biggest work from home struggles that I deal with on a daily basis.
Despite telling my children that when I have my laptop in front of me, I am working, and I’d appreciate no interruptions, I am still hearing things like,
“Did you know that Kim Kardashian is best friends with Addison Rae, a TikToker? She’s 20…that’s just strange because Kim is almost 50”.
Summertime is the most difficult because everyone is home, so it’s a real struggle.
2. You Become the Family Uber (with no pay or tips)
Thankfully my teenager will be getting her driver’s license in about 2 months, but until then, I am having to drive her everywhere.
I’m super proud of her. She started her first job at Subway, on the beach, at just 15 years old! While adults have been sitting on their butts collecting unemployment and claiming there are no jobs, my daughter, and many of her peers, have been working their butts off!
She is saving for a car, and I am so proud of her, but this means that for now, I have to drive her to and from work 5 days per week.
On her days off, she wants me to take her places (to the beach, to get pedicures, to get acai bowls, etc).
I am constantly having to explain to her that I am not on summer break. I have work to do, and I cannot take time away everyday to run her around town.
When she gets her license, she’ll be able to help out immensely with my other two, taking them for ice cream, but until then, I’m the family Uber.
3. Finding Quiet Space to Work Can Be Challenging
My husband started a new job working from home a few months ago, which is great! But working from home while he is conducting zoom meetings and making calls can be challenging.
I have to be quiet so that he can make his calls, and he has to be quiet so that I can film new content for my YouTube channel.
Sometimes, our work overlaps, and our kids throw a whole different wrench in the work schedule.
If you have a small house, this is especially challenging. I actually used to film my podcasts in the master bedroom closet because it was the quietest room in the house!
We just bought a new house, so getting settled here has been fun, but we’re still working on figuring out our ideal work from home setup.
4. Managing Your Time
Learning how to effectively manage your time can be a real struggle if you’re tempted to spend 3 hours at the gym or binge watch your favorite shows, like Manifest, on Netflix.
When I first started working from home, I was not disciplined enough to do the right activities at the right time.
- I slept as late as I could whenever I could (most days this meant 7 or 8am).
- I took lots of afternoon naps.
- I watched Netflix while I was supposed to be focused on work.
- I browsed my Facebook and Instagram feeds when I should have been promoting blog posts and/or YouTube videos online.
- I started other projects, like painting furniture, that took me away from my work.
It’s easy to get distracted by so many things, but you have to manage your time as if you’re being micromanaged by a boss.
Set a timer if you have to for the most important activities, and knock those out first thing in the morning. I highly recommend this book by Brian Tracy. He teaches you how to tackle the toughest tasks of the day first thing!
5. It’s Overrated
When people imagine the work from home lifestyle, they often think of the 4-hour workweek. They imagine getting a few hours in and being able to have freedom from the 9-5.
At least that’s what I imagined. Maybe I was naive, but I definitely expected it to be much more glamorous than it is.
As someone who has worked in retail banking, owned a real estate business, and is now a full-time entrepreneur, I can see clearly all perspectives.
Women who work full-time jobs often want more family time, more balance.
Women who stay at home and don’t work often feel that their identity IS their kids and family and nothing else. I’ve felt this in my soul.
Women who work from home, trying to balance it all, are realizing that sometimes, it would be nice to be able to escape to an office somewhere for a few hours.
The struggle is real.
That’s where I’m at right this moment — feeling like I’m not sure where I belong, but I’m longing for more.
It’s raw, and it’s not glamorous, but I’ve always vowed to share the sober truth, so here we are.
Do you experience some of the same work from home struggles?
Life is a collection of memories and experiences. There are ups and downs. I am so grateful for God’s grace and am on the journey to a renewed spirit, free of perfectionism. Perfection Hangover offers the sober truth – no filter.
Hi Melissa,
It was an amazing article! Since everyone is working from home these days, I am sure many people will be able to relate to this resource. I completely agree with all the points you made in the article, especially the one about constant interruptions. When I visited my parents for some time, they just kept on interrupting me throughout the day. Since I am living alone now, I don’t face this issue anymore, but there are some other challenges associated with working from home.
Melissa, I work on the oil platform but have a wish to quit this job to be able to work from home and spend more time with family. This looks for me a better choice, but at the same time I potentially understand all the struggles you described in your article. Thank you for sharing your experience.
Very comprehensive and informative! Thanks for sharing this helpful content! Regards