Healthy Snacks, a brand new blog, is seeking a freelance writer passionate about health food.  You must be self-motivated and able to work with WordPress.  You will be expected to post 3 to 4 times per week (400-words or more).

You will also be expected to participate in comments and grow readership of the blog through social networking.  Pay will be $20 per post for the first three months. After the initial three-month period, compensation will be evaluated, and revenue sharing can be discussed.

If interested, send your resume to apply@healthysnacks.com. Include links to previous blog posts and articles, and send one sample article on the topic of health food.  This job is unresearched, so do your own due diligence.  Good luck!

I’m constantly amazed at how the Internet is changing the world in ways we never even imagined.  And I’m delighted when a whole new telecommute job opportunity arises that never existed previously. One such new opportunity is that of social media specialist.

What’s a social media specialist, you ask? It’s someone who slaves 24/7 to get your brand into the public eye, working social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, Stumbling and Digging to increase your Internet presence.  The New York Times is even taking note of this latest job opp born from the Net.  Read Tweeting Your Way to a Job by Laura M. Holson. For those of you who are socially savvy and outgoing, this may be the perfect career for you.

Working at home is just as great as I always thought it would be.  No commute.  I can work in my pajamas.  I can sleep late, if I want, most days.  I’m available to my kids whenever they need me.  Best of all, there’s no boss looking over my shoulder.  But the work-at-home life also has its pitfalls: I can work in my pajamas.  I can sleep late, if I want, most days.  I’m available to the kids whenever they need me.  And there’s no boss looking over my shoulder.

You probably noticed that the benefits listed above are the exact same as the drawbacks.  That’s because the things that are great about telecommuting can also be the biggest problems.  The temptation is to work in your pajamas, sometimes all day.  It’s hard to drag yourself up out of bed with no time clock waiting to be punched.  My kids often act as if they believe I’m not “really” working.  And with no one looking over my shoulder, I have a tendency to procrastinate.

So here’s a list of the Top 5 Work-at-Home Distractions.  Ignore them at your own peril.

1. Sleeping In: Every now and then, you should sleep in, especially if you’ve been up late working.  But it’s best to generally have a set wake-up time every day, and stick to it just as if you were going to punch in a timeclock.

2. The Refrigerator is Calling Your Name: I would say this is my biggest temptation.  After all, it’s just around the corner from my office.  The food is free, and the owner knows all my favorites and keeps them stocked.  Steer clear.  If you don’t, you’ll find those pounds creeping up very quickly.

3. There’s an Amazing 24/7 Entertainment Center Right in Front of Me: It’s very difficult not to be distracted by the Internet.  News flashes across the screen, and you want to check it out.  There’s a book at Amazon you want to buy.  And the gang at the water cooler (Twitter) sound like they’re having so much fun.  A little social chitchat and surfing is fine, but should be reserved for when you’ve finished your work.  At the very least, commit to a schedule of work and play .

4. Your Kids Need You Now: They always need you “now.”  Everything is of dire importance, especially with teenagers.  And why can’t you just drop everything and help them with whatever the problem is?  You’re just sitting in front of the computer, after all.  You’re not really working.  Argh!  Tell your kids when you’re on a deadline.  Close the door, if you must.  But make it clear that your work is important also.

5. My Phone Keeps Ringing.  I Have to Pick it Up.  Don’t I?: No.  You do not have to pick it up.  Turn the ringer off.  Or if you’ve gone completely cellular, put the cell on silent and keep working.  If my kids are out of the house, I check to make sure the call isn’t from them.  If it’s not, I’ll call whoever it is back.  At some point, family and friends will start to take note that you’re not as available during work hours, and they’ll start calling you after work.

Working from home definitely has its benefits.  But if your children are at home during the day, it can be a challenge.  It’s hard, for younger kids especially, to understand that even though they can see you, you’re not available to them at that moment, unless there’s an emergency.

Even my teenagers sometimes don’t seem to realize I’m actually doing work when I’m transcribing.  I have to make a point of letting them know when I’m on a tight deadline.  Often, I’ll close my office door (my bedroom door also, unfortunately) and say, “Don’t disturbe me unless it’s an absolute emergency.”  If It Prints, I’ll Let You Know has a great article on working at home with kids.  It’s “Keeping Your Sanity: Work at Home with the Kids Around.”  Check it out!

Regal Entertainment is offering free movies for kids and their families this summer, starting in June.  For more information on what movies will be playing in your area, and times and locations, visit the Regal Entertainment Free Family Film Festival page.  Free is good!