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I wasn’t sure what I was stepping into when I decided I’d become a working home mom. I mean, I wanted to work like I used to before pregnancy, but I also had to spend time with my toddler.
The excitement of working and juggling my home responsibilities was too much for me!
But, I am proud that I’ve completed nearly eleven years as a working home mom. And according to my experience, these are the seven must-haves for any working home mom.
1. Dedicated home office space
It’s the most important. Don’t think that you can work from your son’s study table. Or work in the living room.
You need a home office space with the requisite furniture and equipment. It should also have enough lighting, comfort, and personalization.
2. The right home office furniture
Now that you have your office space picked out, here’s the equipment you need.
Most notable are the right desk and chair.
A lumbar, supportive chair from ErgoTune is excellent because it cradles your back at the right spots. It also reduces pressure on your bottom and spinal cord. It works best if complemented with the right-sized desk.
I’ve found through experience that a solid standing desk is MUCH better than an ordinary desk. If you wonder why, well, it’s because you can adjust the table to the right height.
There is no desk with the right height. The adjustment feature in standing desks is a big plus point. By setting the desk to the correct height, you no longer have to strain your neck to read from a low monitor.
Besides, you end up getting tired sitting all the time, working on regular desks. Standing desks let you stand and get work done without having to shift your equipment around.
Besides, a table chair, you also need a laptop or desktop computer. You also need a complementing gel mouse pad, a wireless mouse, and an ergonomic keyboard. Depending on your job, you may even need a printer and scanner.
3. Essential work from home office tools
It’s worth investing in some office tools for better organization and professionalism. A filing system is perfect for storing all your files and relevant documents. You can find office supplies, stationery, and even office furniture online.
It would help if you also had a high-speed internet connection. Some moms find an excellent hands-free speakerphone useful too!
And oh yes, don’t forget a calculator! Sometimes a useful old traditional calculator is so much more convenient than your mobile one.
You could also buy some noise-canceling headphones if you need silence while working. It keeps you free from family distractions. And you can also listen to your favorite soothing music in the background.
4. Relevant software
You could consider investing in some useful business software too. While it’s an initial investment, it improves your work productivity. You eventually earn more than you had spent on it.
Accounting software is a must for any business. It lets you focus on your business or spend time with your family while it balances your books.
A planner comes in useful to keep track of all your work, appointments, and assignments. It ensures you don’t forget anything, and reminds you of your child’s school meeting! We use Week Plan.
Google Analytics is an excellent service offered by Google to track and report your website traffic. You thus get an idea of how your website stands and know how to improve its online visibility to generate more business.
5. Exercise equipment is a must for a work at home mom
Yes, I have to emphasize how vital exercise is to a working home mom!
You get so preoccupied with your work you may end up glued to your chair most of the time. I ended up feeling more tired, without any energy and fed up with working within a year of freelancing.
So I started doing as much exercise as I could in a day and started feeling so much better. I now even get up an hour earlier so that I get at least 30-45 minutes of exercise every day. You may also consider buying tech gadgets like fitness watches or trackers to encourage yourself better.
Besides, there may also be some slack periods where you don’t have any work. Working out on your exercise equipment helps maintain your sanity!
6. The right eyewear
My eyes started giving problems after a year or so of work. It’s no surprise because sitting in front of the computer screen all day long does take its toll!
Besides, your sleep pattern may also change as you work later into the evening than usual. So do visit your optician if you get frequent headaches or if there’s pain or discomfort in your eyes.
You may need glasses, and if you already have one, the prescription may need to be changed. Antiglare lenses also help.
7. Work at home moms need a great coffeemaker
Yes, many mompreneurs don’t realize the importance of a good coffee maker! It gives you your caffeine boost and sets your imagination rolling. It also helps keep you alert while doing calculations!
There you go! These are the seven essentials every mompreneur needs. I noticed a lot of improvement at work because of them. What about you?
What work at home essentials are at the top of your list?
Krystle Cook – the creator of Home Jobs by MOM – put her psychology degree on a shelf and dived into a pile of diapers and dishes instead. She is a wife and mother to two rambunctious boys, sweating it out in her Texas hometown. She loves cooking, DIY home projects, and family fun activities.
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I agree with everything listed. Thanks for all of these tips.
You have covered all the essential equipment. This is so important to start with and you will be ready to start. Great article, thank you for sharing.
Another one that isn’t a must but is really nice if you’re on a computer is dual monitors or one of those (aff link) really big ones that split. It sure does come in handy 🙂
I have another tip, and that is to have good music on standby!
I can’t work to music but I often like to play White Noise to drown out the kids lol