Organization Tips for WAHMs
Getting organized is the key to making your life as a work at home mom efficient and, relatively, stress free. If you can get and stay organized, your business and your home life will flourish. Without taking some simple organizational steps you’ll be swamped with work and overwhelmed with laundry in no time.
One of the most important parts of getting organized as a Work at Home Mom is to establish business hours. Setting up specific working times during each day has many benefits:
- First, you’ll be more consistent with your work. Once you’ve gotten used to starting and stopping at a specific time each day you’ll work more efficiently.
- You’ll manage your work time better and reduce distractions like checking your e-mail or watching television.
- You’ll also be less likely to pick up things to do here and there, like laundry or taking time to errands.
- If you have set working hours, you’ll schedule those tasks around your work time so you’ll be more focused during your work time.
- It will help your family and friends understand that you are working while you are at home, and you won’t be available during those hours.
Next, you need to start delegating tasks to other family members. It may seem easier to do everything yourself, but once you have work duties on top of household duties you’ll realize how few hours in the day there actually are. There is nothing wrong with asking your children to fold the laundry, or having your husband cook dinner a few nights a week. By sharing the household duties as a family, you’ll have more time to get your work done and feel more rested. The important thing to remember when you delegate is that things won’t be done the way that you would do them. However, they are getting done.
Planning your work and family activities will make the whole house run smoother. If you don’t have a daily planner, then you need to get one. It doesn’t matter if it is a paper planner or a computer application. When you use a planner to write down everything that needs to be done, and then plan each activity for a specific time then you’ll have the opportunity to manage your time more wisely in and out of your home office.
Organizing your home at large will help make your business more organized. While it may take a while to establish some organizational habits in your house, your efforts will be well worth it. Don’t try to get organized in a weekend or even several days. Work up to a level of organization. Start small with your desk space. Organize the things in your desk and top of your desk. Make sure that everything that you need has a place, and toss or donate things that you don’t need. Then move on to another portion of the house. When something is out of place, it’s easy to put it back in its home once you’ve taken the time to organize your storage spaces around the house. If need be, take a trip to an office supply store or home improvement store and buy items like bins, cabinets and shelves that will help you stay more organized.
Getting organized as a Wahm does take some time and effort. Realize that with time, your organizational system will get better. Work with your family to make your home run efficiently and then you’ll be able to concentrate on your work when you need to.
Every few months, I tend to get bored with the organizational system I am using. When I get bored, the system loses its effectiveness. Then, I have to go back to an old system or get a new system. So, just because you have the system doesn’t mean it is the one for you. Try a different one!
that little phrase : toss everything that you don’t need… that makes all the difference. great tips. Thank you for linking them up. I am wishing you a wonderful Easter and hope that you’ll have time to come pay us again a quick visit at the SHARE IT sunday linky party at FineCraftGuild.com, as the party isn’t the same without you!
commentluv is not working but i have a great kids craft project up today, that your boys will love, btw.
Great simple tips! I would love if you shared this at Totally Terrific Tuesday this week. Thanks for sharing.
Sharon
herorganizedchaos.com