Any advice on finding balance... sm
Posted By: struggling MT mom on 2008-12-14
In Reply to:
with working as an MT, the ebb and flow of the business of IC working from a pool, being a mother of a 10 year-old and a wife. How do you find the time for a well balanced family and work life? Finding time to be with your growing children, teaching them values, finding time for your relationship with spouse so that all of your family are happy, working as and MT at home. I find I work way too long although I am still in the learning phase of my company just starting full time. I find my daughter is growing up and I barely have time for her or for my husband. I want to provide a happy home and I want my daughter to learn values. She is having trouble at school and at home with her attitude.
Due to finanancial difficulties we had to move in with my mother-in-law and father-in-law and it really is not the best situation but could not be helped. I am slow as an MT. I just have a hard time finding a good balance for my family and working. I wondered how some of you out there do it and are happy with your work life and family life raising children and finding time for a well-balanced relationship with your spouse. My huband is trying to find a job now working as a cook in a hospital. He just has to wait for the hiring manager to contact him.
I appreciate any advice.
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My advice is you'd be better off calling 911, than finding out you should have and didn't
I don't want to scare you, but if you wait too long to make up your mind. Because you have children there you definitely need to find out. Better to find out it was GI than to not go and find out it was heart problems!
Any tips for finding a good alphabetized list of physicians in a certain state? Not finding very
s
Yes, if I could have the right balance of
administrative support and the power to hire/fire employees who are worth keeping/letting go.
Yes, I would.
How to balance it all.
I've been doing MT for 7 looooong years now and have recently gone back to school (pre-med). I've had to find a new job, a child with ADD/depression who takes massive amounts of one on one time to get school work done, etc., and another little one. I'm struggling getting work done and my homework. I took a fairly light load (13 credits) but am just feeling overwhelmed. Any time saving tips would be greatly appreciated!
It's tough to balance it all.
I've got a very full life, too. DH puts in a lot of hours at his job, but he doesn't see that I put in just as many. When he takes a break at work, he gets to sit down somewhere and actually eat or drink a Starbucks coffee. I have to make my own coffee, drop a kid off, pick a kid up or swap out a load of laundry during my "breaks" just to keep up. He does put in long hours at his job, and he's too tired to help out with household chores. He doesn't have time to get his errands done during the day either because he's got a demanding job. The kids do help out around here, too, but they have really full schedules with school, sports, jobs and friends. We've got pets contributing to the mess. Even my relatives call during the day for help with stuff. Cooking, grocery shopping, errands, bills and finances all fall on me to do. It's a load of bunk. I told DH I wasn't going to do MT full-time any more because of everything else I do around here. Why should I make as much money (or more) than he does, work just as many hours, and do EVERYTHING else that is expected of me? I even got hired part-time at an MT job, but they're trying to creep the hours up on me again. Plus, I have a second part-time job that's pretty demanding and just not worth what they pay me. I've got people demanding of me from sunrise to sunset, and I'm sick of it all! I'd like to sit on my backside and watch a TV program or movie for a change. I'd like to be have time to pursue my hobbies.
You (we) gotta get mean! JUST SAY NO to all the people badgering you all the time. Don't answer the phone or the door. Use caller ID and put a "do not disturb" note on the door. Lock or close your office door if you have one. Stay focused. Set work goals for yourself. I type at least 30 minutes of dictation before taking a break to go swap out laundry and stretch, then I get back to it. Assess your life and see what you can cut back on or streamline. Make a list of daily chores that take less than 5 minutes to do, and do those throughout the day. Delegate, ask for help.
How do you balance time
This especially causes problems for me working at home. I help take care of grandchildren and help my children also, hubby, pets, housework, cooking, errands, etc. I can't seem to balance that with my work. It cuts my production with the constant interruptions.
There is a balance though, people who are too social
People who tend to spend a lot of time alone seem to be a little sad. Just mix it up a little and find your balance. For me, if i'm around people too much, I feel absolutely drained, but if i'm totally isolated, I feel trapped and sad. So I socialize a couple times a week by taking classes, seeing family members, talking to neighbors, meeting up with a friend, and thats enough. Just not everyday, maybe not even every two days!
Balance Ball chair. Has anyone tried?
