Time management is challenging for anyone, but work-at-home professionals face unique challenges. Without a designated office to return emails and phone calls or regular business hours, it’s easy for work-at-home professionals to let responsibilities slip.
It can feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day!
Work-at-home professionals also tend to have more fluid schedules than most workers. Most of us don’t want to give up our flexibility, but fluctuating workloads and irregular schedules can make time management even more challenging.
If you find yourself always running late, struggling with distractions, or simply feeling unproductive on a regular basis, try these time management tips for work-at-home professionals.
1. Wake up early and start your day with a plan
One of the best time management tips is to wake up early and start your day with a plan. By getting up early, you give yourself a chance to get ahead of the day’s tasks. You can also use this time to do things that you enjoy, like reading or taking a walk.
Having a plan for the day can help you to stay focused and make the most of your time. It can be helpful to write down what you need to do and when you need to do it. You can also use this time to brainstorm ideas or work on projects that you’ve been putting off.
Waking up early and starting your day with a plan can help you to make the most of your time and get ahead of the day’s tasks.
2. Set boundaries for when you will and won’t work
One of the most important time management tips is to set boundaries for when you will and won’t work. This may seem obvious, but it’s easy to let work creep into every aspect of your life if you’re not careful.
If you have a job that requires you to be online or available at all hours, it can be especially difficult to stick to set working hours. However, it’s important to try to do so as much as possible. Otherwise, you’ll quickly find yourself burning out.
Of course, there will always be exceptions to the rule, but in general, it’s best to stick to your set boundaries as much as possible. This will help you maintain a healthy work-life balance and prevent burnout.
3. Turn off notifications
Notifications are the bane of time management for work-at-home professionals. You might think you’re more productive with a constant barrage of “ding’s” and notifications, but that’s rarely the case. Snoozing notifications on your devices so you’re not constantly getting interrupted—and having important people know to use email to reach you instead—can seriously improve your focus and productivity.
You may also want to consider blocking websites and apps that are a constant distraction. For example, social media can be a serious time suck, even if you’re not interacting with others. If you find yourself constantly drawn to social media, block it for a couple of hours or for the entire day.
4. Set a schedule and stick to it
Work-at-home professionals are notorious for not having set schedules. Rather than using a set schedule to create a routine and help you get more done, work-at-home professionals often use a loose schedule to allow for unexpected work and life events. While this is definitely the approach that is easiest with no set office hours, it can make time management even more challenging.
If you are trying to set a schedule, it’s important to stick to it. If you don’t have a set schedule, it’s time to create one. Pick a few times each day to check emails and phone calls, set times to work on various tasks, and other ways to create a consistent schedule that fits your needs.
5. Choose the right tools for the job
Depending on your work and the tools you need to accomplish it, the tools you use to get work done can make a huge difference in your productivity. When you need to be constantly switching between apps to get your work done, you may be spending too much time on the computer and not enough time actually getting work done.
Now, if you spend a lot of time on social media, using tools like FocusMe and SelfControl can help you stay on track. If you need to make a lot of phone calls and stay on schedule, a tool like Nestco can help you keep track of phone calls and other time-sensitive tasks.
6. Don’t multitask constantly
Most of us try to multitask constantly. In fact, research shows that the vast majority of people believe they’re more productive when they’re multitasking. Unfortunately, the research tells a different story.
The truth is, that multitasking makes it more difficult to focus on one task and actually makes you less productive. When you’re constantly switching between tasks, you’re only able to give each one a partial amount of attention. Unfortunately, it takes your brain about twenty minutes to refocus on a new task after you’ve been distracted.
If you have several important tasks to get done, focus on one at a time. And if you’re tempted to multitask, try these time management tips for work-at-home professionals.
7. Don’t work with distractions
Distractions are the bane of time management for work-at-home professionals. To combat distractions, turn off your computer’s notifications, avoid areas where you tend to be easily distracted (like a family room with lots of televisions) and use noise-canceling headphones.
If you have a room where you like to get work done, make it a distraction-free zone. This can mean closing the door to your office, blocking out noise with headphones, and not allowing people to interrupt you unless it’s truly important.
Set a timer to stay on task and mark the end of each work session with a timer.
8. Take breaks throughout the day
If you’re looking for time management tips, one of the best things you can do is take breaks throughout the day. It may seem counterintuitive, but taking time to rest and rejuvenate can actually help you to be more productive in the long run.
When you take a break, your mind has a chance to wander and relax, which can help to refresh your thinking and give you new ideas. In addition, taking breaks gives your body a chance to move and release tension, which can help you to stay focused and prevent burnout.
So if you’re feeling overwhelmed by your workload, take a step back and give yourself a break. You’ll be glad you did!
9. Create a filing system for your paperwork
Staying organized is key to maintaining a healthy and productive lifestyle. One way to do this is to create a filing system for your paperwork. This will help you to keep track of important documents and ensure that you can find them quickly when you need them.
There are a few things to keep in mind when creating a filing system. First, consider what kind of documents you need to keep track of. This will help you to decide on the best way to organize your files. Second, be sure to label your files clearly. This will save you time and frustration when you’re looking for a specific document.
Finally, consider investing in a good-quality file cabinet or storage system. This will ensure that your files are safe from damage and easy to access.
10. Delegate tasks whenever possible
Anyone who has ever tried to juggle multiple tasks knows that it can be a recipe for disaster. Not only is it difficult to keep track of everything that needs doing, but it can be overwhelming and start making mistakes. One of the best ways to avoid this situation is to delegate tasks whenever possible.
By assigning tasks to others, you can free up your time to focus on the most important items on your to-do list. Not only will this help you to stay organized, but it will also help you to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Of course, delegating tasks is not always an option, but when it is, it is definitely worth considering.
Conclusions
There are many challenges and distractions facing work-at-home professionals. You may feel like you don’t have enough time to get everything done and you may feel like you have no focus. Fortunately, you can overcome these challenges with time management tips for work-at-home professionals.
