Re: Advise - Oh, but you're home!

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/8/2001 5:10:25 AM Central Standard Time,

xyz123_abc@... writes:

> I'm sorry if this is an off topic subject

This is a VERY valid concern...I went through this with my family and

friends...I have 2 words for you CALLER ID. The other word is discipline.

You have to learn to not pick up the phone during that precious window of

time when you can work. Ask your husband not to call during that

time....when your friends do call and you are working, practice saying...you

know, I am working right now and will have to get back to you. They will

learn.

It is tough...I know...I have been doing it for 6 years. My family still

isn't use to it, and sometimes I resent the off hours I have to work so not

to take away from their needs. I fortunately am a morning person, so I get

my best work done between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. before my family gets up.

Good luck....and this is not off topic...it is a very, very valid concern

with ICs who work at home....all tricks of the trade are welcome......Let me

know if I can be of any more help....I feel your pain

Cheryl, CMT

[Guest guest]

Hello xyz123_abc@...,

In reference to your comment:

è How do you handle family/friends that have the " oh, but

è you're home " attitude?

Although I am an employee for a national transcription company, rather than

an IC, I have the same problem. As someone else said, Caller ID is a

wonderful thing. My grown children and my friends still call, but at least

most of the time now they actually ask if I'm working. My oldest daughter's

favorite way to start a conversation is " I know you're working, but... " , so

she's not totally there yet, but I'm working on her.

My husband tends to interrupt me too. I often think things would be better

if I were in a room with a door that I could close. That physical barrier

might help him get the idea. Since I don't have that, now and then I have to

remind him that if I worked in an office he couldn't just drop in anytime,

and his boss certainly wouldn't like it if I dropped in on him while he was

working anytime I felt like it.

Most of the time my husband is pretty good about it and he's finally realized

that if I get up to get a drink or go to the bathroom, THAT'S the time to

talk to me, not when I'm sitting here with my earphones on. Another thing I

have found that helps is in addition to earphones, I have speakers on my

computer, and I turn the volume up so when my husband comes in the room he

can hear the doctor talking through the speakers to give that extra " nudge "

to remind my husband that I'm working, not just sitting there. Some of you

may be thinking that's a violation of the privacy issue, but it's not like my

husband stands there and listens to everything the doctor says, it's simply a

way for him to know when I'm listening, and most of the time he turns around

and walks away. The only ones who listen all the time to what's coming out

of the speakers are my dogs and cats, and I really don't think they are going

to tell anyone what they hear <grin>.

Jan " Typing is my life " (said sarcastically)

Remember... WSTPMTR (which means,

whoever signs the paycheck makes the rules).

[Guest guest]

I have a neighbor who keeps coming in. She drives me crazy. I feel for

her as she is a very senior person with a very disabled husband who has

no family...or she respects their time...but not mine.

Another suggestion might be to get an answering machine that says, " you

have reached xxxxxxxxxx but we are working at this moment. Please call

between the hous of xxxxxx " or something similar. Your time is your

business at home or away and how many times do you call a business and

hear " all reps are busy now. The best time to call is ... "

Good luck.

Aliceanne

On Thu, 8 Nov 2001 07:07:02 EST cbowers960@... writes:

> In a message dated 11/8/2001 5:10:25 AM Central Standard Time,

> xyz123_abc@... writes:

>

>

> > I'm sorry if this is an off topic subject

>

> This is a VERY valid concern...I went through this with my family

> and

> friends...I have 2 words for you CALLER ID. The other word is

> discipline.

> You have to learn to not pick up the phone during that precious

> window of

> time when you can work. Ask your husband not to call during that

> time....when your friends do call and you are working, practice

> saying...you

> know, I am working right now and will have to get back to you. They

> will

> learn.

>

> It is tough...I know...I have been doing it for 6 years. My family

> still

> isn't use to it, and sometimes I resent the off hours I have to work

> so not

> to take away from their needs. I fortunately am a morning person,

> so I get

> my best work done between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m. before my family gets

> up.

>

> Good luck....and this is not off topic...it is a very, very valid

> concern

> with ICs who work at home....all tricks of the trade are

> welcome......Let me

> know if I can be of any more help....I feel your pain

>

> Cheryl, CMT

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Just adding my experience with this -- my husband is the biggest offender

here!! Ya' know the old, " Oh, can you call this, this and this today? "

Ahhhhhhhhhhh ... no. I won't be home as I'll be " at work " today (as I am

every day), so we'll just have to take care of these things when I'm NOT at

work. I, too, work from home, but I've made it clear (or tried repeatedly)

to all that we're just gonna *pretend* I'm working out of the home. Feel

free to call and leave a message and I will get back to you when I get home

from work. THAT I've found is the only way. I do make some exceptions (MY

call tho'). This is the only thing that works for me. Will welcome any

other ways of dealing with this!!

Shel

Re: Advise - " Oh, but you're home! "

Hello xyz123_abc@...,

In reference to your comment:

è How do you handle family/friends that have the " oh, but

è you're home " attitude?

