Managing Your Time While Working From Home

Reducing distractions by having a separate home office space to work at in the home is especially critical during those less than optimally good moments during your work day when it can become easier to just want to get up and say “I’ll do it later.”  By having a separate office space with a physical door you must walk through in order to leave your work area, you’re less likely to say, “Oh! Forget it! I’ll do it later,” which of course means, if you stop working, you’ll start getting behind on your work.  So, don’t leave!  A separate office space will keep you in your office and help you stay motivated to finish your work each and every day!

TIP 3 – STAY ON SCHEDULE

When working at home, it’s incredibly easy to get distracted or lose track of time while doing other things around the home that need your attention, only to find yourself with very little time leftover to complete the work you must do to earn your income.  This can become especially stressful when the phone rings several times, the laundry needs thrown in the washer, the dishwasher needs unloading, the kids need taken to school, the car needs repaired, and the list of personal home life obligations goes on and on!  So, how do you deal with all of these obligations and still find “a spare moment” to clear you mind long enough to complete the work that is expected of you, while you’re at home?  Simply put – Make a schedule and stick to it! 

Business Matters, Matter!

Schedule time each and every day to complete any administrative type duties, such as, reviewing business financial matters, taking care of email and phone call correspondence, and running business errands.  Then, schedule a separate designated time slot in your work day for when you will perform any other “work” for whatever it is you do to earn your income.  Scheduling time for both working “on” your business and a separate time to work “in” your business each and every day will help maintain order so you never fall behind on completing your work from home.

Personal Matters, Matter Too!

Next, set aside time each and every day for what time of the day you will take care of any personal errands you may need to attend to, such as, having lunch and other personal obligations.  By scheduling a separate and distinct time for when you will complete these other personal life matters, this will free up your mind’s “worry list” so that you don’t feel chronically torn between needing to take care of your personal obligations around the home, and needing to work from home to generate your income.

Example: Use your daily planner or calendar to schedule all daily “break” times, each and every day, so that you have a distinct time slot to take a break from your work schedule to attend to your personal matters.

When scheduling personal matters, this can include: time to have lunch, times to pick up or drop off the kids at school or other events, or other home life duties that require personal attention.

The Key To Success!

When prioritizing and scheduling your time, always remember to include in your daily schedule a time limit for how much time you devote to each and every task on your daily schedule (whether for business errands and duties or personal obligations).  This is a key factor when managing your time for working from home, so you will always have an idea of exactly what time you will need to get back to work and can start devoting your time toward making an income.

CONCLUSION

So long as you make a clear and distinct effort toward scheduling and separating your work at home life from your personal home life, you’re sure to stay productive, while still enjoying the freedoms provided by working from home!

For more useful tips, visit Debbie Anderson online at www.SimpleRulesOnline.com