What Is the Gig Economy?

The term “gig economy” refers to a market where a substantial number of workers earn their income as independent contractors instead of having traditional salaried positions with the companies for which they provide services.

There are many advantages to working as a contractor, such as flexibility, the ability to work from anywhere, and the freedom to choose your own contracts.

On the flip side, there are several notable drawbacks to consider. The most significant challenge is the difficulty of securing contract work, particularly in a crowded and competitive market.

New contractors often get lost in the myriad of opportunities. 

There are countless articles highlighting the story of a twenty-something who is earning $42,000 a month from a side gig that only cost $1 to start. The authors of these articles usually go on telling you how they can teach you to build your own online empire at the low price of $59.99.  

While “get rich quick” schemes have existed long before the internet, the allure of quick success can be hard to resist. It’s easy to get caught up in these enticing tales that promise financial freedom overnight.

How to Bring In Income as a Stay at Home Mom

As a stay-at-home mom striving to supplement your household income, you may find it challenging to sift through the vast array of online income opportunities. With so much information—and misinformation—available, distinguishing legitimate chances to earn from the countless schemes can feel like an overwhelming task.

So, how can you effectively navigate in the chaos of virtual side hustle nonsense and find genuine income opportunities that truly fit your skills and lifestyle? Here’s how.  

A 5-Step Guide to Finding the Perfect Side Gig

1. Complete a Self Assessment
2. Identify Your Transferable Skills
3. Do Your Research
4. Connect and Reach Out to People Who Can Help You Gain Experience and Obtain Contracts
5. Do a Reality Check

1. Complete a Self Assessment

Reflect on why you need a side gig.

Being a wsahm is not always easy (here’s more on being a working stay at home mom). So, if you are going to embark on the journey of working while also being a full-time mom, it’s important to know why you are doing it in the first place. 

Ask yourself why you need to find an additional source of income.  It might seem like an obvious question, but taking the time to reflect on it can reveal insights you hadn’t considered before.

While you are working on your self-assessment, remember to: 

Be Honest (Determine Your True Values, Needs, and Wants)

It’s easy to lie to ourselves or downplay our feelings. Instead of being honest, we often create elaborate scenarios that don’t reflect the true reasons behind our actions.

Why do we do this?

It’s hard to explain in just one sentence, but typically, it stems from not knowing how to let our true, authentic selves shine through.

I plan to write a post about the authentic self soon. For now, I can say that embracing your authentic self means relying on your core values and needs when making decisions. It means owning those decisions, even in the face of external pressures and expectations. 

So, when considering whether a side gig is right for you, be honest with yourself.

Are you looking to occupy your mind with something other than baby wipes? Many stay at home moms miss the intellectual stimulation that work can offer. If that resonates with you, could you find that stimulation through volunteer work? While earning extra income is nice, it may not be your primary motivation.

On the other hand, if your main goal is to earn money, take a moment to evaluate your income needs and expectations. Are you seeking to make ends meet for essentials, like groceries, or are you looking to save for something special, like a family trip to Disney World?

Whatever your answer is, it will help clarify what you really want and need.

As you reflect, don’t forget to consider your core values and natural talents. Don’t underestimate your unique hobbies. Many people are successfully earning substantial income from their passions.

Be Specific (Consider Work-Life Balance)

Although we would all want to earn 42K a month, I’m guessing that if you were solely looking to get rich, you wouldn’t be looking for part-time side hustles. 

Instead, it’s likely that you have a specific financial need you’re looking to fulfill. 

Remaining ambiguous will not help you here. Instead, be clear and precise about your goals. 

Consider statements like, “I need to earn $500 a month to save for my child’s college fund” or “I need $1000 a month to cover the increase in our mortgage and the extra monthly expenses that come with owning a second car”.  

In addition to your income goals, think about the time you are willing to invest in a side income opportunity. As a stay at home mom, any time spent away from your children will require adjustments to your family’s schedule, including childcare and household responsibilities. 

Who will take care of the children while you work on your side gig? Will you need to pay for childcare, or can a family member help out for a few hours? If neither option is available, do you need to find a side hustle that can be managed after hours, like in the evenings when your spouse is home or after the children go to bed? Considering your schedule is a crucial aspect of being a work at home mom.  Find out more about crafting a schedule that works for you as a working stay at home mom.

Write It Down (Make Your Vision a Reality)

You might be surprised by how writing down your thoughts makes them feel more tangible than just fleeting ideas that can easily be forgotten amid the daily hustle of life. Often, the whirlwind of daily life causes our thoughts to drift away. However, by putting them on paper, they become concrete and take on a life of their own.

There are numerous methods to spark your creativity and organize your plans. Techniques such as mind mapping and rapid ideation can help you visualize your next steps. Such methods can illuminate the path forward, making the abstract more accessible.

Engaging in this reflective process is vital. It serves as the bridge between dreaming and doing, turning your aspirations into achievable goals.

Once you understand the reasons for needing a side hustle, let’s explore the possibilities for what that side gig can be.

2. Identify Your Transferable Skills

If you need to earn income, you’ll want to find a side hustle that aligns with your abilities and skills.

Now for some moms, this is very easy, because they can just keep doing the job they were doing before having children, but on a more flexible schedule. 

However, for others, balancing work and being a full-time mom may require reinventing their career. To achieve this, it’s essential for them to identify their strengths and skills.

Hard skills are straightforward to determine. These are technical or specific skills related to a certain industry, such as accounting or computer coding. While these are important to recognize, they may not necessarily help you transition into a new career. Identifying your transferable skills can be much more beneficial.

Transferable skills are, as the name implies, skills that can be applied across different jobs. Here are a few examples of transferable skills:

So, how can you identify your transferable skills? It’s simple.

All your life, you’ve been acquiring skills. Not just from your previous jobs but also from various activities you’ve participated in. Consider all the skills you’ve learned in school, your volunteer work, hobbies, or involvement in sports. Even parenting has equipped you with a ton of new skills you might not even realize you possess! After all, no one knows multitasking better than a mother juggling a newborn and a toddler with a fever!

