Work At Home Safari

Creating a structure and scheduling my day was something I carried over from my corporate days.  At the end of the previous work day, I’d sit down to write a to-do list for the next day.  No matter how exhausted I was, I still did it and since it only took 15 minutes, it wasn’t that big of a deal.  These 15 minutes spent the day before while the information was fresh saved me about an hour the next morning when I was distracted with new emails and trying to figure out what fire I needed to fight first. 

Today, working from home, that list gets me excited to know I have important things to do and gives me a real sense of accomplishment when I get to cross them off.  Without my list, it would feel like I had too much time on my hands, leaving too much room for the work-at-home blues to creep in.

Another great thing you should try is writing out a schedule.  For example:

• 8:30 – 9:30 AM – Go to the gym
• 9:30 – 10:00 AM — Catch up on current events, check Google Reader, read up on competitors
• 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM– Work on items on your to-do list
• 12:00 – 1:00 PM – Eat lunch (with your kids)
• 1:00 – 2:00 PM – Reach out and network
• 2:00 – 6:15 PM – Work on items on your to-do list or new items
• 6:15 – 6:30 PM – Write tomorrow’s to-do list
• 6:30 PM – Quitting time
• 6:30 – 9:00 PM – Prepare and eat dinner/family time

Of course, this is only an example.  The beauty of working-from-home is flexibility.  For those of you with children at home, you may need to schedule in some snack time and play time to ensure their needs are being met.  It is imperative to make the best use of their naps when you’ll have uninterrupted time to concentrate on work.

You might also like:

1. Is Networking on Your To-Do List?
2. Ways to Connect for Work-at-Home Moms
3. The 8 Tips in Dealing with the Work-at-Home Blues
4. Why You Should Establish a Referral Partnership Today
5. Don’t Forget to Shower