Searching and finding online job opportunities take time and patience. The rewards are wonderful including being able to stay at home, flexibility, saving money as well as not having to commute or dress in suits or uniforms.
An important step in maintaining work from home job opportunities is creating an effective support system. Support systems offer strength to the individual when it is needed. Support gives you something to hold on to when things are not going your way. Support helps you to hold your head up high, when things are hard-hitting.
Do you have a support system?
First of all, evaluate if you really have a sufficient support system at home or near by. Here are some questions to consider while evaluating your available support:
Is your husband or family supportive of you working from home?
Are there conflicts that are resulting from your new decision?
Do your friends support you in your new endeavor?
Do you have a few people that you can talk to and confide in that will actively listen and provide encouraging feedback?
Are you familiar with valuable resources that can help you along the way?
Having a support system can make things easier for you. When you have questions or just need to talk, having someone you can trust and confide in will make a huge difference. If you have a support system, that is wonderful! Everyone needs one in their life!
How can I create a support system?
If you don’t have a support system, it is highly recommended to start working on creating one. Talk to your family and friends about your decision to work from home. Explain some of the benefits that you have learned about. Get feedback from them to see how supportive they will be in your new journey. Make notes of those who were most receptive. If you know of someone who has actually worked from home, communicate with them to gain needed support.
What if my partner is not much of a support?
Some husbands/partners will give raving support to the mom staying home and working. They will stand behind them fully. This is great and supports the mom in all her endeavors.
Some husbands will strongly encourage you not to work from home. Generally, this happens when they do not have a full understanding of the process as well as the benefits involved. Each family situation is unique and should be handled carefully. If communications are good between you and your husband, find a good time that is free from distractions to talk. If possible, find out his reasons behind his desires for you to not work from home. This can improve the quality of your relationship overall, if you are able to effectively communicate.
Other husbands will not seem to care but not really offer any means of support to the decision of working from home. This can be positive as well as negative depending on the situation. Some men just do not really care, others do not speak that they care. If possible, discuss the opportunity further to ensure no problems will result from your new journey.
What if I do not have family or friends that I can confide in and gain support from?
There are other means of support available that can provide personal support needs. Finding individuals who share the same experience is a plus. Local as well as online support groups are available. TheRealWorkFromHomeMom also has an available Members Only Facebook Group to help with support needs.
Continue to search for new information supporting your decision to work from home. Create a list of benefits that you personally will gain from taking this journey. Make personal goals based upon your personal needs. Also create a list of steps that will be needed to get to where you would like to be, for instance:
Spend time weekly to improve communication skills (email etiquette, phone skills)
Take an hour each week to gain new skills
Spend two hours each week applying to new opportunities
Searching and discovering virtual job openings take time and endurance. The rewards are wonderful especially with a support system in place. Determine, today, to evaluate your personal support system. Take some time to talk to your spouse or close friend about your new journey.