Take some time to brainstorm all your skill sets and write them down. You can use the infographic above to help you get started.

3. Do Your Research

Research plays an essential role in any career transition, even when shifting to a part-time side gig. 

Engaging in thorough research opens up a world of possibilities, helping you uncover numerous opportunities that resonate with your unique needs, skills, and aspirations. 

This comprehensive process entails sifting through a ton of job descriptions. It requires exploring various career websites, and, if necessary, consulting with a career orientation specialist. 

While many people tend to shy away from this tedious yet critical step, investing the time and effort into it will empower you to identify the best options tailored to your individual circumstances. 

If you feel overwhelmed by the amount of options available to you, I highly recommend organizing your prospects into three primary categories. This strategy not only streamlines your options but also helps eliminate irrelevant information that may distract you from your true interests. For example, during my own journey to transition my career to align with the WSAHM lifestyle, I carefully narrowed my focus to three specific categories that harmonized with my passions, skills, and desired income: writing, editing, and translation. 

Once you have narrowed your search to three categories, it’s time to investigate further and identify any gaps in your skills or knowledge that may hinder your success in your chosen field. In my case, I discovered that content writing was the most compatible with my strengths and goals. However, I soon realized that I lacked experience in content writing and a solid foundation in digital marketing. To bridge this gap,  I started writing articles in order to practice and build a portfolio. Additionally, I immersed myself in learning about digital marketing. I read as many articles as I could find, and completed several online certifications in SEO and Content Writing to boost my qualifications. 

Finally, as part of your research, it’s crucial to keep in mind the dynamics of the job market. Consider the current demand for your chosen field and evaluate the level of competition you may face. Understanding these factors will be instrumental in crafting a strategic approach to your career transition and land the right side hustle.

4. Connect and Reach Out to People Who Can Help You Gain Experience and Obtain Contracts

You might be surprised at how valuable connections can be in helping you get ahead. Once you have a clear goal, don’t hesitate to put yourself out there. Ask your connections for opportunities, even if it’s on a volunteer basis at first. This can help you get started. Your connections can include past employers, family members, friends, friends of friends, former classmates, or previous colleagues.

For instance, my first paid writing gig was through the digital marketing firm where I was employed. At that time, I was working as a virtual data entry clerk. I sent my portfolio to my boss, who then offered me the chance to write a blog post for a small local business. The client liked my work, so I was given the opportunity to write another post. My writing commitments slowly grew, as did my confidence. I reached out to more contacts and gained more contracts until I no longer needed to work in data entry. 

If you find yourself without any contacts in your desired field, don’t be discouraged. There are many ways to connect with others. Joining social groups, attending conferences or seminars, and even making cold contacts can help you build a network. Each of these interactions can pave the way for new opportunities and collaborations.

5. Do a Reality Check

Once you have established a solid and consistent plan, it’s essential to take a step back and do a reality check. 

This means carefully evaluating the specific steps required to launch your side gig and honestly assessing whether this venture aligns with your personal goals and circumstances. 

Rather than getting caught up in inspiring success stories or societal pressures to conform, focus entirely on what is best for you. Consider your skills, resources, and passion. Then determine if pursuing this side project is the most beneficial choice for your unique situation. This will help you deduce what is truly best for you and your family. 

Have a question? Leave a comment below—I’d love to hear from you! While you’re here, take a moment to explore my curated list of the best job opportunities specifically tailored for stay at home moms. You might discover some inspiring ideas that align perfectly with your skills and interests!

Talk soon, 

The Working Stay at Home Mom

The post How to Tap Into the Gig Economy (And Land Side Gigs) as a Stay at Home Mom appeared first on The Working Stay at Home Mom.

As a working stay at home mom often working at odd times during the day—or night, I understand the challenges of spending long hours at my desk. Many work from home moms or dads are struggling to create a home office space that is comfortable and promotes productivity.

If you are new to working from home, you might have set up a temporary workspace. However, if the temporary setup has become more of a permanent situation, it’s time to reassess your home workspace.

The Importance of an Ergonomic Setup at Home

It’s been several decades since health authorities discovered the impact of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are injuries or disorders of the muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, cartilage, and spinal discs. 

Examples of work-related musculoskeletal disorders can be sprains, strains, tissue tears, back pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome.  MSDs account for an estimated 130 million healthcare encounters in the United States alone.

Research also shows that the “estimated costs associated with lost days and compensation claims related to musculoskeletal disorders range from $13 billion to $20 billion annually.”

According to Harvard Medical School, poor posture also results in abdominal pressure which causes incontinence, constipation, and heartburn.

Finally, studies have shown that  slumped posture can activate or maintain a negative mood and increase stress levels.

Needless to say, the potential side-effects of having a workspace that induces poor posture are non-negligeable. 

So how can we ensure better posture while working? 

In comes ergonomics. 

What Is Ergonomics?

The University of North Carolina defines ergonomics as: “the study of people in their working environment. More specifically, an ergonomist (pronounced like economist) designs or modifies the work to fit the worker, not the other way around. The goal is to eliminate discomfort and risk of injury due to work.”

If you don’t have an ergonomist at hand, don’t despair. Here are 5 simple tips on how to create an ergonomic workspace at home.

5 Tips to Create the Ultimate Ergonomic Work Setup at Home

1. Evaluate the Way You Tend to Sit 

To enhance your posture while working, start by evaluating your sitting position. Do you tend to slouch or lean forward or sideways while you work? 

As a general rule, your knees and hips should be aligned at a 90-degree angle. Feet should be placed flat on the floor (you can use a footrest if necessary). Forearms and wrists should have proper support and be at the level of your elbows. Shoulders should be relaxed. 

2. Remember to Consider the Height of Your Work Surface

It’s easy to forget about the height of the surface that you work on. Although your workspace can’t always be ideal,  it is essential to adjust it as much as possible according to your needs. 

For example, a work surface that is too low or too high will force you to adopt poor posture. If your wrists and forearms remain straight when using your keyboard or mouse, your surface is at the correct height.

