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how do you stay consistent and productive working at home?

Posted By: sm on 2005-07-15
In Reply to:

Just wondering.  I have a hard time lately with being disciplined enough to sit and do what I am supposed to.  What do you guys do if that happens to you?


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shouldn't you be studying or working or something productive?
Geez Busy, you been on these boards under one name or another all the live long day.  Lonely?  Crack those premed books.  hahahaha
Stay at home DAD???

Any wives out there have a stay at home dad?  Or, any dads out there a stay at home dad?  Today is my husband's last day of work (YEAH!!!)  I am very happy, he was a branch manager of a huge company and was working 13 to 15 hours a day.  We readjusted and got rid of some bills and he QUIT!!  I told him to take AT LEAST 2 months off before he even thinks about working again. 


 


Since I work at home, any tips for making him feel great about what he is doing?  I happen to know that staying at home with kids is the hardest job in the world and I want him to feel appreciated.  Also, I am worried about us getting in each other's hair too much since I stay at home also.  Any advice?  I know it is kind of a strage situation, but we are very thankful and blessed that we get to do this.  He missed out a lot on my 5-year-olds growing up and he doesn't want to miss anymore (we also have a 2-year-old and planning for 2 more within the next 3 to 4 years)


The best stay at home Dad
My hubby stayed home with our 3 kids when our twins were born.  Our oldest was 5 when they were born.  Since I had the better job, he stayed home with them during the day and worked at night after I got home.  He is the best Dad.  The twins are now 9 and they all are so close to their Dad.  He cooks, cleans, does laundry, take the kids everywhere (the last favorite thing they did was a fishing derby when he left with the kids and all the neighbor kids at 5:30 am).  This week they spent a whole day at Grandpa's farm.  He even kept 2 other kids when he was a stay at home Dad to earn extra money for groceries.  It is wonderful to see how close children can be to their Dad.  These are memories they will never forget.  So bravo to all the Dads out there that have stayed home with their children.  It is not an easy job, but many blessings come with the job.
My kids have suffered greatly from me working at home with them home. SM
I have been working at home as an MT since my two kids were born. They are now 4 and 5. In the first few years, I had no help whatsoever. Their father was a bum who didnt work or take care of them while I worked. Your children get neglected while you work basically. And babies and young children desperately need your attention while they are home with you.

My kids have so many behavioral problems right now because of their neglect. I would try to set them up with things to occupy themselves, like coloring or a movie, etc.

I finally put them in day care and things have improved, but there are still a lot of issues because of the damage that was done. They still try to seek attention by doing bad things and they dont listen to me because they are so used to me letting them get away with a lot of stuff because I was too busy typing to discipline them in their early years.

If I could do it all over again, I would definitely have put them into day care from the very beginning.

My advice would be to seek PT care for your baby. Maybe you can do some work around her schedule a little when she is home, like when she takes a nap, and then bang out a bunch of work while she is in day care.


Oh you will love being an MT! Stay home,
xx
Stay-at-home moms
I have never understood how someone can stay at home with kids and do MT. I always had to give it my total concentration. I have 5 kids (all grown and married) -- and I never would have attempted to stay home with just one kid. There's too much of a chance for mistakes. The job deserves total concentration and perfection. There will always be some problems with understanding what a doc says, but the MT should give the job her best.
Stay at home with kids?
I do not know if you all got this from my post but I said nothing about staying at home with kids.  I don't even have any kids.  I just enjoy being able to work from the comfort of my own home.  Before I got into the MT profession, I worked for a bank in a call center.  I NEVER want to work like that again!  You think you are treated like crap doing MT, try working in a call center.  You are treated like cattle there.  I just feel blessed working from home doing something I love.  And it seems like you guys are putting down all the moms who do work from home doing mt.  I am sure their work is just as good as yours.  They just want to be able to be there for their kids and also be a professional.
To get to be a housewife & stay-at-home mom again.
x
stay home or go in house....

I got offered a job in a small neurology office starting at $17/hr with a raise in a few months.  No working weekends or holidays and lots of vacation days.  Low stress.