I found this in a catalogue: http://www.gaiam.com/retail/product/95-1004
I have a balance ball, and now and then I sit on it at my desk. It really does feel great, but the problem is keeping it steady. It's large and I have a hard time keeping myself at a comfy distance from the keyboard. I was thinking of getting this chair as a "supplemental" chair. I don't think it would work for 8 hours a day, but I think it would help alleviate some pressure and strain for periods during my work sessions.
And, this may be TMI - but this past summer I had a breast reduction. (Best thing I've ever done for myself!) The change in my body has definitely affected my posture and has alleviated pain in my back and shoulders. But I really need to strengthen my back and obliques more. I thought this chair might help with that.
Has anyone used this type of chair, or even used a balance ball at their desks? What do you think?
balance...sm (long message)
just wanted to encourage you. i suffer from burnout too (30+ years in this industry would burn out anyone!) =) ...but I have found ways to overcome it.
i would suggest that you NOT change companies. often when we're really stressed, making major changes is the LAST thing we should do.
for me, i find if i lower my MT expectations and quit being as perfectionistic as i want to be, i decrease the stress load. if you have the ESL from h*ll leave the allowed amounts of blanks or let QA deal with them and move on! you have nothing to prove to these difficult dictators...i try not to take it personally that they don't give a rip that they make our job nearly impossible....
i also need to keep my work life and home/personal/creative/school/community/family roles in balance. i work 2 jobs (1 MT, 1 not, go to school--online, and am a single mom raising 2 kids--older now) IT CAN BE DONE! And burnout can be BEAT!
if you need some moral support let me know--i'll give you my email addy.
ALSO, as far as the CTS, for YEARS I've had to wear typing gloves...best ones I've found are "MouseMitts" http://www.mousemitt.com/wrist.html
i have no affiliation with them...just passing on a good product that's saved me from having to have surgery...
hang in there...there is a creative solution to your burnout...
now, back to MT work for me!!!
=)
The OP was asking how other MTs balance homelife and work....
she didn't ask to be judged on whether or not she had experience working outside the home, et cetera...if you don't have anything productive to say to her than why bothering posting a response...obviously it sounds like she has a lot going on in her life and just needs some positive encouragement not judgement by others who feel they are more "grounded"....
Having a couple zero-balance accounts open is okay . . .
but the available credit DOES count just the same as having that same amount charged. Lenders want to see open, good-rated accounts . . . just not so many that you have the potential for LA arge debt-to-income ratio. Keeping 2-3 is good. More than that isn't. Hth.
They are trying desperately to balance their runaway budget
Have you heard about the new naturalization process aimed at 11 million illegals in the country... along with some hoops to jump through (Learning English - ???) etc., they must pay 2000 dollars.
Do the math 11 million x 2000
its not a lot but its something
I applaude all who are able to balance all their jobs; I doubt I could even do 2I!! nm
xx
How do you find a balance in this type of work...
with family, friends, hobbies, etc and still have time to type! Is it possible, if so, how?
Do not close credit card accts with 0 balance
I get offered and have used no interest credit cards for years. They are usually no interest for 1-1/2 years. When it is time for them to start charging interest, I roll them over into another no interest card. I have never closed an acct, just cut up the cards and forget about them. My FICO score is excellent, as is my credit. I get offers for no interest cards at least once a week so it obviously hasn't hurt me.
I read a book once that burnout was caused by being out of balance. sm
Working too much and not giving time to other parts of your life is the culprit in the job arena. Variety is the spice of life, so focusing on balancing your job, your need for a good cash flow, with times to enjoy yourself is essential.
It takes work, and fortunately I have an S/O that demands that I take time for us to have fun and for "me" to have fun as an individual.
Well, that is incorrect information. You should leave your 0 balance accounts open sm
that shows that you are responsible and not over your head in debt. When you have a credit line of 15,000 and your balance is 0, that is a great asset. I am a mortgage loan officer myself, and the mortgage brokers want to see open accounts with 0 balances. That also helps you debt to income ratio, which in turn increases your credit score!
Most banks have auto numbers to call to find out balance. SM
You could call bank tomorrow morning. Maybe put some charges on credit card, but anyway call them.
As stated, it is taken out immediately. When I purchase stuff and use it, but forget to put it in checkbook, recording will tell me as soon as I arrive home what was spent.
