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Yolandie and her family. <a href="http://www.fin24.com/Womens-Wealth/Multimedia/Tips-for-working-from-home-20130904">View gallery</a> (Supplied)
An attorney working from home shares her story and offers some handy tips to have a productive day. She writes:
MY NAME is Yolandie Veldsman (37 years). I was born in Upington, studied in Stellenbosch and am now living in Bellville.
I have a wonderful husband, Morne, and two children, Matthew (7 years) and Cara (4 years).
I worked for 12 years, two of these doing my articles, and then the rest administering estates, before deciding to quit my job last year.
This happened after many signs from above and my longing to spend more time with my children.
Morné and I made the decision after looking at our finances. Luckily I was in the fortunate position that his income was enough to cover all our costs.
Once I resigned, I knew that having studied for five years to attain my law degree and since then working hard in a stressful environment, I would not be content with being a housewife.
And when I received work even before I stopped working, I knew what I was going to do. I would continue administering estates.
It was the type of work that I can do easily from home and most importantly, the only work I loved doing.
My day starts with estates and ends with my children.
I spend my mornings working with estates I receive from an attorney’s office I work with closely, and then move on to my own private ones.
My daughter is in play school until 12:00 and my son in school until 12:45.
From 12:00 my time is my children’s time. I spend the afternoons with them and some days I am on the road with sport.
When I need to do urgent work in the afternoons, I finish it as quickly as possible and I always explain this to my children.
Luckily they understand that mommy sometimes needs to work when they are at home.
I have only been doing this for nine months, but have learnt a lot and made a few important decisions for myself.
Firstly, I keep costs as low as possible.
I use what I have and do not spend money on fancy equipment and other things.
The buying and spending can start once I know that it is working. But even then it is good to have extra funds, so keep on saving.
This is also the reason why I am working from home and not renting offices. I have a space for my computer, printer and files, but no separate office. I have more than enough space available.
Secondly, you need to be dedicated and set time periods for yourself.
Keep to this or else it is easy to slip with your work.
If you are staying at home, spend time with your children.
Try not to take on too much work. This will steal your time with them and lead to stress.
Look after your clients
Then very importantly, stay on good terms, especially if you are working with people.
They will appreciate it since it is a personal touch not often experienced these days.
The one thing I've learnt at work is that good service is always important. People will keep on coming back.
Look after yourself
It doesn't mean because you are at home that you are not supposed to dress well and look after yourself.
It is wonderful to make your own decisions and be your own boss, and even more wonderful to be with your children and not miss them so much.
Enjoy it to the full. It is a privilege.
- Fin24
* This is a Fin24 user submission. Add your voice to our Women's Wealth Issue and help empower others this Women's Month.
Write a guest post
Share your coping tips
Ask the experts
MY NAME is Yolandie Veldsman (37 years). I was born in Upington, studied in Stellenbosch and am now living in Bellville.
I have a wonderful husband, Morne, and two children, Matthew (7 years) and Cara (4 years).
I worked for 12 years, two of these doing my articles, and then the rest administering estates, before deciding to quit my job last year.
This happened after many signs from above and my longing to spend more time with my children.
Morné and I made the decision after looking at our finances. Luckily I was in the fortunate position that his income was enough to cover all our costs.
Once I resigned, I knew that having studied for five years to attain my law degree and since then working hard in a stressful environment, I would not be content with being a housewife.
And when I received work even before I stopped working, I knew what I was going to do. I would continue administering estates.
It was the type of work that I can do easily from home and most importantly, the only work I loved doing.
My day starts with estates and ends with my children.
I spend my mornings working with estates I receive from an attorney’s office I work with closely, and then move on to my own private ones.
My daughter is in play school until 12:00 and my son in school until 12:45.
From 12:00 my time is my children’s time. I spend the afternoons with them and some days I am on the road with sport.
When I need to do urgent work in the afternoons, I finish it as quickly as possible and I always explain this to my children.
Luckily they understand that mommy sometimes needs to work when they are at home.
I have only been doing this for nine months, but have learnt a lot and made a few important decisions for myself.
Firstly, I keep costs as low as possible.
I use what I have and do not spend money on fancy equipment and other things.
The buying and spending can start once I know that it is working. But even then it is good to have extra funds, so keep on saving.
This is also the reason why I am working from home and not renting offices. I have a space for my computer, printer and files, but no separate office. I have more than enough space available.
Secondly, you need to be dedicated and set time periods for yourself.
Keep to this or else it is easy to slip with your work.
If you are staying at home, spend time with your children.
Try not to take on too much work. This will steal your time with them and lead to stress.
Look after your clients
Then very importantly, stay on good terms, especially if you are working with people.
They will appreciate it since it is a personal touch not often experienced these days.
The one thing I've learnt at work is that good service is always important. People will keep on coming back.
Look after yourself
It doesn't mean because you are at home that you are not supposed to dress well and look after yourself.
It is wonderful to make your own decisions and be your own boss, and even more wonderful to be with your children and not miss them so much.
Enjoy it to the full. It is a privilege.
- Fin24
* This is a Fin24 user submission. Add your voice to our Women's Wealth Issue and help empower others this Women's Month.
Write a guest post
Share your coping tips
Ask the experts
