The old adage says that time is money and for the home based business owner this is more true
than ever. When you are working for someone else, there is usually the same pay check week
after week, even if you misspent a few minutes here or there. When you are working for
yourself, those misspent minutes usually equate to lost money. Faced with the added distractions
of home and family the home based business owner needs effective time management to
succeed.
Here are the top ten tips of effective time management for your home business
PLAN IN ADVANCE
You should have a weekly and daily schedule. These should include a rough general schedule
as well as specific tasks that need to be accomplished. Taking a few minutes at the end of each
day to plan the next day ’ s tasks will save lots of time and energy.
PRIORITIZE EVERYTHING.
Make sure to do the most vital tasks first. It is all too easy to focus on the simple, less critical
tasks and still feel as though you are working while the important things go undone day after
day.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DOWNTIME
Always keep your cell phone as well as a notebook and pen handy to make using those otherwise
wasted minutes possible. Another great idea is the “ office on the go ” . Keep a zippered three
ring binder with pens, pencils, paper, check book, thank-you cards, stamps, envelopes, a
calculator and an address book with you wherever you go. You can pay bills, write thank-you
cards .
GET UP EARLY
Rise an hour before the rest of the family. This quiet uninterrupted time will likely be your most
productive hour of the day. This will also allow you to feel less pressured and frantic when
helping the rest of the family get out the door to work or school.
TAKE REGULAR BREAKS
Taking a break can rejuvenate the mind and spirit and help you to regain your focus. Get up
away from the desk and focus completely on something else for a designated period of time.
Whether it is a walk in the park, a lunch away from home or a yoga DVD, allow yourself to
disconnect from work and reconnect with yourself for a while.
STAY FOCUSED
You have already made your schedule, now you need to stick to it. Do not empty the
dishwasher or rotate laundry during the time you have scheduled for work. Little necessary
things in life can become excuses. Excuses will prevent you from succeeding.
FIND BALANCE IN ALL THINGS
Just like you can ’ t spend all your time cleaning the house and expect to succeed at your
business , you can ’ t spend all your time at your business and ignore everything else. Remember
to include spiritual, physical and emotional outlets throughout your day. Taking time for
exercise, prayer and reading scriptures or other uplifting books will help you stay well rounded.
DECLUTTER,DECLUTTER, DECLUTTER.
If you don ’ t absolutely need it, get rid of it right away. Your time, space and peace are too
valuable to let junk, including mail, old containers, etc. clog up space and drain you of vital
energy.
DONT UNDERESTIMATE THE VALUE OF YOUR TIME
Saving a few dollars here or there at the expense of your time will cost you big in the long run.
The money you save by choosing dial -up internet over high- speed will certainly be lost in time
wasted waiting for pages to load.
COMPARTMENTLIZE .
It is important not to be distracted by household chores and family while working, but it is
equally important not to be thinking about or doing work when it is time to be with your family.
Even though you work at home, you need to leave your work “ at the office ” and vice -versa.
Using these time management tips will help any home business owner be more effective and
profitable. Take the time to re -read these from time to time and take an inventory of how you are
doing.
Kath Jason is an internet entrepreneur,for more home business ideas,
visit http://www.easygreenfields.com
http://www.greengritz.com