3. Rearrange Your Equipment

Whatever your job is, you are probably using a variety of materials, tools, or equipment to get you through the day. Whether it’s a mouse and keyboard, pens, brushes, or a screwdriver, it’s important to have these tools in the right places to avoid repetitive movements. How?

Start by evaluating your daily tasks and the materials or equipment used most often throughout the day. Then place them in strategic locations in your workspace. To do this, organize your space into 3 areas: 

• An easily reachable area for frequently used items
• A second area at arm’s length for less frequently used items
• A third area that requires trunk movement (lean forward or to the sides) to reach occasionally used objects

Are you working in a small space? Check out this article from the RentBlog, which offers a load of tips on how to set up your home office in limited square footage.

4. Don’t Underestimate the Placement of Your Computer Monitor

Too many people’s computer monitors are at the wrong place and height on their desk. This can create a whole bunch of unnecessary aches and pains. A poorly located monitor can be the cause of headaches, neck and shoulder pains, eye irritation, and even blurred vision. 

To avoid all this, it is important to place your monitor at roughly an arm’s length away from you. It should not be placed at an angle, but rather straight in front of you. 

The top of the screen should also be slightly lower than eye level. To determine this, when looking straight at your screen (in the sitting position described above), the address bar should be at eye level. 

If, like me, you work with a laptop, consider investing in a laptop stand, an external keyboard, and mouse to create a better ergonomic setup at home.

5. Don’t Hold the Phone!

If your job requires you to spend several consecutive minutes talking on the phone, use a headset or the speaker feature on your phone. Holding a phone to your ear or, worse, cradling the phone between your shoulder and head, can cause or worsen MSDs.

An Ergonomic Setup at Home Is Great, but Here Are a Few More Things to Consider

Although ergonomics is an essential aspect to consider when creating your workspace, there are a few other factors to take into account to ensure you stay healthy when working from home. 

Avoid High Repetition of the Same Movements

Musculoskeletal disorders occur when overusing the same body parts for long periods and without taking enough rest time.

To avoid injuries, try to vary repetitive tasks as often as possible to avoid fatigue and excessive strain on the limbs involved.

Pick the Right Room for the Job

Trust me, I know that square footage is a high commodity, and sometimes the only available space left for your home office may be a dungeon-looking room in the basement.

However, it’s crucial to select a well-ventilated space with natural light. 

Additionally, a space that is too warm or too cold can cause unnecessary distractions, discomfort, and even ailments that could impede your ability to work effectively.

Remember to Take Small Breaks Throughout Your Workday

In addition to hurting your productivity, working long hours without a rest period (especially in a seated position) challenges physical stamina. 

The human body is not designed to stay in a sitting position for several hours. Regardless of how comfortable the posture is, sitting for prolonged periods will lead to all sorts of physical discomforts.

Plan regular breaks to move your joints and stretch your muscles. Finally, please remember that taking the time to go outside to breathe fresh air is just as important!

Your health begins with healthy lifestyle habits. Therefore, creating an ergonomic workspace at home is a crucial step toward better health.

This is especially important for working moms like myself, who are striving to balance work and family life. Take the time to assess your workspace and make the necessary adjustments to suit your needs.

Also, it’s important to note that the advice in this post is general and may need to be tailored to your specific situation. If you’re experiencing symptoms of MSDs, it’s best to consult your doctor or healthcare provider.

If you have any questions about setting up your desk for success, leave a comment below or reach out to me directly! 

Talk soon, 

The Working Stay at Home Mom

The post How to Set up an Ergonomic Workspace at Home appeared first on The Working Stay at Home Mom.

Getting a working stay at home mom schedule down pat is no easy feat.

Like many other modern-day women, I want to be at home with my kids, but I also need to work—for financial reasons and because it’s sometimes nice to stop singing “twinkle, twinkle little star” for a little while. 

So… Well, I do both!

I am a stay at home mom who also works from home, hence the self-proclaimed “Working Stay at Home Mom” or “WSAHM”, and I’ve been living the WSAHM lifestyle since 2016. 

I do not consider myself a “work from home mom” because I don’t have a designated work schedule. Instead, I work around my kids’ schedules. 

How do I do it? 

It takes a lot of coffee, prayers, and carefully thought-out plans that I don’t end-up following! 

It’s an animated, interesting household, but we wouldn’t want it any other way. 

Living the WSAHM Lifestyle

Living a WSAHM lifestyle is not for the faint of heart. It can sometimes get chaotic and little overwhelming. 

However, over the years, I somehow found balance in the chaos of runny noses, sticky fingers and professional deadlines (here’s more on my way too personal account of how I became a WSAHM. 

Now that my kids are getting a little older, and that I have had several years of practicing this type of lifestyle with kids of different ages (including a newborn at some point!), I feel that I have a typical WSAHM schedule down pat. 

So, here’s a typical weekday in my life! 

Actually, I’m offering you 2 typical weekdays in our household. The first is when the kids are in school. The second is when the kids are home either on holiday or for summer vacation. 

My hope is that, by sharing a glimpse of our perfectly imperfect lives, I might help other parents find their way through the wonderful chaos of raising a family. 

Typical Working Stay at Home Mom Schedule (School Days)

6:30am – 7:30am Morning Routine

My husband R is in charge of making lunches while I tidy up and help the kids (mostly my youngest) get ready for school. On a good day, the dishwasher is also emptied right away in the morning, but that rarely happens. In the morning I also wipe down the bathroom counters once everyone is dressed. That’s usually all we get to do before rushing out the door to walk the girls to school. 

8:00am – 8:30am Quick Whole-House Walkthrough

R and I quickly pick up whatever exploding mess was left over from the morning routine. Then one of us clears the morning dishes and makes coffee, while the other puts on a load of laundry. This is also when I take out the kitchen trash if it wasn’t done the night before. By this time, I also make sure I at least have a vague idea of what I’m going to make for dinner so I can take whatever I need out of the freezer to thaw. That’s usually all I get to do before R and I tend to our professional responsibilities. 

