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Last Updated on January 20, 2024 by Work In My Pajamas
Being a work-at-home mom does have its advantages, but it comes with plenty of challenges, too. One of the biggest problems moms with home-based businesses have is the location of their business—home. Although being at home can cut overhead costs, allow for greater flexibility and provide you with more time with your family, it can also through your work-life balance way out of whack. The problem with working at home is that you never quite leave home and never quite leave work, eventually leading you to feel overwhelmed, exhausted and pulled in too many directions. To regain lost work-life balance, use these five time management tips to set appropriate boundaries and stick with them.
Set Office Hours. Whether you have a regular business or earn part-time money with an income booster such as paid clinical trials, it’s important to determine what hours and days you can work. Once you’ve developed a schedule, stick with it. If you have small children who aren’t yet in school full-time, it can be beneficial to enroll them in part-time daycare or preschool to provide you with blocks of time to focus on work.
Delegate Chores or Hire Help. Let your partner and older children know that you need their help with household chores. Even small tasks accomplished by other family members can provide you with more free time to spend with the family.
Schedule Family & “Me” Time. Similar to setting work hours, it’s wise to also schedule time to spend with your family and time to spend alone. Putting these times in writing or in your planner makes them more concrete. Respect the times you set aside for family just as you would work-related appointments and, whatever you do, don’t cancel appointments made with your family.
Plan Each Day. Those who fly by the seat of their pants often end up off-course. To work more efficiently, whether for business or the home, plan the next day each night before you go to bed. Start by making a separate list for work tasks and household chores. Divide your lists further, using categories such as “phone calls”, “client appointments”, “errands” and “household chores”.
Chunk Instead of Multi-tasking. Having several irons in the fire doesn’t always result in getting more done. In fact, it often results in starting things without finishing them. Instead of multi-tasking, chunk similar tasks together and complete them one after another. For instance, schedule all client appointments during the same part of the day so you’re not running back and forth. Likewise, check emails at set times each day so constantly checking doesn’t interrupt your workflow.
When you set boundaries and stick with them, you can achieve greater success in your work and home life. These boundaries prevent time wasters, reduce stress and result in greater efficiency. For most work-at-home moms, the point of running a business from home is to have more time with the family. If your work load has begun to take over your entire life, start using these techniques to balance things out.
Samantha Rodgers is a freelance writer and work at home mom. She also writes about paid clinical trials as a means to raise income alongside other work from home business opportunities and ways to find out more about the volunteering process.
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