I currently work at home for a pretty decent company with a pretty decent line rate, but am starting to feel pressure to produce more...my average pay at home is between $13 and $15 an hour.  It also adds stress when there is little to know work available and I am having to alter my schedule to "make up" time.


So, I would be making a bit more money, but I will have to have child care for the summers and for after school, so I don't know if it is worth it. 


Can someone give me some insight as to whether they were faced with this decision...what they decided and why?  I would really appreciate it. 


Stay home or go in-house?

Help! What do I do?  I currently work for a pretty good national company and I get to stay home and work in my PJs, but then... we ran out of work for a few days and I panicked.  I applied for an in-house position doing radiology, which I have never done before.  I am fairly certain they will offer me the position to work 24 to 32 hours, with many more hours if I want them.  It pays about 18.50 per hour during the week and 19.39 on the weekends, which I will work one weekend day.  So now what???


Do I give up the comfort of my home for a guaranteed paycheck and work in a cubical typing radiology notes for 8 hours a day?  UGH!  Tough to have such choices in this economy. 


Any insight or thoughts on this?  I do have young children, but they spend a lot of time at grandma's while I work anyway.


 


JUST to stay HOME with your kids is NO reason to

get into this profession.  You sound like one of those many women who think just because they have a computer, can type and put two words together they can be an MT.  As I am sure you have discovered, there is so much more to this career than that. I agree the benefits of being available for our children is truly a blessing and when mine were young I was SO thankful to have that flexibility, but to all the newbies out there:  Do the research before you delve into this.  It is not as easy as some make it out to be.  Perhaps you should try running a daycare instead. Or put your children in one part-time until you get comfortable with MTing.   


Yeah, but getting to be a stay-at-home mom is just one of the perks.
I would gladly have done this had I known about it when my children were little in order to get to stay at home with them.
Me too - when do we go? Hubby would have to stay home with the kids

Some of us stay at home moms need the money too.
Just because I stay home with the kids, it doesn't mean I am working just for extra cash. My family is dependent on my income. I bring in the majority of our family's income with MT. Staying home for me is an added benefit since I am saving $1000 a month in childcare, which is money my family really needs rather than paying it out to someone else. Please, don't judge all SAHMs equally. Some of us do value our career choice and work hard to support our families.
Not stay at home, but opposite shifts. My advice:

Make sure you always say thank you.  It's a MUST for a man.  My husband and I decided to work different shifts years ago so that the kids wouldn't have to go to daycare.  Now I'm at home, but he still works 3rd shift for the same company that he's been with for 7 years because he likes it.


I've always thanked him.  I'd get home from work and he'd have dinner cooking and I'd say, "I"m so lucky to have you!"  And even if I didn't care for the dinner choice, I'd shut up and eat it. :)


Even just little things now, like if he washes the dishes or vacuums because he knows I'm on a deadline, I'll always say, "Thank you for doing that, you're such a big help."


Trust me, boost the old ego and those pots and pans won't sit in the sink. Complain one time that he missed a spot and you'll be scrubbing the broiler pan.


I turned down a hospital job to stay at home and regret it. sm
The hospital jobs are much more stable, and you have the same docs over and over. Even if they are ESL, at least you can get good at them. Take the hospital job - the PTO and benefits are worth it.
Sorry, don't post here often and not familiar. I was saying I make great money and stay at home w
Where do folks get these odd ideas?
I guess we'll stay home and eat Ramen. Hadn't though about food going up too.
x
I dont care if you stay home because ofyour kids, a health issue - sm
or because you just like to work in tne nude. The fact of the matter is, settling for a lower rate jsut for the convenience of working from home is BS. I've been doing this for 25 years and have been home since 1996 and while I know I am not making the same money I did in the haydays, I sure as he11 will not work for less. Many of these companies are bluffing if they tell you they have to lower your rate. In fact, if you hold your ground and have a decent reputation, you can even make more.