CONFESSION: Some mornings R and I ditch this whole routine and just sit for half an hour and have coffee instead

8:30am – 11:30am Professional Work Time 

If my work schedule permits it, I will sometimes try to take 15 to 30 minutes out of this time block to complete a household chore.  

CONFESSION: I take an hour off work on Mondays and Wednesdays to go to my Pilates class.

11:30am – 12:30pm Lunch

Lunch is usually leftovers in our household. During my “lunch hour” I also make sure to complete the following tasks:

• Throw the load of laundry in the dryer
• Start prepping dinner if I plan to make something a little more elaborate
• Complete another cleaning task 

12:30pm – 2:30pm Professional Work Time 

If my work schedule permits it, I will sometimes take this time to run errands. 

2:30pm – 4:30pm After School Madness

This is by far the busiest time in my day; with pickups, snacks, after-school activities, homework and everything else in between. I don’t know exactly what happens during this time block, I just know that it’s chaotic and usually mess inducing. No point in even attempting a cleaning task or answer an email during this time—it’s best to just accept the chaos and go with it. 

4:30pm – 5:30pm – Dinner Prep

This time block usually starts with me nagging at the kids to pick up their homework off the kitchen table or reminding them not to be too loud since their dad is still working and most likely on a business call. A lot happens during this time block: the kids have their free time (think new messes in various rooms of the house), R is busy working, and I’m multitasking. 

CONFESSION: This is a more stressful time for me because I feel I’m being pulled in a thousand directions. This includes:

• Negotiating screen time with my oldest E
• My little one O wants to play restaurant or bakery shop
• B is usually doing something she’s not supposed to be doing
• I have to get dinner done
• And I have a load of laundry to fold at the back of my mind 

Some days, everything works out great! The girls help me make dinner (I even get started on doing the dishes) and we are all jollier than the characters from a Hallmark movie. 

Some other days, however, things don’t go quite as planned. By the time R’s done work, he trips over a princess castle left right outside his office door, dinner’s not ready, the laundry pile’s been left on our bed and I’m tending to a finger paint spill. 

5:30pm – 6:30pm Dinner Time 

This is usually when we sit together and have dinner. By now the stress of the hour before has cooled down.

6:30pm – 7:00pm Clean Up Time

This is when we all clean up together. The girls empty the dishwasher and clear the table. I do the rest of the kitchen (load the dishwasher, wipe the counter and sink) while R tidies up high traffic rooms. By around 7pm, I’m vacuuming the high-traffic areas or finishing up whatever cleaning task I didn’t get to finish. 

7:00pm – 8:00pm Family Time 

We are either all together during this time or we might separate, depending on the evenings. 

8:00pm – 8:30pm Bedtime Routine 

This used to be quite an eventful time when the kids were younger, but they are pretty independent by now. So except for negotiating with O that it’s time to put on her pajamas, the rest is not too bad.  

8:30pm – 8:45pm Family Prayers and Good Nights 

We like to pray as a family every night. After this, we say our good nights. It often takes many good nights before we get our point across and they finally settle down. 

9:00pm – 10:30pm  Adult time   

This is when R and I shut things down. 

CONFESSION: I sometimes have to catch up on work during this time, if I have a few too many professional projects to tend to. However, this rarely happens.

We usually try to get to bed by 10:30, that’s unless we find the forgotten pile of laundry to fold on our bed!  

Typical Working Stay at Home Mom Schedule (When the Kids Are Home)

6:30am – 8:30am Professional Work Time 

If you are working around your kids’ schedule, work flexibility is a must. Yes, starting your workday at 6:30am might feel like a pain, but it’s a good way to avoid having to work too late in the evening. 

During this time, my husband R tends to the kids with their morning routine. 

CONFESSION: Some days my husband R has to work at the office and is commuting during this timeslot. When this happens, I usually have to cut this 2-hour work period out of my schedule. This often means more evening work for me

8:30am – 9am Quick Whole-House Walkthrough

I quickly pick up whatever exploding mess was left over from the morning routine, while R logs into work for the day. I also put on a load of laundry and make sure I figure out what to make for dinner so I can take whatever I need out of the freezer to thaw. 

9am – 11:30am Time With Kids

This can be one or several activities either at home or outside. 

If we stay home, I will sometimes try to take 15 to 30 minutes out of this time block to complete a household chore.  

NOTE: If your kids are homeschooled, this is a great time to do schoolwork. 

CONFESSION: When the kids are home, I do not go to my Pilates class which usually takes place on Mondays and Wednesdays. 

11:30am – 12:30pm Lunch

During our “lunch hour” I also make sure to complete the following tasks:

• Throw the load of laundry in the dryer
• Start prepping dinner if I plan to make something a little more elaborate
• Put the lunch dishes in the dishwasher

12:30pm – 1:30pm Professional Work Time / Quiet Time For the Kids

Depending on their age group, this time can either be nap time or simply quiet time for the kids. 

When they are home on a weekday, my kids have about an hour to watch TV or read after lunch. When they were younger, they would sometimes take a nap, although they were never quite big on it. 

For Mama, this is your chance to focus! Although it’s just an hour, it is an important hour for your business. It gives you a chance to check your emails, make a business call or attend a virtual meeting. Especially if you are dealing with clients, you need to have a day time slot to tend to your business affairs. Go get’em girl! 

NOTE: If this time doesn’t work with your business clients, shift it to another time during the day that works for you and your family. Remember that you make your own working stay at home mom schedule. So try it out and change it if needed. 

CONFESSION: If I have no emails or business to tend to, I still take this time to myself to do whatever.  

1:30pm – 4:30pm Time With Kids

Again, this can be one or several activities either at home or outside. 

If we stay home, I will try to take time out of this block to complete a few household chores (involving the kids when I can). 

I will also run errands during this time when I need to, tagging the kids along with me of course. 

NOTE: If your kids are homeschooled, this is also a great time to do schoolwork. 

