Work from Home Moms: Overcoming Isolation

One of the greatest challenges for work from home moms is the strong sense of isolation. Unfortunately, this sense of isolation can lead to depression which then sets up a series of adverse effects for the work at home mom, her family and her work itself. This is another area for working moms that is frequently overlooked and not adequately planned for.

As a mom who works from home you would face many demands on your time and energy. Many Internet marketers who are "not in your shoes" assume that it is easy. However, working alone in the house in the face of constant demands can make you feel very lonely. No one is an island - we all need to connect to live a full life.

Even in your busiest days there will always be a moment when you feel very drained, but this is a common feeling amongst work at home moms. You have all the workload associated with household chores, kids and business, but not the offsetting advantage of having co-workers to chat to when you feel you need it.

A Vicious Circle

Very often being isolated in the house is an issue that has been overlooked by many work at home moms. The fact is, though, that it is one of the matters that can affect your work at home life the most. Before long you can become stressed by the constancy of the demands and frustrated in your work at home endeavors. This can lead to depression and the inertia and inactivity that result from this condition. This, in turn, leads to a vicious circle - when you feel depressed, you withdraw further, which only leads to increased depression. The real antidotes to a sense of isolation and accompanying depression are activity and connection.

When you are feeling isolated as a work at home mum, you should consider what is contributing to this sense of isolation, how isolation affects you personally and what you can do to overcome isolation.

Like many work at home moms , you can experience isolation because of the nature of your work and it's resultant confinement. Many work from home moms remain in their houses almost 24/7 (apart from shopping chores). So it is easy to become disconnected from other people. This is particularly true when you are caring for very young children and this stage of your life demands major adjustments to manage it effectively.

When you feel isolated and withdraw because of the demands of your chores and your work, you are removing yourself from a major source of energy and motivation - the energy of community. This is identified as one of the fundamental sources of human energy located in the Heart Chakra.

The Heart Chakra - the Energy of Community

This energy is experienced as "connection" - brought about by your relationships with others and by engaging them in collaborative activity. Collaboration in turn builds motivation. The major blockage to this energy source is "isolation" - cutting yourself off from supportive relationships.

The Internet has made it increasingly possible to tap into the Heart Chakra through genuine connection with others. Social networking provides an accessible avenue for sharing ideas and issues, building relationships and establishing collaborative partnerships. This is particularly important for those work at home moms who feel imprisoned in their own homes because of the demands of very young children and household chores.

When you become genuinely connected, you develop your self-esteem, knowledge and skill. You are able to move outside yourself and your immediate concerns and to learn from others who have similar issues.

Participating in Social Networks

Some social networks, such as Squidoo, enable you to express your interests and creativity, earn an online income, contribute to charity and build collaborative and productive relationships. This form of social media marketing can be very beneficial, motivating and uplifting.

Some people, for example, have used the Squidoo platform to gain support to handle the pain they are experiencing from the loss of someone near to them, the bullying of their child or the loss of a child or relative through drugs.

Social networks such as Squidoo provide the opportunity for you to:

1. participate in discussion forums or groups (e.g. the Squidoo "Rocket Moms")
2. develop a "learning partnership" with one or more people for mutual benefit
3. connect to other people through free online workshops and teleconferences
4. deepen your relationships through regular communication via Skype
5. build close friendships through joint ventures
6. create an action learning group to develop your online business.

If you are time-poor, it is important that you participate in these social networks in an appropriate way to build your relationships and your business. You don't want social networking to become another source of stress. It is vital to learn to stay focused and to use social networks to build your energy, rather than dissipate it.

Another strategy for overcoming isolation as a work from home mom is creating time for yourself and this is the subject of another article.

Photo Credit: Cold by dichohecho