It's too bad that so many people don't believe in their abilities and worth to hold out. You should never base your decision on fear. Use logic and common sense.
working IN A HOSPITAL is different than working at home.
Someone can steal you identity from the internet if they want to. Why would you go to the time and trouble to jeopardize a job that requires some level of skill to steal someone's identity or medical records? You could get a job as a retail clerk and get info easier than going through the testing required to become an MT.
Somehow working at home translates into not really working
My in-laws are the worst. Whenever they plan something last minute and my husband says that I had to work, they say, "but she works at home!". When I one time mentioned I had a "schedule" and basically punch a clock and work full time, I don't think they believed me. They will sometimes call mid-day during the week if they are in the area to see if I want to go for lunch, etc! The best is, my husband doesn't make all that much money, so where is it coming from, the money fairy? I am ready to strangle someone! So I know how you feel and I'm sorry it upset you. You are not alone.
Working from home
When I get all the nosey/rude comments about working from home, I gave up justifying it and only now say..."It works for me, I don't even have to get dressed and can make a ton of money working from by bedroom, using all the high tech equipment that allows me to do so"..leaves it up for interpretation and usually shut's them up
working from home!

I've been working from home since it was first allowed, can't really remember the exact year, but for sure no later than 1984.  My family has always said, "get a real job", "why are you stuck at home, go work at an office where you can be around people", and on and on and on and on, ad infinitum!!!  I don't really have "friends" anyway because I've always been a hermit.  But guess what, now the only members of my family left alive are my brother and my sister and they STILL say I should get a real job!!  I just give them a disgusted look and say "yeah....I really want to have to deal with traffic jams, proper clothing regulations, no smoking rules, break time rules, punching in an out....does that seem to fit my personality???"  Of course they say, "well I can see your point".  However that does not keep them from saying it again some time later.  Guess it is never ending, so just ignore it and laugh at them.  That is all it deserves is a good laugh!!!  Quite honestly, I think they are jelous.   


    **                                                                                   


MT working at home
Ihave to tell you that in order to do MT work you have to really LOVE the job because of the long hours and the amount of research that you need to do on the reports. I am not trying to discourage you, as I was in your position not that long ago, but 'ya gotta love this job. Otherwise, there is no way to succeed. You won't make millions, and chances are you will make a pittance, but if you are enjoying it, then that is the best way to go into this.

I wish you much luck.

Gaile
Working from home --

I thought that could only be done working inhouse. Thanks.


Working at home

To make at least $15.00 an hour at home, a person would need to transcribe 150 lines per hour and be paid .10 cpl.  This comes with experience but you have to find the right company.


I am in a small rural hospital and I know our Transcriptionist does not get $15.00 an hour.


working at home
Definitely pros and cons to working at home. I consider myself a sociable person and feel hemmed in sometimes as well, even tho I have hubby, 3 kids and 2 dogs. I have done MT on the outside and it's nice to go and be with others doing the same thing, (it's great to have someone there to do "a listen" when stuck on something difficult) PLUS I also miss company potlucks, birthday celebrations, gossip (he he) and other "officey" stuff. Now that I'm working at home, I try to go out on at least one "date" a week with a friend, either for coffee or lunch or happy hour. Also I volunteer for church and school stuff. Come to think of it, though, I do find myself striking up conversations with complete strangers while shopping in Wal-Mart -- so maybe I DO need to get a life and get out more!!!
Working from home (sm)
Would like "k" to say if she works for a national, etc. I am "downsizing" to home and petrified, don't want people in and out of my home while I'm working, etc., also afraid of getting involved with the "wrong" national. I also would like a flexible schedule. Just a little scared after working 20+ years out of the house.
Anybody working at home, that
x
r u working at home or in their ofc?...sm

Seems to me if they told you 9-5, and yes, I remember your post asked about going home after you finish your work so I presume you do work in their office.....you have to be there from 9 to 5 I would presume. R U being paid hourly or salaried?  Either/or, if they told you *work from 9-5* I presume that's exactly what they mean.  When you work in an office for someone else, you have no flexibility for the things you were able to be flexible with when you worked from home.


Jes my nickel's worth....


working from home

I wanted to ask if someone knows the first step I need to take to do MT at home ?


