The downside of working from home

I have been lucky enough to be able to carry on with my job from home. But I am finding it really hard to keep my self-esteem up. I miss the office banter, and oddly enough, the office politics. When I find myself at lunchtime and I am still in my pyjamas, and my shoulders are full of baby throw-up, I just feel disgusted with myself. I feel annoyed that I am so ungrateful because I do realise how lucky I am to be able to work from home. Any suggestions?

Don’t be so hard on yourself. It is hard to remember who you are when you haven’t slept well and you are trying to be everything to everyone. There is no doubt that working from home is not easy. There is no clear-cut division between work and home, and so you find yourself torn between the work you are completing and the washing that is waiting to be hung out!

Perhaps what you need is to schedule regular work meetings, say once or twice a week. Find a suitable carer for your child for a couple of hours, and go to the office. It will help to get some routine into your day and motivate you to actually brush your hair!

Other than that you have to be a bit firmer with yourself. You will look back at this time and long for the days when you could still be in your pyjamas at lunchtime. But if it makes you feel horrible, then you will have to get your routine a bit tighter and include shower time for the mommy, so that you are dressed and at the computer like a normal working person.