Greeting 2009 With Personal and Professional New Year's Resolutions
It's hard to predict, though, whether the 2009 will usher in better economic news. The election and the financial crisis all seemed to keep news organizations extremely busy — even as newspapers were hit by economic hard times like Wall Street, automakers, retailers and, well, most of the rest of us.
Figuring out what all this means for each of us personally is still pretty tough. We're waiting to see President-elect Barack Obama's new stimulus package and wondering when next story of corporate greed, corruption or ineptitude will make headlines.
So, at this point, the best we can do is just set some personal and professional goals for 2009…and hold our breath. New Year's resolutions, the theme of January's All About Parenting Blog Carnival, can be both personal and professional, but for most of us—and particularly those working from home—the two may be all rolled up together.
- Getting organized, for instance, is definitely a resolution that should be both personal and professional, particularly for work-at-home moms where disorganization in one realm leads to disorganization in the other.
- Exercising more patience as a parent may require that you reduce stress all around, including at work. And while we often don't have control over the factors that cause us stress, we can learn to handle stress better.
- If getting a tighter reign on your finances is on your 2009 to-do list, that could mean both spending less (personal) and/or making more money (professional).
- Resolving to spend more time with family means figuring out a way to make a change in your work habits, while still maintaining your professional productivity.
- Do You Have the Personality to Work from Home?
- Getting Started as a WAHM
- Companies Hiring for Work-at-Home Jobs
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Comments
One of the biggest problems I have working from home is battling the feeling that I should be working 24/7. My resolution is to only work when I can devote 100% of my attention to work and to stick to my office hours.
I agree with Robin. As a WAHM, I always seem to be checking email while cooking dinner or watching the kids. In 2009 I want to do a better job of working when it’s work time, and focusing on my family when office hours are over.
I agree. I’m a WAHM wannabe, and right now I’m a WAWM/WAHM. Thanks for the helpful organizational strategies that will help a lot!
I’m a WAHGM (work-at-home-grandmother), and my biggest challenge is staying organized. One of my resolutions is to spend one of my work days on those mundane tasks that so easily get out of hand, like weeding out and organizing email.
Laureen, I particularly liked your article on 10 Easy Steps To Reduce Your Piles of Paper. We get so much mail and so many magazines and catalogs that it’s a constant battle to keep things organized.
Laureen — I read your resolutions thinking “I need to do that!” “That too!” Thanks for great advice that can help get us there!
I love your point that personal and professional resolutions are so often intertwined. Food for thought!
Every year, this is my top resolution and - sigh - my fastest broken. But your “15 Minutes” link is inspiring. Definitely giving that one a try. Thank you!