Also may I ask what part of the country do you live in ? I am in Colorado. Help


working from home w/ little ones
I am expecting my 3rd child this winter and work at home. I am nervous about being able to work and tend to the baby. My 2 older kids are in school. Any tips or advice would be appreciated. I really do not want to put this child in daycare as it is expensive and I would rather have my child with me if possible.
Working at home
I used to work in clinic a 40 mile drive one way.  I did this for almost 10 years.  I starting figuring out how long I was on the road and it added up to almost a day a week.  No wonder I had weekends to myself, but it did not seem like it as M-F I had lost that extra day, doing nothing but sitting and driving.   Not very productive.  Have been at home working for the past 6 years.   There are pluses and minuses to everything.  Sometimes the grass is not always greener on the other side.  Weigh the pluses and minuses:) 
Working at home

Wow!  It sounds like you need to return to the office to work where you will maintain a clear head from your kids and other family.


Good luck!


She is working at home

She is working at home for them as an IC.  I agree that she should charge for her time but she has to let them know.  She needs to draw up a short contract stating what she services she will provide for what price, TAT, etc.  Does not have to be a long drawn out 4 page contract just a simple one pager stating what she provides and what is expected of the account. 


However  I do not agree with the above poster on not letting your accounts know when you will be unavailable or out of town.  You may not have to tell them where you are going but you have a responsibility to let them know you are not available and not simply do not show up.  If I did that, my accounts would be looking for someone else fast.   They all work with me when I take time off but again, to simply not acceptable.  That is like waiting for the cable guy all day long. 


Working at home...

Hello all!


I work out of my home for a physcial therapy office - I go every day and pick up tapes and return the paperwork I have completed along with the blank tapes back to the office.  I don't have time to chat with the people who work there much, I have known some of them for a few years, but not close.  I am not necessarily looking to make friends with any of them, but wondered what others do about connecting with people for social time.  I am single, so no husband, kids, etc to fill that void.  I love working out of my home very much, but am missing people contact and wondered what others do.  I used to have many friends around here (rural Iowa), but most have moved away or gotten married and got busy with their families.  Not a lot of choices of places to go to meet new friends - wish there was a way to create a work-at-home group in my area and maybe meet other transcritpionists or just find people who are experiencing the same things of isolation and what comes with working out of ones home. Any ideas or advice from any and all would be appreciated!!  Thanks!!


lorlyn 


working at home
Well, in word only am I free as a bird - but I have responsibilities, almost like having children of my own since I am the only one of my siblings who watches over my elderly parents - I check on them most every day and if they need help with things or have to be driven to a doctor's appt or other places, I do all that. I have asked other people to help when it was impossible for me to do so, but it is not something I can ask someone else to do on a full time basis. It is my responsibility and since they have always been there for me I feel it only fair I am there for them.
Believe me, I have entertained the idea more than once. Thanks!!
Lori
working from home

At home three years.  Started at a hospital 1987, Manager for 12 years at any imaging center, then became pregnant was put on bedrest, out on disability, returned back to work, within two months, pregnant and on disability again.  Returned to work, but with childcare for two babies at 380 week, decided to stay home and work evenings at the center.  2004, was asked to type at home by hospital where originally started my career.  Loved being home all day with my kids.  They would nap 2 hours, I would type, put them to bed, I would type.  I made more money than working a 40 hour week and paying for childcare.  I would change it for anything.  My kids are 5 and 4, and they realize how lucky they are.  What I enjoy the most is being able to give my sons a true "summer vacation" by being home. 


job working at home
My husband takes my job very seriously, since I make enough to pay all the bills.  My daughter works and buys the food.  I think my husband is very supportive.  He is disabled, so it works out good for us.  Thank God he is like he is today, not always was, but today he is.
Working at home.
I only have 1 bedroom and have had to make an office in the dining room. Any tips for focusing and not getting sidetracked? Since working at home, I also find it way too easy to get lazy. I don't understand it. When I worked in an office, we kind of helped each other stay motivated, because if somebody talked too much or made too much noise, they were shushed, like in the library and others said they needed to concentrate. I don't have that at home. I need to work harder.
Is this working from home or
on site? I interviewed for a pathology job because I knew somebody who enjoyed doing it at a different hospital. But when I interviewed I discovered this hospital did things in a very inefficient way and the sound quality was not good. These factors made me decide not to take it, but at a better organized hospital it could be great.
working at home
Glad to see these posts. I am at my wit's end with my mom and thought she was developing dementia. At least once a week she will call and say, "I thought maybe we could go to lunch" or "what are you doing? thought we could get together." Pulling my hair out, getting tired of saying I am working and cannot go out.