They are checking accounts with higher interest, minimum balance required, I believe.
dd
Started yesterday, August 1st...balance calender year in Tennessee..nm
=
Advice to YOU..1st learn to spell before insulting poster and trying to give advice...sm
I'm looking but not finding
I want it all, good money, good benefits, job security. Why is this so hard to find in this business?? Where i'm at now, awful benefits, but i'm at the top of the pay scale and have had the same account going on three years, yet I havent got a raise and it seems my lines are disappearing or its taking me more time to get the money I used to, not to mention sore hands. So I also want a company who won't cheat me. I'm so afraid though because I have it fairly well here. Most companies start out at 7 to 8 cpl which is appalling I think. One place I found, MDI, starts at 9 - 10 cpl, but I do not see any benefits whatsoever. I think if you're an IC, you should be getting 13 to 15 cpl to cover sick days, the incredibly high medical insurance, and also some to stuff away in case of a longterm leave. All I can say is stick it out where you're at, maybe go to school for something better.
It might just take finding the right fit
I went through 4 different nationals before I found the right company with the working environment I wanted. I have the best of both worlds now, full-time benefits as an employee with the flexibility and control over my workload that I want. Just keep searching. You will find somewhere that fits.
Definitely asking a lot. Probably like finding the
pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
From what I am finding
you can deduct something for property tax for state taxes, and the online program asked about this specifically and calculated (because they figure the landlort has basically included at least partial prop. tax expense in the rent).
However, in the online tax prep question, it asks if rent a "home." That is why I am not sure about the apartment complex. What the difference might be.
Sorry for the confusion. Still need an answer if anyone out there knows. 
I had mine but let it go after finding out that
for many reasons, including supporting offshoring, lack of financial management and not truly representing MTs. Plus, the "standards" they are trying to set are not accepted nor recognized by hardly any facility.
For me the last straw (after putting up with the offshore blind eye - or not so blind) was when they came out with the new testing guidelines that are a slap in the face to anyone not doing acute care. In the past there wasn't such an "attitude" toward clinic work, but now newbies are forced to do acute care - not in their best interest in most cases.
I could go on, but that is the tip of the iceberg. AAMT could be a viable organization, but at this point it is not.
Finding Clients
I had gotten my previous clients when I worked in a hospital Medical Records Department as an MT. The docs just came to me and asked me to do their work at home. I am going to have a professional letter and business cards made up now to send to local doctors, just anyone in the phone book who looks good, but mostly cardiology, neurology, neurosurgery and orthopedic docs. They seem to have the most consultation letters.
Does anyone finding themselves needing a nap (sm)
Everyday almost, by 2:00 PM, I am so sleeping that I can't keep my eyes open. I think it is boredom actually, but a quick 1 hour nap helps tremendously:) Just wondered if it is just me.
Looking but not finding other companies that pay more
If anybody could point me in the right direction, I'm looking for a full time QA position (not IC) that pays more than 14.75 an hour and actually appreciates their employees - that would be nice.
I'm finding the same, but so many questions...
and finding that it it hard to know which is the best deal, when one pays per char, one no headers, one wants bonus for this and that... is so hard to figure... let us know who you feel the best bet is. I have talked to many also... and one other thing, sometimes its not the one offering the most up front, but find the work is more interesting with the one offering the less.
They are the same, but I have trouble with finding
things on the electronic one. Also, if you buy thru regular wholesaler, you get the book and the CD for free - $89, I believe. Otherwise, the CD is expensive on its own!
Another reason why MTs are finding
other professions. The games companies are playing is getting old. It's getting pitiful.
How do you go about finding your own accounts?
I have been an MT for 10+ years. I have always worked for either a hospital, clinic, or private practice, and have worked from home for the last 5 years, most recently with a service. I would like to try to get my own accounts, but not really sure where to start. Can someone give me some tips/pointers for landing my own local accounts? Im just tired of working for someone else and not making any money and having no benefits.
As an IC...are you finding enough work?
I was an IC for 26 years, then decided to join the digital world and become an employee for benefits sake. I am on my third company in one year and none of them have kept me in full time work (1500 lines/day). I'm so frustrated. I love the bennies but I need full-time work. So, I'm considering going IC again and trying to get as many accounts/companies as I need to get the lines I need.