4:30pm – 5:30pm – Dinner Prep

On days when the kids are home, this time is a lot less hectic. I think it’s because they have been with me all day and are not fighting for my attention. During this time, they will either prep dinner with me or have free time on their own. Especially if we did a lot during the day, they will usually select something quiet, like drawing, reading or playing with dolls.  

5:30pm – 6:30pm Dinner Time 

This is when we sit together and have dinner. By this time, R has completed his workday and is ready to take over things.

6:30pm – 8:30pm  Professional Work Time

I will admit that this is a difficult time to get back to work. By now, you are tired from running around little ones all day and all you want to do is rest. Remember, you started your workday at 6:30am. Twelve hours later, you are ready to call it quits. 

If you are too tired and your schedule permits it, take the night off. You earned it! If you can’t, just tell yourself that whatever you get done now, you won’t have to get done later. 

CONFESSION: This is the time when I am the least productive, so I schedule tasks that don’t require a lot of brain power. 

Also, when the kids are off during the summer, I try not to schedule myself evening work every single night. I feel that I no longer have the stamina for such long days anymore. In an ideal world, I take Saturdays and Sundays off from professional work. However, if I’m too tired for the evening shifts, I prefer putting in a few hours of work on Saturday mornings rather than burning myself out.  

8:30pm – 8:45pm Family Prayers and Good Nights 

By now, R and the kids have completed all their usual nighttime routine (dishes, clean up, family time) and the kids are ready for bed. 

I will try to take 15 minutes with my kids, even if I’m not quite done with my work. 

9:00pm – 10:30pm  Adult time   

This is when R and I shut things down. 

CONFESSION: I sometimes have to catch up on work during this time, if I have a few too many professional projects to tend to or if I slacked off between the hours of 6:30pm to 8:30pm. However, I try not to make this a regular occurrence. 

We usually try to get to bed by 10:30, unless we’ve both fallen asleep on the couch before then!

A Few More Working Mom Tips to Remember

As mentioned previously, the schedules listed above are “ideal”, but “ideal” seldomly happens. Life is full of surprises and challenges. So, even if you create yourself the perfect schedule, please remember the following: 

1- Be Flexible

Working stay at home moms need to be ready to change their schedule on the flip of a dime. A tummy ache, a snowstorm, a sudden business emergency or a change of schedule for your spouse are all examples of things that can make you have to play Tetris with your agenda. 

Remember that as a WSAHM, your family and business agendas are kind of intertwined and either one can spill into the other. Your success will be in juggling both realities as best as you can. 

2- Be Kind to Yourself 

Remember that, as a working stay at home mom, you are attempting to do the impossible: be a stay at home mom and a working professional all at the same time. 

Managing both realities well takes practice. So, if things go completely wrong one day, don’t be harsh on yourself. Just make the best of it and move on. 

3- Don’t Burn Yourself Out

Managing a working stay at home mom schedule can be difficult, especially if you have younger children. 

If you feel overwhelmed, frustrated or simply too tired, you may need to reassess things. Are you working too many hours? Are you working at times that do not correspond with your Circadian rhythm? Do you need more help? Be honest with yourself and take into account your needs as well as the needs of the other members of the family. 

4- Take Some “Me Time”

The life of a WSAHM requires you to move from one commitment to the next. The lines between your professional, personal and family life often becoming blurred. It’s so easy to find yourself running around frantically, going from one thing to the next until the wee hours of the morning (trust me I fell into this trap quite often in my early days as a WSAHM). This is why it’s crucial that you take a little time to yourself.

If you notice in my examples above, I try to go to Pilates class twice a week, when my working mom schedule permits. I also avoid having to do any professional work on the weekend, except for an occasional couple of hours on Saturday morning when I’m really stuck. The rest of the time, I don’t even check my emails on Saturdays and Sundays.

Taking Micro Breaks

What I also didn’t mention in my examples above, is that I try to take micro breaks throughout the day. It’s hard for any mom to take time to herself during the day, especially when the kids are young. This is why, just like I break up my cleaning chores into smaller tasks that take less time (check out my Ultimate Cleaning Guide to understand what I mean), I take micro breaks for myself to unwind from all the stressors of the day.

Micro “me time” breaks don’t have to get complicated. They can be doing things like taking 5 minutes to quietly sip a steaming cup of tea, stepping outside for a minute to soak in a bit of sunshine, retrieving to a quiet room to say a few prayers or meditate—whatever allows you to take a step back!

Remember, that the whole point of adopting a WSAHM lifestyle is to find balance in your life. So be more mindful of how you are spending your days and take the time to enjoy your life and what you are accomplishing.

If you have questions or feedback about a working stay at home mom schedule, or if you’d like to share your own stories about being a WSAHM, I’d love to hear back from you! Contact me or share in the comments below. Need to learn more about the do’s and don’ts of being a WSAHM? Here’s all you need to know about being a Working Stay at Home Mom.

Talk soon, 

The Working Stay at Home Mom

The post A Day in the Life of a Working Stay at Home Mom appeared first on The Working Stay at Home Mom.

The children are tired and the parents are exasperatedly stuck in a vicious cycle of infinite love tangled with the monstrous desire to run away.

When my husband and I had our first (E), we decided to make every sacrifice possible for me to stay at home full time.

I would love to be able to tell you that being a stay at home mom was a bliss, but it wasn’t.

Being a Stay at Home Mom Just Wasn’t for Me

Actually, being a SAHM was pretty terrible for me.

Where I live, the life of a stay-at-home mom is one of feeling isolated, having serious financial headaches and, sadly, of often being stigmatized as lazy, old-fashioned and even unsophisticated.

Nevertheless, we struggled, but made it last for a few years. But when our second (B) was about eighteen months old, I returned to work full time, mostly because of financial reasons.

Despite a re-established financial independence and a fulfilling job, that did not feel right for us either.

When the girls got sick, I was incapable of taking them to daycare stuffed with acetaminophen, even though the thought of having to call in sick again made my palms sweat.