Thanks all!
Working from home, non-MT
Yes you can make as much or as little money as you want by working 10-12 hours a week.

My friend Amy made over $1800 her first week working part-time and after 3 months with the company, she brought both her little girls home from daycare. She has a recorded call you can listen to and she goes over the company in detail. The number for the call is 1-712-432-9598.

It's not for everyone but it may just be for you. I love it!

Pray about it and see what the Lord says about it.

Take care,

Robbye
Email: rhoard@swbell.net
www.freedomathometeam.com/rhoard
working at home

I totally agree with you on this subject.  I work in house for a HMO which constantly disrespects and belittles their transcriptionists (their company starts with the letter after "J") and us transcriptionists are being replaced with VR. The cattiness and nastiness has taken its toll on me and I am ready to stay home and work. I can say in all honesty that even though the money has been good - the environment is so hostile that no amount of money is worth being treated like garbage.  THe union which is supposes to represent us is in cahoots with management and they don't give a rat's patoot what happens to us.  I am ready for a change and I feel that working at home is where it truly is at.


Working at home.

I came across this forum surfing the internet.  Gosh!  I feel so antiquated.  I have been doing MT for 12 years for the same doctor.  I drive to his office every morning, pick up his tapes, and take the work back the next morning.   I know nothing about working in-house, VR, etc.  A friend, whose husband is doctor, advised me to take a medical terminology course at our local college.  We were working at the same law firm as legal secretaries at that time.  After I aced the course, she referred me to a doctor friend of her husband and we have been working together since and we will probably retire together.  When I go on vacation, he holds his tapes until I come back as he doesn't want anyone else typing for him.  I can take as long as I want to get caught up, but it only takes me a couple of days.  I also make decent money.  I don't have any of the problems that I have been reading about on this forum.  Is there anyone else out there who still picks up tapes? 


Working at home
I am curous as to why you want to work at home?

If you have an in-house hourly pay job, with benefits KEEP IT!!

There are so many of us working at home now because we were outsourced and would love to have our old jobs in-house back..

At this point, keep what you have and be grateful!!!
Working at home

I have been working at home with 4 kids for 12+ years now.  I even went through 2 babies with that and it could not have been better.  It was so nice to have them playing behind you while you actually worked!  The only hard part for me is the summertime with them home and wanting attention but it only lasts a few months.  My oldest is now going off to college and I know she got me all she needed to make a great transition and be a great person cuz I was here for her when she needed me AND she saw me working and knows she can do it all too!


working at home
I agree with you.
currently working at home see msg
IF I took this job, you have to train in house for 6 or 7 months.  Then you have the option of going home or staying in house. 
working at home
I think the most important thing we forget because we work at home is it is WORK.

We would never ever expect to be allowed to get up from our desks at a job away from home in an office setting, with the boss in the next room, to deal with an hour-long ordeal from our kids and their ups and downs. We would not be allowed to attend to family and friends calling us to chat at "the office" with the manager close by, so why do we allow ourselves to be pulled in at home? Because we can.

It is very hard but you have to remember that this has to work the right way for you or it is off to the office you go. The kids need to be reminded that too.

I feel quilty sometimes, especially in the summer when my 7-year-old asked me to come play outside at 10:30 in the moring. My father-in-law reminded me that I should not feel guily. If I was not able to be working at home she would be at a sitter's house I would be away for 8 or 9 hours a day. That made more sense than any reasons I had tried to convince myself of.

It is hard to tell the kids you are busy when they see you at the PC but I like the poster how said they lose something in the same amount of money that they caused you to lose,, might have to try that.

Mandy


working away from home
I was wondering what do you need besides laptop to be able to take work with you if going away for holidays?

What internet works best? Would you need one of them wireless air cards if family member does not have internet? I am totally lost.

Any input would be appreciated.