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Office Hours

Published September 14, 2009 7:08 AM by Carol Dantzler-Harris, MEd, RHIA, CPC

One of the perks of working from home is that you get to set your own office hours. There are no employees, boss or co-workers that you must make time for during an 8-hour day at the office. When I want to start my day, I simply go upstairs to my home office and start working. My schedule is not written down, it's all in my head.  No need to post office hours again.

Well, so I thought. My kids always come into my office when I in the middle of finishing up something that needs to go to my students or boss. I always tell them I am working, but they barge into the office without knocking. They want me to stop what I am doing and take care of whatever crisis they are facing. The hubby also has this habit. If I had a dime for every time I am asked, "What are you doing?" I would be a millionaire. 

So, I am going to try an experiment this week. I am going to post my office hours on the outside of my office door. I will indicate the day and time when my classes are in session and the times when I am catching up on e-mails, paperwork, etc. I plan to clearly label my idle time so they know when I am not at work. I am not sure if this will work. If not, I will have to purchase a lock for my office door to keep them out!

9 comments

Alex,

No, I don't have any other personal distractions other than my family.  I have deadlines that must be met so I am very focused on my work.  I can spend three hours working online without taking a break.  When I am working home alone, I totally loose track of time.  

Carol

Carol Dantzler September 20, 2009 11:07 AM

Mary,

I gained my teaching experience at a community college.  I had over a year of teaching experience when I started working full time on line.  I still teach at the communtiy college as an adjunct instructor.  This is really the best of both worlds.

Carol

Carol Dantzler September 16, 2009 6:37 PM

Danny,

I have always been interested in teaching so I put a plan into action to obtain my goal.  I went back to school to get my masters degree so that I could transition into a career in education or training.  My intent was not to work from home. When I obtained my masters, I started working part-time at a community college.  This experience paved the wave for working on a contract bases with online schools.  I think that I made the  career move at the right time.  

Carol

Carol Dantzler September 16, 2009 6:32 PM

I would love to work from home but I just started my education at National College in Indianapolis. So I was wondering how did you get started working from home?

Danny Dawson September 15, 2009 12:38 PM
Indianapolis IN

How many years of experience did you have when you started working from home.

Mary September 15, 2009 12:30 PM
Indianapolis IN

I think the whole door schedule thing would be perfect ...but do you have any distractions of your own outside of the kids and hubby ...do you ever get sidetracted? it seems like it would be easy to drift when working at home

Alex Costley, HIT - student, National College September 15, 2009 12:26 PM
Indianapolis IN

Do you enjoy working from home?

mary September 15, 2009 12:24 PM
Indianpolis IN

Hi Clint,

I studied on my own but I attended two CPC exam preps given by local AAPC chapters in Hickory and Charlotte.  If you go to the AAPC website, the CPC exam review dates in your area should be posted.  I attended one review for free and the other I paid a small fee.  

Carol  

Carol Dantzler, Educator September 14, 2009 8:20 PM

Hi Carol

I am so glad to have found your blog online.  I am just beginning my studies for the CPC exam.  I hope to take it in either Oct. or Nov.  I am trying to study for the exam on my own using the AAPC materials...trying to save some money by not taking the CPC Prep Course.  Did you study on your own or through the prep course?  Thanks for your help & blog!!

Clint

Clint September 14, 2009 4:12 PM
Charlotte NC

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