It is essential you learn how to organize and plan the time you spend on your home-based venture if you want to profit from your business.
Time equals money, and this should be in your mind when planning an effective time management strategy.
It is simple really. If you work you earn if you do not work you will not profit from your business.
- Plan one day ahead
It is important to plan your next day’s schedule in advance. At the end of each day make a plan or list of all issues you will have to deal with tomorrow.
Make a list in order of priority, so it is ready for you for the next morning. This will avoid wasting time and trying to remember where it is you had left off yesterday.
- Organize your work area effectively
Make sure you have all the equipment you need to ensure practical and effective working conditions. You will need specific office supplies, stationary or products that must be kept in order and within reach.
Having all you need, when you need it is essential if you want to avoid wasting time. At the end of your working day, check your supplies, tidy up all paperwork and prepare any other documents you may need the next day.
- Get rid of distractions
It is important to set up your working area somewhere in your home where you are less likely to be distracted. Your work area has to remain out of bounds.
Even though you are working from home, this does not mean that everyone should be allowed to come and go as they wish. You need to concentrate to get work done.
You should also avoid distractions that can come from the Internet. You will be working a lot with the Internet at home, but avoid spending too much time on social networking sites, forums or e-mail communication.
It is amazing how time flies when we are online browsing through the net. Working hours should remain working hours, so avoid answering the door, getting up to wash the dishes or to load the washing machine, concentrate on your business.
- List of Priorities
Make a list of the tasks you have to get done and place the more important ones at the top of your list. Divide them into categories.
Set yourself times for each task, be it communicating with clients, searching for marketing solutions on the internet or organizing the stock of your product, and try to keep within the time frame.
- Make use of time spent away from your working area
When you are away from home, always take a notepad or tape recorder along to note any ideas or issues that may be important for your business.
When you are travelling somewhere, always take your cell phone or laptop to keep up-to-date with e-mails, sales or calls you may have received.
- Allow yourself regular breaks
Take regular breaks, even if short, these will help you recharge your batteries. If you do not you will not be able to think straight, and the quality of your work will suffer as a consequence.
