The Applause Award was created in 2009 to recognize the significant contributions our wonderful authors make to the members of the online work-at-home-mom (WAHM) community.

As business owners, we’re told to write articles because it’s a smart marketing move. But there’s something about a WAHM article – an article written by a mom specifically for other moms – that affects much more than website traffic or your sales.

When we share our personal stories and our experiences in the articles we write, we create a connection with other moms that runs much deeper than our pocketbooks. Sometimes we discover kindred spirits in the articles we read. Sometimes we just experience a small feeling of, “Whew, I’m not the only one.” The relief that comes when we discover that someone else, somewhere, understands exactly what we’re going through. In either case, they can make a profound impact on our “WAHM lives.”

This month’s Applause Award winner is Michelle Shaeffer of The Small Business Muse.

Michelle has been a contributor to our writing community since almost the very beginning.  She writes WAHM articles on business topics and living a fulfilling WAHM life. I particularly enjoy Michelle’s internet marketing articles – she’s a savvy marketer with a lot of style.

Michelle is a work at home mom to three beautiful little “blessings,” a cat, tortoise, tank full of fish, and wife to Arlyn. They are a homeschooling, natural living family.

Michelle has been designing websites for about 15 years (8 years professionally) and offering website hosting for almost 4 years.  If you’re looking for a reliable host for your website, I definitely recommend Michelle. She has been doing a fantastic job of hosting WAHM-Articles for the past several months. In 2007 she began producing info products for WAHMs – which I also highly recommend!

Thank you Michelle for being part of WAHM-Articles and for inspiring our readers!

~ Denise

It’s partly because I still haven’t hit my groove after taking two weeks off for Christmas. Partly because I’m still anemic and tire easily. And partly because I’m distracted by family concerns… like helping Darian get ready for his first high school final exams.

All understandable reasons for not being totally with it, but when I think of the bills that won’t get paid this month if I don’t get to work… it doesn’t quite cut it!

So, here are three things I’m doing – starting tomorrow – to pull myself out of this funk. If you have your own motivational tips to share with me, please share them with me in the comments. I’d love to hear how you keep yourself motivated too.

1. Go back to a regular schedule. I’ve stressed the importance of following a schedule so many times… yet here I am, working when I feel like it and taking breaks when I don’t. A schedule is the biggest reason why I’ve accomplished as much as I have over the years. But sometimes, like the last few weeks, I just rebel at the thought of being tied down by something so rigid as a timetable. Even if it’s one I set myself. Time to get over that and get back to work!

2. Trick myself by trying something new. To spice things up, I’m changing my routine by adding a new project that I’ve been putting off. I started planning a teleseminar series last year, but was waylaid by illness and client work. I’m starting work on it again tomorrow.  I think the fun of doing something new, that I haven’t tried before, will help get me over this hump.

3. Start getting daily exercise. That might not sound like it fits in a list of healthy work habits, but I think it does. I know when I exercise regularly, I feel more alert, I think more clearly, and I just feel happier. All good things if you want to get ahead!

So, those are the three things I’m doing to get my groove back. Do you have any other secrets you can share with me?

~ Denise

It’s Corrie’s mom, Caryn Schulenberg!

Welcome to WAHM-Articles, Caryn. I know you’ll have lots of wonderful information and experience to share with us!

~ Denise

But then, as often happens, things didn’t go quite as I expected.

On Saturday evening, I developed a migraine headache. It was was on of those that makes the room spin and amplifies everyone’s voice so it sounds like they’re shouting at you. I begged my family for silence, pulled the blinds and went to bed.

I got up yesterday morning long enough to teach my preschool Sunday School class and take Cassidy on a lunch date.  Then it was back to bed for me, and praying I would feel human again Monday morning.

This morning, I did feel a lot better when I woke up, but now I was faced with the aftermath of my killer headache.

For two days, no one had washed dishes or cleaned up the wet towels. Someone had thoughtfully vacuumed the carpet for me (thank you, dear hubby!) but the crumbs under the kitchen table were still waiting for me.

Let me be clear that I am NOT complaining about the condition of our house after my weekend in bed. In our family, these are the responsibilities that I have claimed and I feel blessed to serve my family in these practical ways.

