Time Management Techniques for the Work at Home Mom
Time management is something that many people battle with and for the work at home mom trying to juggle many different roles and responsibilities this can be particularly difficult. In this article we give some strategies that you can use to manage your time more effectively.
A Diary is Essential for Effective Time Management
The first time management tool that a work at home mom should not be without is a diary. Making a list of what you need to accomplish each day will help to ensure that you manage your time in order to get the best results and get done what you need to. Use your diary to write down appointments and keep your to-do list.
Find Ways to Double Your Time or Automate Processes
Another way the work at home mom can manage her time more effectively is by learning to double time or automate processes. Some things can be done at the same time such as phoning and ironing, listening to tapes and doing the washing, etc. Various aspects of your business may also be automated if you work online and you should learn all you can about automation in order to save more time for the things you cannot automate.
Do the Important Things First
Start your day by doing the most important things you have to do. If this is work-related and you have small children then it is probably best to wake up a little earlier than they do and get the most important work-related task done before they wake up. This way you will not be stressing about it for the rest of the day.
Don't Be Dictated to by the Tyranny of the Urgent
There are many things which demand immediate notice that are not really urgent and it is important that our lives are not dictated to by these things. The telephone is a prime example but instead of always answering, get an answering service and return phone calls at a time that is more appropriate to you; don't always feel that you need to check your email but make set times when you do and reply to emails.
Get Up Early or Go to Bed Late
When you have small children they may make a lot of demands on you during the day and so in order to manage your time more effectively you should try to either wake up early and get some work or housework done before they wake up, or do some after they have gone to bed. This means that you will be more ready for their interruptions during the day and will not feel as stressed when you are not able to get everything done then.
Being a work at home mom requires special time management skills in order to cope effectively. You should learn how to use your time more effectively by doubling time, automating tasks, waking up early or going to bed late, and doing the most important task first. A diary is also a critical time management tool to help you get more out of your day.
A Diary is Essential for Effective Time Management
The first time management tool that a work at home mom should not be without is a diary. Making a list of what you need to accomplish each day will help to ensure that you manage your time in order to get the best results and get done what you need to. Use your diary to write down appointments and keep your to-do list.
Find Ways to Double Your Time or Automate Processes
Another way the work at home mom can manage her time more effectively is by learning to double time or automate processes. Some things can be done at the same time such as phoning and ironing, listening to tapes and doing the washing, etc. Various aspects of your business may also be automated if you work online and you should learn all you can about automation in order to save more time for the things you cannot automate.
Do the Important Things First
Start your day by doing the most important things you have to do. If this is work-related and you have small children then it is probably best to wake up a little earlier than they do and get the most important work-related task done before they wake up. This way you will not be stressing about it for the rest of the day.
Don't Be Dictated to by the Tyranny of the Urgent
There are many things which demand immediate notice that are not really urgent and it is important that our lives are not dictated to by these things. The telephone is a prime example but instead of always answering, get an answering service and return phone calls at a time that is more appropriate to you; don't always feel that you need to check your email but make set times when you do and reply to emails.
Get Up Early or Go to Bed Late
When you have small children they may make a lot of demands on you during the day and so in order to manage your time more effectively you should try to either wake up early and get some work or housework done before they wake up, or do some after they have gone to bed. This means that you will be more ready for their interruptions during the day and will not feel as stressed when you are not able to get everything done then.
Being a work at home mom requires special time management skills in order to cope effectively. You should learn how to use your time more effectively by doubling time, automating tasks, waking up early or going to bed late, and doing the most important task first. A diary is also a critical time management tool to help you get more out of your day.