If you read my article Time Management Tips for Busy Moms, you’ll know I’m a work-from-home mom with a certain work-style and schedule. I only work early in the morning while Tasha is asleep! Well, since writing that post, I’ve had some moms say “I love my sleep so I couldn’t get up early in the morning, how do you do it?”, or “I work around my kids who go to school but I still can’t get myself organized”, etc. SO, I decided to share this post especially for those work-from-home parents who can’t seem to find a balance between working-at-home and staying organized.
The key to succeed while working at home is having a schedule. I personally find it’s easy to get sidetracked with chores especially – the laundry, cleaning, those errands etc, that’s why my schedule is non-negotiable. I wake up before 6am, start work at 6am and stop at 10/10.30am when Tasha wakes up. Then we run errands together, or clean or do the laundry together. In other words, work time is solely work time. And when I’m mummy, I’m mummy full-time.
In case you’re wondering how I can actually run a business with this schedule, the trick for me is staying focused on the job at hand and not doing too many at once.
Check out my previous post 6 reasons I stopped multitasking on why I favour focusing on one task as compared to multitasking.
“How can I stay focused on one task when I have many to do?”, I hear you ask! Well, create a schedule! Here’s why you need it and how you can create one.
Why you need a schedule?
A schedule is essential as it’ll keep you productive at work and in control at home.
For a creative thinker, scheduling things can seem rigid and unwelcome. But if you try and work around the times you’re more productive, you’ll find this actually works and will provide freedom.
When you work at home, you are face to face with the chores, the mess, aaaaand the children! It’s easy to get sidetracked trying to take care of these things. But if everything is on a schedule, you can get more done. You’ll be able to focus on work when you’re working because you won’t get sidetracked thinking about all the other things that you need to get done. Afterall, you’ve got those things on a schedule too, right?
How might you schedule?
- Start with your work
- Are there specific times you have to work?
This will determine how you schedule your routine. I know for me I don’t necessarily have to work between 9am – 5pm. I can be available during work hours but most of my work can be done anytime. In that case, I work around my productive hours and Tasha’s sleep schedule…
- When are you most productive?
When do you feel your best to work? And can you accommodate that?
I’m a morning person. When it’s nice and quiet, and after a good night’s sleep, I’m very productive. As such, I’m up before 6am, and I do everything I have to. During the day, I make myself available for work emails or calls but I’ll mainly be mummy. IF you have a similar situation with your work, and perhaps you work better at night or morning, maybe you could schedule around that.
- How often do you have to work – each week day or every so often?
This will determine how you can schedule your other tasks like running errands, cleaning etc.
In order to be efficient in work, it’s best if you just work when you’re working. That means not getting sidetracked with other stuff like paying bills or ordering books for your child’s book collection. Save those things for your breaks or evening time, when you are more focused on home endeavors.
- Break other tasks into daily/weekly/monthly
It’s important to think about every task you need to get done on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. These are tasks outside you work.
Daily tasks:
You know you have to eat each day right? Planning menus is essential. If you are the primary cook in your house, you must know what you are going to cook each day or at the end of your workday. Since most women choose to work at home in order to be more available to their family, working at home all day and then providing takeout is hardly a step above.
Instead, plan a week’s worth of menus at a time. Ideally, you will plan a month’s worth of menus, but you can start with a week. Buy all the groceries you need for the week and even clean and cut veggies, put meat in marinades, etc. When you close up your work shop or office for the day, you can easily get a simple meal on the table because you were organized enough to get some prep done ahead of time. Super woman, right?!
Weekly tasks:
Take the laundry for example. You don’t have to do it everyday, but perhaps once a week? Choose the day you’re home all day, and not working e.g Saturday or Sunday. Plan to make that day laundry day, i.e from washing to ironing/folding. Sticking to this schedule will ensure you won’t get sidetracked during the week thinking about the laundry.
- Take regular breaks
A lot of people think working hard means taking no breaks. In fact, it’s the opposite – in order to be productive, it’s important to take breaks. Think of yourself as working in a proper office away from home.
In my case, I have limited time in the morning before Tasha gets up but even in those few hours, I take time to make a cuppa or get something to eat while working.
If there’s someone else at home with me, I may have a brief discussion with them like I would with a coworker at home.
If you work all day, you might take another break later in the day and make a phone call to a friend or partner or child’s teacher. It’s good for the brain.
The trick is to treat your work at home life in a similar fashion as a work away from home. You do that, you’ll see the results of your structured time.
- Start each day right
Start each day in an organized fashion. If you prefer a clean home, it’s important to ensure everything is in order before you start otherwise it drives you crazy thinking about the untidy home. Sitting down to a clean workspace will not only bring you joy, but you’ll have a sense that everything is in order and you can feel at peace focusing on your work needs because there are no other pressing needs you must worry about right now. If you need a cup of coffee before you start, ensure you have one otherwise you waste the first few minutes.
