Organizing an At-Home Work Day

Smart Scheduling for Productivity and Efficiency

Apr 9, 2007 Victoria Foley

Making a schedule for your work day when you are self-employed and work at home can help you be more organized, efficient, and productive.

Working at home sounds like a dream job - who wouldn't want to go to work in pajamas and slippers, with the cat nearby and the kitchen always open for lunch? But working from home takes discipline and organization, just like working in an office. If you would like to try working from home, or if you already have a home-based business and are looking to be more productive, there are many things you can do to improve. Here are some tips for maximizing your situation.

1. Get dressed.

Although the utopian image of the urban, pajama-clad work-at-home warrior is tempting, you will find that you are more productive if you treat your home office more like a corporate work environment. Your day may not start as early as if you were commuting in to work, but respect the idea of a "work day." Have breakfast in your PJs if you like, while perusing the paper. But then hit the shower and get dressed. Makeup and hairstyling are optional.

2. Set up shop.

When you're dressed and ready to "go" to work, take your coffee mug and sit down at the workspace. Turn on the computer, sort through the mail, review your dayplanner for meetings or deadlines, and generally look at your day. What needs to be done this morning? What can wait until later? Whose phone calls must be returned? If it helps you, make a list of things to do, in priority order. Plan your day.

3. Get down to business.

Once you know what you need to do, get to it! How you go about it will depend on your work style. Some people can multitask like crazy, going from one project to another each time they start to lose focus. Others need to finish one task before moving on. Be realistic about which style of worker you are, and use it to your advantage. Check things off your daily plan as you accomplish them.

4. Take a break (or two).

No home office will be productive if you work yourself too hard. After a few hours, even the most interesting project can become tedious. So make sure you take at least one break. Perhaps you have a favorite television program on at noon. Take your "lunch hour" at that time so you can relax and recharge a bit. Just make sure the television is not on in the background while you are trying to work - a sure way to lose your focus. Scheduling a break will prevent laziness and give your mind a short rest. If you prefer, go for a short walk, or make your mid-day break a workout at the gym. If you easily lose focus, you should consider a shorter break mid-morning and mid-afternoon to keep you sharp.

5. Finish your day.

The peril of working at home is that you never shut off - the "office" is right there, and it's easy to go back after supper, or late in the evening. This can hurt your home relationships, and cause you to burn out quickly. Because a home-based work day can often be more productive than if you were working at an office, the hours need not be the same. Figure out which hours work best for you. Some people work well from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., others from noon until 6. Again, adjust according to your preference and your deadlines. But make sure that you are realistic, and that you have a general idea of how long you will be working when you start each day. When you have finished your tasks for the day, shut down the computer, put away projects and generally tidy up as if you were "leaving" work. Then go enjoy your evening! After all, there's another productive day ahead tomorrow.

The copyright of the article Organizing an At-Home Work Day in Self-Employment is owned by Victoria Foley. Permission to republish Organizing an At-Home Work Day in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.