For many women, the diagnosis of uterine fibroids comes during a routine visit to the gynecologist. They never noticed adverse symptoms, so there was no reason for a special visit. Others do take notice, but with the help of some relatively minor lifestyle adjustments, continue to lead life similarly to pre-diagnosis. For a small percentage, however, the heavy bleeding, frequent urination, chronic pain and other symptoms brought on by fibroids slow life down significantly enough that real changes need to be made. Sometimes, those changes include an alteration in employment. For some women, working from home is the most comfortable solution. But how can one make that adjustment work successfully, both in terms of balance and finances?
Be prepared
Knowing what to expect in a work-from-home situation before it actually happens will help pinpoint potential issues. Establishing effective, foolproof communication with an employer or client, for example, is one of the systems that must be put into place in order to make working from home successful.
Survey what the market wants
It could be that your current niche is in high demand right now, exactly as you’ve been doing it for years and here you are, the expert! Huge congratulations are in order. Unfortunately, not every field is in such a lucky position these days. Looking on the brighter side, this process allows for a level of re-invention of one’s self that may otherwise never have happened. See it as an opportunity – forced as it is – to find your best self.
Be wary and pragmatic
This won’t be as applicable for those taking an existing job home, but for new work-from-home job hunters, it’s vital to remember that if it’s too good to be true, it likely isn’t true. In the field of work-from-home jobs, scam offers unfortunately abound. Anything that requires a large financial or time investment from the employee’s side before being paid should definitely show a huge red light in your mind. Google searching every single potential employer is mandatory.
Learn new skills
Once you know what is in demand, weigh that against your current skill set. It’s likely that there will be a gap that needs to be filled. Choices range from the simple to complicated, free studies to high tuition and quick lessons to extended courses. Options include any or a combination of the following, but keep in mind that there will still be a period of trial and error while mastering any skill following study.
- Online courses
- Community colleges
- Local employment offices
- YouTube videos
- Bartering with a knowledgeable friend for training
Begin marketing yourself
Jobs don’t spontaneously appear in a vacuum. Getting a name out to the public requires work. Developing an elevator pitch, getting active on social media, updating a LinkedIn profile and attending networking events are all musts. None of these steps are optional, even if you must attend events virtually (and that’s in your corner, for now, since everything is virtual currently!)
Networking is an art in and of itself and it doesn’t come easy to everyone. It involves a number of skills. Start by asking friends, family and neighbors for an honest assessment of which of these skills are your strong and weak points. Then, get to work. Networking is a skill that can and must be improved upon.
Set up a physical and psychological work space
Working from home involves more than just having a desk and chair. The internet setup needs to be strong enough to be absolutely dependable. Childcare, if applicable, also needs to be squared away. Plan out the day to make sure that housework has its own time slot so it doesn’t become a distraction. Mid-day meals should be planned out and prepared in advance. Work time needs to be work time; even if it’s the corner of the living room, that’s “the office” for x number of hours a day and there’s work to be done.
Working from home can be an ideal solution for those suffering through symptoms such as the pain, discomfort and heavy bleeding that can plague sufferers of uterine fibroids. Read as much as possible while developing solid skills and plans toward success. And as always, wishing all our readers the best of health.