Although I am an employee for a national transcription company, rather than

an IC, I have the same problem. As someone else said, Caller ID is a

wonderful thing. My grown children and my friends still call, but at least

most of the time now they actually ask if I'm working. My oldest daughter's

favorite way to start a conversation is " I know you're working, but... " , so

she's not totally there yet, but I'm working on her.

My husband tends to interrupt me too. I often think things would be better

if I were in a room with a door that I could close. That physical barrier

might help him get the idea. Since I don't have that, now and then I have

to

remind him that if I worked in an office he couldn't just drop in anytime,

and his boss certainly wouldn't like it if I dropped in on him while he was

working anytime I felt like it.

Most of the time my husband is pretty good about it and he's finally

realized

that if I get up to get a drink or go to the bathroom, THAT'S the time to

talk to me, not when I'm sitting here with my earphones on. Another thing I

have found that helps is in addition to earphones, I have speakers on my

computer, and I turn the volume up so when my husband comes in the room he

can hear the doctor talking through the speakers to give that extra " nudge "

to remind my husband that I'm working, not just sitting there. Some of you

may be thinking that's a violation of the privacy issue, but it's not like

my

husband stands there and listens to everything the doctor says, it's simply

a

way for him to know when I'm listening, and most of the time he turns around

and walks away. The only ones who listen all the time to what's coming out

of the speakers are my dogs and cats, and I really don't think they are

going

to tell anyone what they hear <grin>.

Jan " Typing is my life " (said sarcastically)

Remember... WSTPMTR (which means,

whoever signs the paycheck makes the rules).

TO REMOVE YOURSELF FROM THIS MAILING LIST send a blank email to

nmtc-unsubscribe

PLEASE VISIT THE NMTC WEB SITE - http://go.to/nmtc

[Guest guest]

>>>The only time you will do so is if there is fire, smoke,

poisoning or blood.

That works!! Luv it ...........

Shel

Advise - " Oh, but you're home! "

>

>

> > Hi all,

> >

> > I'm just beginning to work at home and can already see a

> > problem brewing.

> >

> > How do you handle family/friends that have the " oh, but you're

> > home " attitude? I'm sure you know what I mean, they want you to

> > watch their kids, run errands or talk on the phone because you're

> > not working, " your home! " I have family that will call because the

> > know I'm " home " . My husband just got ticked off because I was

> > trying to work and wouldn't accept a phone call from his aunt. His

> > reasoning, " it's only one minute, can't you take a phone call! "

> > Yes, I could but that's the 5th call tonight! I'll never get anything

> > done.

> >

> > How do all of you working from home handle these situations? I

> > have a small child and have to work when he is napping or

> > sleeping for the night. I know I can just turn the phone off and let

> > the answering machine pick up but what about the husband?

> >

> > I don't get it, he was the one that made comments about my " not

> > working " and now that I am it's like he wants to throw a monkey

> > wrench into it. I can understand some interruptions but I need to

> > get this under control before it gets out of control.

> >

> > Any suggestions?

> >

> > I'm sorry if this is an off topic subject. Please mail your thought

> > privately, then. Thanks.

> >

> > Regina

> >

> >

> > TO REMOVE YOURSELF FROM THIS MAILING LIST send a blank email to

> nmtc-unsubscribe

> >

> > PLEASE VISIT THE NMTC WEB SITE - http://go.to/nmtc

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi, Marsha here. That's an old problem that is common to all at-home

workers. People think that becasue you're home, they can just pawn their

kids off on you and stuff like that. When I have this problem, I just put

the message center on from my phone company. I have let everybody know that

between certain hours, you are not going to answer that phone no matter what

the problem. The only time you will do so is if there is fire, smoke,

poisoning or blood. Let your kids know that as well. For example, during

the day I don't answer my phone but let my voice messaging system take it.

Also, let your friends and neighbors know that between the hours of (and you

set those hours), you don't answer their calls and you don't babysit their

kids. Just thought I'd throw this one out there.

Marsha

Advise - " Oh, but you're home! "

> Hi all,

>

> I'm just beginning to work at home and can already see a

> problem brewing.

>

> How do you handle family/friends that have the " oh, but you're

> home " attitude? I'm sure you know what I mean, they want you to

> watch their kids, run errands or talk on the phone because you're

> not working, " your home! " I have family that will call because the

> know I'm " home " . My husband just got ticked off because I was

> trying to work and wouldn't accept a phone call from his aunt. His

> reasoning, " it's only one minute, can't you take a phone call! "

> Yes, I could but that's the 5th call tonight! I'll never get anything

> done.

>

> How do all of you working from home handle these situations? I

> have a small child and have to work when he is napping or

> sleeping for the night. I know I can just turn the phone off and let

> the answering machine pick up but what about the husband?

>

> I don't get it, he was the one that made comments about my " not

> working " and now that I am it's like he wants to throw a monkey

> wrench into it. I can understand some interruptions but I need to

> get this under control before it gets out of control.

>

> Any suggestions?

>

> I'm sorry if this is an off topic subject. Please mail your thought

> privately, then. Thanks.

>

> Regina

>

>

> TO REMOVE YOURSELF FROM THIS MAILING LIST send a blank email to

nmtc-unsubscribe

>

> PLEASE VISIT THE NMTC WEB SITE - http://go.to/nmtc

>

>