Productivity & Effective Time Management
Working from home sounds easy enough but as someone who has been doing it for years I can assure you that there are lots of pitfalls!
When you’re working in the office there’s never any danger of the cat sitting on your laptop and your co workers would maybe question you having a 30 minute snooze or watching Eastenders during work hours.
I’ve put together a few tips that might help bring some structure and productivity to your new work environment.
- Make a list
Take a few minutes at the beginning of each day to consider what needs to be achieved.
Prioritise your list so that you get the most important jobs done before the ‘would be nice to’ tasks. - Have specific times for work and breaks.
I use a pomodoro timer which keeps me focussed on 25 minute work sessions with short breaks.
Plan your day out so that you will be working on your business at certain times, with the family at others.
Easier said than done with younger children but you get the idea. - Location, Location, location.
Sitting infant of the TV with your laptop on your knee isn’t ideal.
Try to set up a specific workspace that gives you a chance of not being distracted or interrupted. - Get a buddy.
Find someone who will be your accountability partner. Speak with them for a few minutes each day and tell them what you’ve achieved and what your plans are.
They will do the same with you, keeping you both focussed and on track. - Be consistent.
Action you take to build your home business does not need to be perfect but it does need to be consistent.
Even imperfect action taken constantly beats taking no action.
For example, every day set attack to put your business infant of 10 new people and contact 5 people who you’ve not spoken to in a while.
Do this EVERY day! - Get dressed for work.
I’m not saying you should put on a suit but rather than sitting around in your PJ’s, get up, get a shower, get dressed and FEEL professional! Get into the mindset of ‘SHOWING UP!’