What no one tells you about working from home when you run an online business
Thinking of ditching that 9-5 and going full-time online? Maybe you already have and are just discovering all the pros and cons that come with it.
I’m a full-time Squarespace website designer and no stranger to the “work from home” life. Working for yourself is packed full of endless possibilities, but some things come with the territory that no one tells you about, and today I'm shedding a black light on the matter with some rational advice in tow.
If you wanna hear about the least broadcasted bits of the job, my friend, then read on.
New levels of procrastination
While it's incredible that you can sleep in, work without pants, and have a dance party with a cocktail at 2 pm all day every day, there is a point where all of this freedom leads to a loss of productive work.
You are now the only person holding yourself responsible, "And with great power comes great responsibility."
There is a bucketload of distractions at home, and it's up to you to set boundaries, schedules, and the kind of discipline it takes to run your mini-empire.
So while it might seem nice to have the tv running all-day long on reruns of Friends episodes, you need to ask yourself, "Is this moving the needle in my business? Or are Joey's one-liners leading me down a bunny trail of destruction?"
People question if you're actually working
I don't know why, honestly, this is so common, but if you're spending time at home, it's assumed that you are doing nothing or, even worse, cleaning, cooking, and taking care of domestic responsibilities.
Look, I don't drop by your office and expect you to have the laundry done. Just because I'm in closer proximity to a machine doesn't mean that I'm flawlessly multitasking. And while I reserve the right to do so if I plan it into my schedule (cause sometimes I do), you have no right to assume that's the case.
End rant.
Part of the territory means educating those around you and their false assumptions about your job.
An extra pound, or two, or ten
So you've got easy access to breakfast, lunch, and dinner, which is fantastic! It means saving money on meals out and the occasional coffee down the street. But it also means you have unlimited snacks at your fingertips.
With less structure and the anxiety that comes with running your own business, you may be tempted to cope with emotional or even procrastinatory eating. Combine that with the lack of steps you would have taken around the office, and you have a health disaster headed your way.
If you're working from home, I would advise you to eat your meals at the dinner table and keep your "office" away from the refrigerator.
Work-life balance: Yeah, right.
One of the great things about having your work at the office is that it's at the office. You have time at the end of the day to clock out, get in your car, and switch mental gears as you rock out to your favorite John Mayer song on the drive home.
Your job is done until you clock back in at 9 am the next morning.
But, with working from home, it just isn't so. The lines between work and home life are blurry, and it becomes increasingly difficult to stop checking emails, answering phone calls, and scrolling social media when you're solely responsible for the success of your business.
What this ultimately means? It would help if you had a ritual of some kind to switch gears at home. I completely put away my laptop, turn off my ringer and pour a glass of wine. Nothing says, "I'm done with work for the day," like that.
It's a lonely business
Working a typical 9-5 is not my idea of a fulfilled life. But it did come with some awesome perks—namely, coworkers.
You might be an introvert, like me, and think, "No way, I love not making small talk and being able to focus without all the distraction." But trust me when I say, after a month or two without work buddies, it can get pretty lonely.
It's not just small talk you're missing, but parties, lunch outings, and even the recognition and processing you have from sharing the same job with someone else.
If you haven't yet ditched your 9-5 and gone full-time at home, then line up those friendships. The transition will be so much smoother when you have a community to fall back on.
The Perks
Now, I know I went on and on about the cons that come with working for yourself. But don't let this scare you away-rather, let it inform you, because every beautiful thing has its ups and downs. And there are a lot of ups when it comes to running your own online business.
You can have complete lifestyle and financial freedom.
You can have exponential growth at your fingertips and answer to yourself as the CEO of your own company.
You can chase the dream that makes your heart tick and feel the fulfillment that only comes from being authentically you and serving people in a way that truly matters.
You can take that vacation, sleep until noon, or work at the beach sipping that grey goose martini if you so desire.
There really are endless opportunities that await. And I, for one, am willing to endure the lows in exchange for the amazing highs! What about you?
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