And on dark winter mornings, I would glance at their little faces still numb with sleep, and felt an overwhelming sense of regret and guilt. All I could think about was that they wouldn’t get their lazy summers or the chance to grow up with Mom and discover the world at their own pace. No! Being a full-time working mother was not for me either.

I was constantly tormented by what to do. My heart refused to continue working full time, but my mind cringed at the thought of being broke and going back to singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star twenty times a day.

Finding Work-Life Balance, or Better Yet, Just Life Balance

Fortunately, our little family was in God’s favor and I was able to find a solution to this daily torment. I quit my full-time corporate position and started offering part-time virtual data entry services; a gig that eventually led me to becoming a freelance content writer / copywriter, a profession that was in line with my passion for writing, my intellectual curiosity and my bachelor’s in English Literature.

The fact that my job was project-based was revolutionary for me. I could suddenly work around my kids’ schedule! I still sent them to daycare, but on a half-time schedule, and with an arrangement to keep them home during the summer. Plus, I never had to worry about my kids waking up with the sniffles. If they were sick, they stayed home with me and I would work in the evening when my husband came home. I had finally found my niche!

Now, with several years’ experience as a self-proclaimed working stay at home mom, I feel that it’s time to pay it forward and help other parents find their balance in the wonderful chaos that is raising a family.

Adopting a WSAHM way of life is not for the faint of heart, but it is a blessing that saved my family life.

Are you considering becoming a WSAHM? Here’s a comprehensive guide on what is a WSAHM. Have a question? Don’t hesitate to reach out! I will answer your questions as best as I can.

Meanwhile, here is a list of stay at home mom jobs to consider if you wish to become a working stay at home mom too.

Talk soon,

The Working Stay at Home Mom

The post How I Became a Working Stay at Home Mom (WSAHM) appeared first on The Working Stay at Home Mom.

Thinking about balancing work and parenting from home? You’ve found the perfect resource. Join me as we explore the ins and outs of becoming a successful Working Stay at Home Mom.

What Is a WSAHM?

WSAHM [wa-zam] is an acronym for “working stay at home mom”. A WSAHM (or WSAHD for dads) is a stay at home parent who also works (usually from home), but whose work schedule typically revolves around the kids’ schedules and needs, and not the other way around. 

WSAHMs are becoming increasingly popular, especially in recent years. 

When remote work suddenly became a necessity during the Covid 19 pandemic, the majority of organizations modernized their systems and developed new tools that would allow them to maintain operations remotely to stay afloat. 

This sudden technological shift did not only shake the economy, job market and the whole business ecosystem. It also caused workers to reflect on their values, their family life, the essence of their job and how it could all make sense—as a whole. 

With remote work now having become feasible for a significant part of the workforce, some parents got a taste of being a working stay at home parent, and they don’t ever want to look back.

It’s All About Balancing Work and Family

The job of a working stay at home mom is essentially to have one foot in and one foot out of both her professional and her home life. Her role requires her to wear many hats at the same time and to switch from being a caring mommy to a driven professional at the flip of a dime.

Although at times stressful and challenging, this way of life allows moms to stay at home with their children all the while staying on the job market and earning income.

The WSAHM formula fits work into your family life schedule instead of the other way around. If work-life balance has become a dominant trend in the workforce, WSAHMs are taking it up a notch: they are looking for life-work balance, or better yet, just simply life-balance. 

As stated in a 2023 study completed by McKinsey & Company, “The pandemic showed women that a new model of balancing work and life was possible. Now, few want to return to the way things were. Most women are taking more steps to prioritize their personal lives—but at no cost to their ambition.”

An increasing number of parents are seeing the benefits of the WSAHM way of life and are itching to try it out. 

Are you thinking about becoming a WSAHM or WSAHD? 

Here are eight things to consider: 

1. Have Realistic Expectations

Unless you are a highly experienced professional who makes a substantial hourly rate, you cannot be a working stay at home mom and expect to make a high annual salary. Remember that, as a WSAHM, most of your waking hours will be spent minding your children. 

That said, it doesn’t mean that you can’t generate a substantial cash flow while pursuing your career or business ventures. In fact, with the right strategies and dedication, there are numerous opportunities to enhance your income and achieve financial success as a working stay at home mom. Here’s a list of jobs that real women I have met have taken on as WSAHMs. This stay at home mom jobs list includes the average hourly salary for each position, along with tips on how to tailor these opportunities to align with your unique skills, needs, and aspirations.

On the other hand, as a working stay at home mom, you also need to set aside time for work and respect your professional commitments and deadlines, even if it means putting in a few late nights or weekends when your spouse can take over the minding of the kids for a few hours. 

2. Accept That You Cannot Do It Alone 

I know this is difficult for some to hear, but if you want to adopt the WSAHM lifestyle, you need to accept that you will require support from your spouse, another family member or hired help.

Remember that being a WSAHM is not a one person job. Your spouse will need to be fully committed to this way of life as much as you are. This means that you will have to rely on your spouse on things such as taking over the bedtime routine while you put in a few hours of work, taking on a part of the housework or (gulp!) paying for most of the household expenses.

3. Have a Plan 

Especially at the beginning, it’s difficult to switch into work-mode when you are physically and mentally exhausted from running after little ones all day. 

If you don’t have a detailed work plan, you’ll end up searching the Internet aimlessly for new business opportunities (especially if you are just starting out) or worse, you can end up spending your “work day” online shopping and lying to yourself that you really needed to order your little one’s Halloween costume two months before Halloween. A tired mind plays tricks on you, trust me.

Check out my 5-Step Guide to Finding the Perfect Side Gig

4. Know That You Will Be Even More Sleep Deprived

Not getting enough sleep is a global  ongoing joke between parents. No parent ever says “I regularly get 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep” at a dinner party. Well, if you work around your kids schedules, part of that work will be done while the kids are sleeping (good luck if your kids go to bed late).

So, if it’s crunch time at work, or if your schedule has recently slipped because kiddo has been sick, you might end up going to bed pretty late or waking up unacceptably early for a few days.

