Use Set Work Hours
Setting a work schedule is very important for being productive and using your time effectively. There have been many weeks that I had more time to work without interruption and sadly I actually got less done. The busier my schedule is the more I will get done as I find that I schedule down to the last detail because I have to.
This is going to be especially key for me to get work done this summer when the kids are home. I have just a couple of weeks left to get a regular schedule figured out and schedule in downtime for having fun with the family as well. With hubby not working a normal 9-5 schedule this gets tricky for me. My work schedule doesn’t end up being the same every week as I schedule around time he will be home as well.
One thing I’m really working on is checking emails less. I have a horrible habit of having my email account open at all times. This is distracting as I glance at the tab for new emails that come in and then of course I have click and see what the incoming email is quite quickly when it pops up. If I am in a project or have my time scheduled then there is no reason to be checking emails so often. I am not going to do anything with the email after I open it because I am already working on something else. All I am doing is taking my attention away from the current work. Not a good plan, but something that I have to work on. Not something that comes easily because of the years of answering emails immediately. I have to change my mindset for that. Checking emails 3 times a day is a good start and quite appropriate. Unless I am waiting for something from clients or advertisers so I can get work completed.
I did set hours for return emails to be expected. I didn’t like the guilt I had for not returning emails on the weekends at times. Setting a schedule for email contact helped alleviate that guilt and took a weight off my shoulders. Especially when it comes to contacting possible new clients.
My offline work is very structured and I’ve been working to schedule around that to make it easier for myself. I’ve also been staying up in the mornings to take care of emails after the kids go to school or on the weekends I’m up early to work on emails before family wakes up. This is something I will keep doing after the kids get out as it’s much easier to work in the quiet.
I’ve learned that I need to get my clients work done in the mornings. This will leave me the afternoons to get emails back that I need and then to work again on a project in the evening if necessary. At this time time I am scheduling the majority of my VA client work for Tues and Thurs because I teach class and have a client at the gym on M, W, Fri. So far this is working.
When the kids get out of school will you have to change up your schedule a lot or just minor changes? Have you started planning for it yet?