So today, instead of of jumping back into my paid work, my “mom duties” and the work of maintaining a household have taken first priority. When everything here is under control again, I know my businesses will still be waiting for me, and there will still be plenty of time and energy to implement all my new ideas.

How about you?

How is your New Year staring out? Are the plans you envisioned taking shape, or are you like me, and having to reprioritize now that 2010 is actually here?

~ Denise

If you’ve been visiting WAHM-Articles and reading our weekly WAHM Tips newsletter lately, you will already be familiar with Julie and her wonderful articles on cooking and parenting. I hope we will have the opportunity to publish many more of them and share them with you!

You can learn more about Julie by visiting her website Keep-Your-Home-Cooking.com

Welcome Julie!

~ Denise

How about you? Is your Christmas shopping done?

~ Denise

Jennifer May is a WAHM who  enjoys helping, sharing and supporting WAHMs -   those looking to work at home and those who already do.  She is already a Professional Writer for Examiner.com and runs a  Home Business with Ameriplan .

She’s dedicated to the online WAHM community and owns two very successful work at home groups on Cafemom – I Want to Work at Home! and Work at Home Directory

Thank you for joining us Jennifer, and we look forward to publishing many of your WAHM articles!

As I’m trying to get this blog post up, I’m wondering what the kids decided to make themselves for lunch. I hope they remembered to include at least one vegetable!

And the accumulation of cat hair in my office is starting to make me sneeze. I REALLY need to find some time to vacuum today.

Oh, and I’m wondering if the potential client who contacted me last week was pleased with my proposal. I still haven’t heard from her…

You see? It’s enough to drive me to… to distraction!

Here are some ways I’ve found of working around all these niggly things that scream for my attention.

1. Put my headphones on and play some soft music. It really does help! All of a sudden, I can’t hear the kids arguing in the next room. (They’re teenagers, so they can handle most disagreements on their own.) The voices in my head reminding me of everything else I have to do quiet down, and I just focus on the music and what I have to do right now.

2. Write a to-do list. Whenever an idea pops into my head, I jot it down on a list. Whether it’s something I have to do later, or an exciting new idea I want to pursue, it’s written down so I don’t have to remember it anymore. Instead, I can return to it when I’m ready.

3. Schedule lots of breaks into my day. For a long time, I was in the trap of believing that since I could work whenever I wanted, I had to work ALL the time! I’ve found I’m much more productive when I give myself plenty of breaks to take care of household chores, talk to the kids, or even read a few pages of a book. When I return to my desk, I’m refreshed and able to concentrate again.

4. Take care of whatever is bugging me. Sometimes it’s one big thing that’s really driving me crazy and keeping my attention from where it should be. I’ve learned the big thing sometimes is to just deal with it. Usually, it’s something I’ve been procrastinating on, or something I don’t like to do. But once I take care of it, the distraction is gone and I’m ready to handle everything else.

What are your biggest distractions when you work at home?

What are your secrets for dealing with your distractions?

Denise Willms is a Virtual Assistant and work-at-home-mom to two teens. You can find more articles about working at home by visiting WAHM-Articles.com

Like most of us, Devon is a work at home mom and wants to share what she’s learned with others who want to work at home too. She’s planning to write about Virtual Assistance, internet marketing, and working from home.

Thank you for joining WAHM-Articles,  Devon, and we’re excited to see what you have to share with us!

~ Denise

]]> http://wahm-articles.com/blog/2009/11/welcome-to-wa-devon-e-zimny/feed/ 0 http://wahm-articles.com/blog/2009/11/welcome-to-wa-kari-day/ http://wahm-articles.com/blog/2009/11/welcome-to-wa-kari-day/#comments Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:03:20 +0000 admin http://wahm-articles.com/blog/?p=1256 I have another new author to announce today!

Work at home mom, Kari Day,  joined the WAHM-Articles family a few days ago.

Kari runs an online business, a home daycare, and takes care of her family of five. She really is the perfect picture of a successful WAHM!

Kari is going to be writing about how to make all the various aspects of your life work together…  the mom thing, the business thing, the faith thing.

Kari, thank you for becoming a member of WAHM-Articles! We’re thrilled to have you!

~ Denise