5. Learn to Respect Your Personal Limitations

It’s so easy to take on more than you can manage, especially as a WSAHM. Many working stay at home moms want to fill the stay at home mom shoes and the professional working mom stilettos, but, let me save you a heartbreak, that is not possible. Know that when you are trying to do everything at the same time, you end up doing nothing at all.

As a matter of fact, a Pew Research survey found that 44% of women say working part time is ideal for mothers of young children. In my experience, a WSAHM can only work 15 to 20 hours per week, even if your children are in school. So, don’t accept professional commitments that will require you to put in more than 20 hours per week at your job. Here’s a typical schedule of a working stay at home mom.

Likewise, don’t commit to extra home responsibilities that will spill into your scheduled work day; those cupcakes for the PTA meeting may have to be store bought—and that’s okay.     

Constantly pushing yourself to the limit is detrimental and unhealthy in the long run, and you should avoid it for yours and your family’s sake. 

6. Remember That, Like SAHMs, You Are Your Children’s Main Caregiver

This means that although you have deadlines and work projects waiting in the background, you will be the one responsible for anything that involves the kids: pickups, drop-offs, after school activities, medical appointments, help with homework and caring for them if they are home from school. If your little ones are not in school yet, then this also includes their preschool education and other activities. 

Like a SAHM, a WSAHM is usually also responsible for a large part of the housework (cooking, cleaning, laundry and other house maintenance). See why you cannot possibly work more than 15 to 20 hours per week?

7. Expect That Most People Around You Will Act Like You’re a SAHM

As a WSAHM, your work schedule becomes almost invisible, because it is done while the rest of the population is busy watching TV, running errands on Saturday mornings or catching up on some z’s.  Therefore, some of your friends and relatives might not understand why you cannot attend that Saturday morning brunch or commit to a Tuesday night book club. 

8. Remember Why You Are Doing This

Being a WSAHM should be beneficial to you and your family. Although you should expect a difficult adjustment period, after some time, you should find a good balance and life should get easier. If being a WSAHM is draining you or making you feel angry and stressed, it might not be a good arrangement for you. 

Is Being a Working Stay at Home Mom Worth It?

That depends on you and your family! 

I have been a mother for over 10 years now and, during my time as a mom, I tried staying at home with the kids and I tried a short stint at working full-time outside of the home. While both had their pros and cons (and both were equally extremely challenging, yet rewarding), neither lifestyle worked for our family, no matter how hard we tried. We found our own kind of balance in the WSAHM formula, and we have adopted this lifestyle since 2016. Learn more about how I became a WSAHM.

Should A Stay At Home Mom Work? 

Again, it depends on you and your family’s needs and expectations! 

The modern chick-fight between working mothers and stay at home mothers has been going on way too long, and I am certainly not trying to add a new contender to the fight. The social narrative is unfortunately that working mothers don’t care about their kids, and stay at home mothers are lazy; and there are some pretty nasty comments out there about both.

I personally think that the majority of parents aim to do what’s best for their family. The reality is, however, that someone’s ideal could be another one’s nightmare.

I respect any parent who has their children’s well being at heart, no matter what they do between the hours of nine to five.

So, if you’re wondering which path you should take, ignore the mommy-bashing out there. Instead, sit down with your spouse and, together, consider your options, your situation and your finances.

Take your children’s temperament (and yours!) into account, and, finally, go with your gut and have faith! Whatever decision you make, know that your life won’t be perfect (it never is), but it will be perfect for you and your family!

Talk soon,

The Working Stay at Home Mom

The post All You Need to Know About Being a Working Stay at Home Mom  appeared first on The Working Stay at Home Mom.

An increasing number of moms are looking for a way to be at home with their children all the while earning income and staying on the job market. 

Sounds impossible? 

It doesn’t have to be. 

But you have to be willing to rethink your idea of a workweek. 

Being a working stay at home mom (or a WSAHM) will require you to find a job flexible enough that it can be completed around your kids schedules. 

Can SAHM’s Also Work?

When I became a WSAHM in 2016, I changed my career path and used my skills to find work that would accommodate my family’s needs. I hold a Bachelors in English Literature and always had a passion for writing. So when the opportunity presented itself, content writing was an obvious switch for me. 

Although I mostly work with the same marketing firms, I always opted to remain an independent contractor instead of a paid employee. I did this to have complete freedom over the amount of hours I work per month and the projects I accept. Being a project based contractor best suits my needs. It provides me with the flexibility I need in case the kids are home from school on holiday or because they are sick.

When the kids are home from school, I switch my schedule to early mornings (before my husband R starts his workday) and evenings (when R’s workday is done). On good days, I can have my work done early enough to still be part of the bedtime routine. On less productive days or busier weeks, I sometimes have to work later than I’d like to admit, but I accept it as a part of the life I chose to lead. Here’s more on a typical day in the life of a WSAHM.

I am living proof that being a project based worker is a great way to earn a living being a WSAHM. 

So, if you have skills that can translate into freelance or independent contractor work, go for it!

Many part-time jobs can easily be adapted to a WSAHM lifestyle. You just need to know what you want and be open to taking a leap of faith. 

Don’t know where to start?

To avoid having you end-up on a “get rich fast” site or a scammy “mommy jobs” site, I have come up with a list of jobs that real women I have met did as WSAHMs.  

7 Great Stay at Home Mom Jobs

1. Hairstylist

Average base salary $23.89 per hour as per Indeed.com

I know, it’s a little cliché as a stay at home mom jobs, but this is a legitimate, super flexible job for WSAHMs! My sister’s neighbor had a private hair salon in her basement and welcomed her clients only on weekends when her hubby was home. My sister moved now, but I hear that her savvy neighbor is still in business today. She has increased her working hours now that her kids are all older.

MODIFY THIS IDEA TO FIT YOUR NEEDS

You can convert this idea to several other professions that can have a private practice including, estheticians, massage therapists, nutritionists, chiropractors, counselors and other types of therapists, personal coaches, etc. 

If you don’t mind welcoming your clients or patients at home, this is the way to go.