I am wondering if the ICs around here are still able to find the amount of work they want...specifically via MTSOs rather than local offices/hospitals...anyone who cares to share, I sure would appreciate hearing your experience. TIA.
need help finding MS word
Hey ya'll, just found that I need Microsoft Word either 2002 or 2003 in order to start my new job doing VR. I cannot seem to find this anywhere, nobody is selling it anymore. I found one copy on ebay so far - does anyone else know of another website or how I could obtain this? I was really looking forward to this job, I am in desperate need. I am not the fastest MT in the world but I think one of the most accurate - was hoping VR might be a good fit for me.
Thanks so much for any help. Love, Cindy
So where is it that you are finding these MT jobs
that offer more than 6, 7, or 8 cents a line? I sure as heck haven't found them and have been told by past employers that I am a great MT even with only 3 years experience. I have many friends who are also MTs who made a recent change of employment to a service and we are all in that 6, 7, 8 cent range for lack of any other offer and wanting to be home and out of the inhouse atmosphere.
To me, this is the most important finding: - sm
"The average transcription price ranges from 11.9 cents to 13.2 cents per line, depending on whether the services provided are onshore, offshore or a mix of both."
There are some problems with the methodologies used to produce these KLAS studies, but setting those aside what's instructive here is that around 10 years ago a different study showed the average industry price to be 14 to 17 cents per line. Offshoring and cutthroat competition, and to a much lesser degree technology, have resulted in lower prices, and that can only do one thing - put downward pressure on the wages paid to transcriptionists.
Predictably, then, wages in our segment of the healthcare industry have stagnated or declined, while in most other segments prices and wages have risen - in some cases much more rapidly than the rate of inflation.
Sound advice from a fellow MT if you want advice or support (sm)
I have been an MT for over 10 years. I also am getting burnt out, tired of my job, day in day. However, I do love transcription and make excellent money at it, have grossed over $50,000 per year the last 5 years. I decided to go back to nursing school and am very happy with my choice. However, over these 10 years of transcription I have had my ups and downs. My biggest issue with being at home working is lack of socialization, being home day in and day out with just the kids and the animals really gets to a person, sure hubby is home at night and thinks working from home is the easy life, thus the return to school and boy has my overall enjoyment of life changed once I realized I was the problem, not everyone else and I needed to find myself again.
Anyway, my biggest advice to you three-fold:
1. Get into counseling for yourself, find out who you are and what your needs are, whether or not you think you need to, I sense you are feeling overwhelmed and need someone other than your family to talk to that can be nonjudgmental to your feelings and needs.
2. If you're only making $100 after you pay preschool you can either keep doing it and be miserable, or quit because you are lucky enough to have a husband who can support the family without your income. (See how fast his mind changes just by losing the income you do have as to whether your job means anything.) Or look for a different company or office that you like more and are more productive if you really want to do transcription (lots of fish in the sea as far as companies).
3. Find a local "mom's" group where you can get out and socialize. MOPS (mother's of preschoolers) is an excellent one that is nationwide, they have a website. Also Mom2Mom is in a lot of areas. They provide a once a week time for moms with kids the same age to get together, socialize, (some offer spirtual guidance some don't) and each week a different mom takes a turn watching everyone else's children at the facility that hosts it so the other moms can talk about things they have in common. Every stay-at-home and work-from-home mom needs to socialize with adults, without their kids, or they will have a nervous breakdown eventually no matter how much they love their kids.
Sorry so long but it does get better but you have to take the first step at making yourself happy.
Finding Your Friend Alive
It is very possible your friend is still alive, as they are still finding people alive every day and if he is still in the area, unfortunately there is not much in the way of any phones working in these hard hit areas, so it wouldn't surprise me if he is still alive. Have you searched all of the Red Cross Shelter lists? Everyone who is at a shelter has to have their names put on a list and there are new names being added everyday.
Focus on finding the one or two companies you
really want to work for instead of many. That way you're not testing so much.
