One of the most difficult tasks in working at home is staying on schedule. There are interruptions. You may do things that use your time unnecessarily. And you may not even realize that you are in fact wasting time and money.

"Time is money." (by Benjamin Franklin) This saying holds true especially when you are earning money from your home. Don’t wile away your time when you can be earning money. If you have tasks to accomplish each day then you need a schedule. On my recent Blog Talk Radio interview , I mentioned that I needed to keep a schedule. Since then, I’ve researched some ways to stick to one so I don’t feel disorganized and can use my time to my advantage.

How to Keep A Schedule:

1. Use a planner that feels comfortable for you. You may have to try out a few until you find just the right one. I suggest trying some free trial planners before you purchase one.
2. Schedule your tasks for work and for other important events (appointments, family gatherings, children’s school, sports, etc. times, etc.) on your planner
3. Use a timer for your work tasks.
4. Be sure to add time for breaks. Don’t eat at your desk. Get up and move around a bit. Using your timer can help you to add in these breaks.
5. Treat your work time like being at work. Tell your friends and family that even though you work at home, you are working and earning a living. Ask them not to call or visit when you’re working. Use caller ID to screen your calls.
6. Keep in mind that emergencies happen. Your internet connection may go down. Your child may get sick. You may run out of ink in your printer. Always leave some leeway for these times.
7. Don’t become a slave to your schedule. You chose to work at home for certain personal reasons. Your schedule should be a guideline, not a ball and chain. It’s OK to be flexible sometimes. You can decide when that is possible.
8. If you have some work that will take a long period of time, break it up into small tasks.
9. Reward yourself for getting a job done. Have some fun!

Using your time wisely pays off in the end. You will feel more in control over your work situation. You may even find that you have time to take on more work. When you meet deadlines, you may be offered more work. You will also feel less stress. Your work and home life can be separate. You can be more flexible with your time so that you can enjoy taking part in other activities. And often that is why we choose to work from home.

Tags: deadlines, planner, staying on schedule, time, timer

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