2. Virtual Language Instructor 

Average base salary $26.57 per hour as per Indeed.com

A fellow parishioner is not only a WSAHM, but she also homeschools her four children! Her solution: she teaches English as a second language. Her clients are mostly located overseas, so they appreciate her ridiculously-early morning schedule.

If teaching pronunciations at 5am is your thing, then this could be a great job for you!

MODIFY THIS IDEA TO FIT YOUR NEEDS

This idea could easily be converted to online tutoring, bookkeeping, proofreading or any other teaching or administrative work that can be done virtually and at odd hours, including becoming a virtual assistant, a virtual customer service rep or doing data entry. Little known fact: I actually started as a virtual data entry clerk before the marketing firm I was working for gave me a shot at writing my first article.

3. Freelance Copywriter

Average base salary $39.47 per hour as per Indeed.com

Like thousands of other moms, I work as a copy/content writer in order to live a WSAHM lifestyle. Now that my 3 girls are in elementary school and R also works from home (full time), I can get away with working 20 hours per week. When my kids were all preschoolers, and R worked at the office with a 2-hour+ commute per day, I would work about 5 to 10 hours per week and that was plenty.

If the written word is your thing, you can also look into translating, editing, proofreading, and you can write for the web or for print.

MODIFY THIS IDEA TO FIT YOUR NEEDS

Convert this idea to any profession that you can do as a freelancer or independent contractor. From web development  and graphic design, to data analysis or consulting, the sky’s the limit in what you can actually do!

4. Dance Instructor

Average base salary $29.04 per hour as per Indeed.com

My husband’s cousin’s wife worked as a dance instructor for many years while raising her kids. She worked a few evenings and on Saturdays.

MODIFY THIS IDEA TO FIT YOUR NEEDS

This idea can easily be modified to similar jobs, such as a personal trainer, fitness instructor, private music teacher, etc.

5. Photographer

Average base salary $21.57 per hour as per Indeed.com

I once met a mom who would work as a portrait photographer. She mostly worked with local schools. On the days that she was busy snapping student school year pictures, her retired mother would take care of her 3-year old son. She would complete all the rest of her responsibilities in the evening, after her little one went to sleep.

MODIFY THIS IDEA TO FIT YOUR NEEDS

This idea can easily be converted to any job that you can do mostly at home with occasional “on-site” work. Possible ideas are interior decorating, home staging, home inspection, any kind of event work, including events entertainment, catering or decorating. My other sister actually works in the event industry. She is in contact with several Balloon Artists across the USA and Canada. I am told that many are full-time moms as well.

6. Private Nurse

Average base salary $34.70 per hour as per Indeed.com

A mom I met at my daughter’s “Welcome to Kindergarten Day” is able to have a WSAHM lifestyle by working as a private nurse. Most of her work consists of training fellow private nurses and a majority of her training courses can be followed online. She decided to do the switch after her son was born. She tried it out and has never looked back!

MODIFY THIS IDEA TO FIT YOUR NEEDS

Any experienced and highly skilled professional can adapt this idea to suit their needs. Many qualified professionals can find opportunities to train others independently. For instance, another mother from my children’s school works as a Home Memory Care Coordinator, primarily assisting Alzheimer’s patients who require at-home care. Much of her work involves virtual meetings, along with some in-home visits. This arrangement works perfectly for her, especially since she has a child in the third grade.

7. Research Scientist

Average base salary $42.92 per hour as per Indeed.com

I met a fellow WSAHM at the library who has successfully balanced homeschooling her two children with her career as a research scientist for several years. Since much of her work involves analyzing a significant amount of data, she can easily perform her job from home at her own convenience.

MODIFY THIS IDEA TO FIT YOUR NEEDS

Any type of researcher or analyst can find suitable work that fits into this scenario. If you enjoy analyzing data, there are also several free professional analyst certifications available that can equip you with the necessary skills. Some popular options include the Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate, the IBM Data Science Professional Certificate, and the Meta Data Analyst Professional Certificate. While I cannot personally endorse these programs since I have not taken them, I encourage you to explore these options and take the next step toward a rewarding career in data analysis.

Golden Rules for Work from Home Moms

Whichever type of work you do, remember these WSAHM golden rules. 

1. Plan Ahead 

Especially if your line of work requires you to meet with clients, ensure that you have someone to look after your little ones while you’re busy doing your thing.

2. Stay Flexible 

Even the most carefully thought out plan can be thrown off by a little stomach flu.

3. Don’t Overdo It

I have been doing this for long enough to know that a working stay at home mom with young kids works ideally 10 to 15 hours per week. During busy periods, or when the kids are a little older, you can stretch it out to about 20 hours. 

Any more than that, and you will quickly find yourself staying up later than a college student on energy drinks. Pulling constant late hours is not sustainable for very long.

If you are offered more work than you can handle, remind yourself why you have chosen this lifestyle in the first place. 

4. Don’t Kid Yourself Into Believing That Kids Starting School Means You Can Work More Hours 

Why? 

Two reasons. 

First, young kids seem to get the sniffles over and over again during the winter months, and you don’t want to get a bad rep for constantly canceling important meetings or missing deadlines.

Second, remember that there are only 180 to 190 school days in a year. That means that, unless you enroll them in a private daycare, they will be home with you for the other half the year!

So, unless you are not human and your body does not require you to sleep, keeping your schedule to up to 20 hours a week is plenty, believe me.

Adopting a working stay at home mom lifestyle can truly allow you to check all the boxes. It gives you the opportunity to stay at home with your little ones, all the while staying on the job market and earning an income. 

Especially in today’s world, many types of jobs can accommodate the WSAHM formula. The secret is in knowing what you really want and taking that leap of faith!  

Are you a Working Stay at Home Mom or planning to be? Feel free to share what your job is and how you manage your time in the comments below. 

Talk soon, 

The Working Stay at Home Mom

The post Real Stay at Home Mom Jobs (That Actually Pay Well) appeared first on The Working Stay at Home Mom.