In Summary:
Structuring your time as a work-at-home-mum might seem like one more thing to take care of, but doing so will actually free you to focus better when working and when doing household tasks, even when those worlds intersect. You’ll be more productive and efficient!
Do you struggle with the concept of working-at-home and staying organized? Would love to hear your thoughts/comments on the tips above.
Yes… I often find myself struggling to get and stay organized at home. It seems that every time I try to work… something always comes up. If I could just my office organized I think I would be more productive. I think the tip you discussed… I will try to implement in the near future… ejnosillA/RedefiningHERstory
LikeLiked by 1 person
Let’s know how you go ejnosillA! Thanks for reading.
LikeLike
Always looking to stat organized loved the post!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Marcie. And good luck 🙂
LikeLike
Staying organised is important and even more so when you’re a mom! thanks for the tips, appreciate you sharing your tips.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for stopping by msmamabean 🙂
LikeLike
These are good tips! It’s hard to treat working at home like an office job but it works much better when we have proper breaks and productive work hours.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Precisely Lovely Little Lives! Thanks for stopping by xx
LikeLike
Great tips. Working from home isn’t as easy as some people would think! Thanks 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh, totally agree Elizabeth 😀
LikeLike
These are great tips! I don’t currently work at home, but the more i’m blogging the more I have to set up a schedule for myself. Awesome help!
Juliette | https://namastaytraveling.com
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for stopping by namastaytraveling x
LikeLike
I’m not a mom, but I definitely needed to read this today. I’m not a morning person (probably because I go to sleep so late) but I can only be productive in the morning. It just feels like the right time to get stuff done.
I also like your tip of breaking up tasks into daily, weekly and monthly tasks. I think it’s easy to get overwhelmed when you say you’re going to finish x,y, z in one day when it’d be best to break it apart and slowly get it done. I guess it’s all about time management. I’m also unorganized! I clearly have a lot to work on haha
Thank you for this!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hey thanks for stopping by! Definitely believe in breaking up tasks – we can waste time and be unproductive if we don’t manage this part well.
LikeLike
girl this is brilliant I’m actually printing this one out ❤ as a new mom to be I feel very overwhelmed by all the stuff I need to get done before the baby comes. I feel like this article is exactly what I needed to help me keep organized ❤ thanks so much love ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
I know the feeling Arita. Been there, lol! You’ll try many things till you find your own balance and that’ll give you great satisfaction.
Congrats on the baby! All the best with motherhood, don’t stress too much – life’s short! xx
LikeLike
I am having major problems with being productive and organized. It is causing me a great deal of stress. I will see if I can implement some of your suggestions.
LikeLiked by 2 people
All the best Latisha x
LikeLike
yes to scheduling! it’s still hard for me to stick to it sometimes, but without it it’s so easy to get sucked into one major task all day and neglect everything else. great post xo
LikeLiked by 2 people
I have to manage my time carefully so I can blog while being a SAHM. I tend to work on it around 5am when everyone is asleep and then do blog-related tasks in the morning while the kids are eating breakfast. This is the schedule that works for me right now at this point in our lives.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good one Marcie. You seem to have it sorted!
LikeLike
Some great ideas and tips. I’m a planner/diary addict myself, so yes a schedule is a great idea, but without it being too prescribed of course.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks kerrymaymakes x
LikeLike
I used to be on a schedule, but that’s hard when you are a stay home with a baby, so I’ve learned to forgo the schedule and go with the flow instead. Instead, if I want to get something done, I spread it out over the week so I’ll vacuum one day, but save laundry for another.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good one Diana. As long as it works for you!
LikeLike
I am also a work from home mom! and time management is NOT my friend.. but thank you so much for this post it was well worth the read .
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for stopping by Cassandra.
LikeLike
This is a great post! I have been trying to figure out a way to be more productive with work; perhaps I’ll try wake up early for a week and see how it works for me. Thanks for sharing your tips!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome Laura. Good luck 🙂
LikeLike
Taking frequent breaks is something that I need to work on. I’m great at planning and scheduling though. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Good one Sarah! Yeah breaks are important. I always force myself to take them frequently even though I work a few hours a day. See how you go x
LikeLike
I know that this was meant for wahm moms, but I think your posts is actually relevant to a lot of things in life. I could use some scheduling (with breaks!) during my office time, and even for blogging. Scheduling also helps me feel more prepared, which helps a lot as a postpartum anxiety mom!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Jenn. Glad to hear you can use the tips
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just started working at home about a week ago – I needed to read this. I have been struggling with structure and just wanting to sleep in LOL
LikeLiked by 2 people
LOL, i know the feeling klaunder. Hope you find the tips useful 🙂
LikeLike
Great tips for getting more organized…
LikeLiked by 1 person