Time Management is the Key to Success for Working at Home
One of the luxuries of working at home is having your own schedule. However, if you don't manage your time and set rules for yourself, then it's too easy to be distracted. You need to treat your work like any other job. Set work hours. For this to work, you need to tune out everything else during this time. Don't chat on IM (unless it's work related), make social phone calls, do the laundry, etc. I know how easy it is to start chatting on MSN or browsing the web with the excuse of research. Those things can wait. Make sure that your friends and family are aware of your schedule. If they stop by for a visit, turn them away. Tell them you're working and to call next time or come during a different time of day. Be firm, this is your career on the line. If it's not important to you then it won't be important to them.
Set guidelines for interruptions. There will be emergencies or family situations that demand attention. Don't let yourself be interrupted for anything less important. Come up with a signal that the rest of the household can use to let you know they need your attention. Create a special knock, or have an object they can set on your desk. If you're married and have children, let your spouse get the child a snack or entertain him for a while. Get the household's help with the laundry or with meals. Your time will be more efficient if you focus completely on your work.
Also important is leaving your work alone when it's not work time. Put it out of your mind, spend some time with family, or get other things done. If you have a phone number for your job, set it so an answering machine picks up the calls. Unless you're a doctor, it's highly unlikely that your client's calls can't wait. Don't let them take advantage of you by being available 24/7.
With specific work hours, you can then go on to create a calendar and set business goals. A calendar will help you to manage clients and projects, avoiding the overbooking or taking on more than you can handle. Start a spreadsheet and keep track of exactly how long it takes you to do anything business related. Include time for business calls, writing articles, meeting with clients, whatever it is that you do. You can then look it over and see exactly how much time you're spending on work and go on to calculate how much you make an hour. Make every minute count.
Set business goals to improve those areas that aren't holding their weight. Are you spending too much time on the phone when you're more productive in person? Make adjustments. Do you have work hours that are wasted? Take on another project or client, make more money for your time.
Set guidelines for interruptions. There will be emergencies or family situations that demand attention. Don't let yourself be interrupted for anything less important. Come up with a signal that the rest of the household can use to let you know they need your attention. Create a special knock, or have an object they can set on your desk. If you're married and have children, let your spouse get the child a snack or entertain him for a while. Get the household's help with the laundry or with meals. Your time will be more efficient if you focus completely on your work.
Also important is leaving your work alone when it's not work time. Put it out of your mind, spend some time with family, or get other things done. If you have a phone number for your job, set it so an answering machine picks up the calls. Unless you're a doctor, it's highly unlikely that your client's calls can't wait. Don't let them take advantage of you by being available 24/7.
With specific work hours, you can then go on to create a calendar and set business goals. A calendar will help you to manage clients and projects, avoiding the overbooking or taking on more than you can handle. Start a spreadsheet and keep track of exactly how long it takes you to do anything business related. Include time for business calls, writing articles, meeting with clients, whatever it is that you do. You can then look it over and see exactly how much time you're spending on work and go on to calculate how much you make an hour. Make every minute count.
Set business goals to improve those areas that aren't holding their weight. Are you spending too much time on the phone when you're more productive in person? Make adjustments. Do you have work hours that are wasted? Take on another project or client, make more money for your time.