When I first started working from home, my schedule was a mess. I was sleeping late, never changing out of my clothes and then working until midnight every night trying to get it all done. Thankfully, my schedule is far more relaxing these days, but it didn’t happen on accident!
Over the years, I’ve learned a lot about myself, what makes me tick, when I work best and how to be more productive and get stuff done efficiently. The reality? There’s not just one way to make it work because we’re all different. So, I wanted to share my 5 steps for creating a work from home schedule that works for YOU since so many of us are working remotely on a permanent or semi-permanent basis these days!
As you learn more about yourself, tweak as necessary and build that fabulous business owner lifestyle you’ve always dreamed of!
How to Create a Work from Home Schedule That Works for You
Identify When You Work Best
Everyone is going to be different here, but figure out when you’re most focused and fired up, what time you like doing deep work vs. client calls and set your schedule accordingly. Just because you can be available anytime, doesn’t mean you should be! If you like reserving mornings for deep work, don’t open your schedule for calls until after a certain period of time! You make the rules!
Schedule Time for What’s Important (Outside of Work)
When you work for yourself, it can be easy to fall into the “now I work all the time” trap. Let’s face it, YES, there is always something we can be working on, but it doesn’t mean we need to. Intentionally schedule time to do things that make you feel good outside of work! Maybe that’s lunch with a friend, a long walk with your dog, hitting the gym or just reading for an hour. Scheduling fun and relaxation into your days is one of my best tips for building a meaningful business and life.
Try Time-Blocking
When I have a lot going on and need to make progress without distraction, I block my time. I usually set a timer for an hour, turn on some music that gets me in the zone and turn my phone on silent and take action. I’m always blown away by how much I accomplish in these windows, which ends up opening up more time for me to work on my big picture projects, or do something fun!
Tackle Hardest Tasks First
I typically set aside 30-60 minutes in the morning to get my brain organized. As a mom, my mornings tend to be a little hectic, so I like sitting down after my kids are at school and planning out my day. I also use this time to knock off a few emails or do any tasks that will take me 5 minutes or less.
Then, I tackle the biggest or hardest tasks first. These are always things that HAVE to be done, not my big picture growth items. For me, that’s typically finishing web pages or branding designs and sending those off to clients.
I always find that once that big thing is done, the rest of my list is so much easier to tackle because it’s not weighing on my mind in the background.
Set Boundaries
When you work from home, it can be so easy to keep working, or throw on HGTV and work at the same time. But, real productivity and innovation comes when we give ourselves space for rest, relaxation and fun!
Coming to terms with the idea that I didn’t have to work 9 to 5 was a tough habit to break, but once it settled in, life and business became so much easier and more fun!
If you keep finding yourself working late at night, it’s time to set some boundaries for yourself. And, if you’re working late because you need the money—it’s time to raise your prices!
Looking for more ways to run your business more effectively and get more out of your life? Join us in The Collective, a community for female entrepreneurs—get all the details here!
BTW, 8 ways to be more productive as a mom and entrepreneur, and why your business needs a website to grow.