FINDING NEEDLES IN LAB COATS
I just had to share this story with everyone because I am a wreck. My 17-year-old daughter works in a cleaners. They have to go through all the pockets of clothes that come in. Last night she was going through lab coats (I did not know they did not wear gloves) and touched some needles that were in the pocket. She said that she was not stabbed put touched some white fluid. She said this has happened before but the needles had caps on them so they just threw them away. The ones from last night she tooked and threw them in the dumpster because someone that works there wanted them. She said she wrote a note to her boss and told her to please contact the doctor and tell him to be careful. The Dr. himself brings them in. I called a hotline and they told me that since she was not stabbed it was probably okay. I doubt they were used if they were in the guys jacket. I looked up his name and he is internal medicine. I am going out and buy her gloves today because the job does not supply them and I am not going to start a problem because she needs the job.
How about finding PT acute care, sm
If you can handle an extra part-time acute care job, they would be paying you and you would be getting the experience. I think the tapes are a joke and a complete waste of money. I never learned anything about MT from the practice tapes in school and I went to a reputable community college for a year for transcription. The true skills come from doing live dictations where you get actual feedback from the dictator or QA staff.
Need help finding a file converter. sm
Unfortunately, I had to bite the proverbial bullet and buy a new computer, which came of course with Vista. One of my accounts uses dvf files and the sony plug-in for that for use with my gearplayer is of course not yet compatible with Vista. (sigh)
Does anyone know a good converter I could download to convert the dvf files to wav or dss and IS compatible with Vista?
Thanks for any help.
How about finding some sites online.
Are you finding errors when you check them?
If you have quality MTs and you aren't finding errors, you are just wasting your time by checking them and your time could be better spent elsewhere. If it makes you feel better, you can do spot checks periodically to make sure the MTs are still producing quality work.
agree with finding a "challenge" and... sm
I routinely use a kitchen timer and keep track of my hourly line count (write down each job's tally which shows up on my platform after each job is sent) ... if I'm doing ER reports, I aim for 6 an hour (some are short, some are long, some hours I don't get there) ...
Also, depending on your employer, working two hours, taking a half-hour break, working 2 hours, or otherwise breaking up your day can increase my productivity and actually make my work day SHORTER (I have flexible scheduling) if I'm just too hopelessly distracted and more than willing to read every e-medicine article that comes up on my good word searches ... lol!
Changing my hours helps too ... hate to admit it but I am just a good at 0500 or 0400 (after a cup of coffee) as I am at 0700 or 0800 and I am MUCH less distracted and irritable ... when all else fails, I get up when I wake up in the middle of night -- oddly enough, I "settle down" to work much more easily then.
Good luck! What works for one person undoubtedly doesn't work for everybody but that works for me.
Where are all of these GREAT JOBS that everyone is finding?
I have been following the Job Seekers Board and other MT jobs boards very closely, have applied at a few, tested, passed, etc. Apparently, I am delusional, because I am not finding these GOOD jobs! I do not think 8.5 cpl is GOOD. I do not think being told to work a weekend day is GOOD. I do not mind working a schedule, but having to work every weekend?????
I have been an MT for about 15 years now. I make 10 cpl and despite the job I am at right now... (yes, the Q). I am sick of ASR and sick of watching my work go to India.
Having said that, someone please tell me where all of these jobs are that pay close to what I make, happen to be US PROUD, and not required to work every blessed weekend.
Need help finding a good expander program
I work on DocQscribe and I use Instant Text. Does anybody out there work on a different shorthand program that is compatible with DocQscribe? Instant Text is okay but I am wondering if there is another program I would like more.
Anybody have info on finding Biloxi survivors?
My husband's friend hasn't heard from his brother yet and is understandably frantic. His brother was in Biloxi, Mississippi when the hurricaine hit. Last time he was heard from, he was boarding up his house.
I know this is far reaching, but does anyone have any information on finding someone in Biloxi?
Thanks!
what are you finding specifically wrong with this company
nm
Finding your niche and working smart is the key
When you have a good platform, have been on your account(s) long enough to know what they are going to say next, make good use of productivity software and references, $50k a yr gross is certainly possible. I got there in 3 years once I started working from home only working 30 hours a week after leaving a $32k/yr 40 hr/wk on-site hospital position. I could have made more but I wanted a life away from the keyboard too. It may mean moving a couple of times to find the best situation for you, but you can do it. I remember someone who made over $80k a year several years back with a hydraulic desk so she could work standing up or sitting down to keep her fingers flowing.
While it may be human nature for some to inflate their earnings in public, others do not and I am one who doesn't. My earnings are W2, not 1099, so I get benefits too.
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