A little over a year ago I quit my job as an “operations representative” (read: boring, data entry job for a mutual fund company). It was a pretty scary decision, but it was an easy one. I was pregnant at the time and I knew that once I had my son there was no way I would be a good mama working at a job that I didn’t care about. And in order to continue working there, I would have had to put him in day care. I really didn’t want to go the daycare route, since I wasn’t comfortable with the idea of someone I didn’t know spending more time with my son than me, and all of my income would really only pay for daycare and that’s pretty much it.

I told myself I would try and make it a year. I told myself I would get a job outside the home if I needed to. So far, I haven’t had too. Granted, I am not making a lot at this point. But things are really starting to happen. It’s pretty slow and steady but nonetheless it’s happening. Somehow, I am figuring out a way to make it all work. Still, I do have trouble finding balance. When your office is also your home, how does one separate “office time” from “home time?” At this point I pretty much have to work whenever I can. Most of the time, this is when my son goes to bed. Or when he is napping. Or away at the grandparents. (Thank goodness for grandparents!!)

Another thing is, when you are working for yourself and you don’t have a lot of cash to invest in your business, you end up doing most of the work yourself. For instance, I ended up designing my website myself and hiring someone to make my design into a live, working website. I spent a good amount of time designing everything, and in the meantime I still have to do things that will make me immediate money. The website isn’t needless work, since hopefully it will be prosperous in the future. But it isn’t putting money directly into my hand.

With all that said, I am always looking for new ways to make the best use of my time and to cut corners. I am realizing that organization goes along way. Right now my office is sort of a crazy mess, with no real rhyme or reason. The mess definitely wastes time for me. So I have decided to invest a little money in a new desk and some office supplies that will help me stay organized. I bought a few things from See Jane Work. They have some of the cutest office supplies! They are having a sale on their basic line. Yeah, I know I could have spent way less buying generic, bland colored office supplies. But I couldn’t help myself! I basically lived in a dreary cubicle for five years, so I think it’s completely acceptable to spend a little extra on pretty office supplies. Especially since I spend so much time in my office. It might as well be inspiring. When everything is all set up I will post before and after pictures.