Getting Organised - Tips For Work At Home Mums

Getting Organised - Tips For Work At Home Mums.

by Justine Simard


Whether you are already a mum working from home or a mum thinking about starting your own home-based business, you are probably asking yourself this question: How can I improve the harmony between my roles as a mum and as a business owner? Knowing how to bring together the many tasks of each job and being efficient at both can be a challenge, but the answer for work at home mums lies in developing organisational skills.

I started a home business while looking after my two young children at home. I was busy enough just being a mum, and starting the business made me feel quite overwhelmed at first; now I was really busy! I since realised that you can be very busy without the overwhelmed feeling, and in fact you can reduce your workload just by being organised, which is a secret work at home mums must know!

Here is what work at home mums can do to maintain a better balance between being a mum and a business owner, and to ensure success in both roles:

1. Have a Comprehensive Schedule. This is the one thing I have become dependent on! Having working hours is not enough for work at home mums. I have a schedule which includes the type of tasks I will perform in each time slot (e.g. marketing activities, checking emails, website updates, education, making calls, writing articles, etc). This way, you don't get to the end of the week realising that you didn't accomplish all your tasks. It also prevents you from always prioritising the things you enjoy doing (there will always be tasks you don't enjoy doing but need to get done!). Pick the right time of the day to assign mentally demanding tasks. I also prefer to work harder on earlier days in the week so that I can reduce my workload towards the end of the week when I am more tired. I like to keep flexibility with the 'mum' and house tasks, but if you find it difficult to manage, you might consider including them in your schedule (e.g. grocery shopping, family time, meal time, laundry, cleaning). Finally, review your schedule at the end of every week to make sure that you accomplished your goals and that the schedule itself is adequate.

2. When You Work, Work! Work at home mums, just like any workers, need focus. This is harder when you have young children at home and you want to work around them. I find that if I try to wear both my mum and work hats at the same time, I don't do any of my jobs right. I'm not focused on my work when my children need my attention, and I'm not attentive to my children while I work. If you need to do both at once at a particular time, and it will happen sometimes, make sure you choose tasks that are not mentally demanding or that take a long time to complete, and set up your children with special toys, music, a snack or a video. If they are old enough to understand, explain to them how long you need to work for, and maybe even promise a special game or treat for when you are done if they play nicely while you work!

3. Keep It Tidy. No more piling up and scattering! Your valuable time is wasted when you are searching for your resources. Keep your work-related items together, organised, sorted and tidy. Take the time to build the filing and tracking systems you need. This way you will access what you need immediately and work efficiently. Work at home mums can even allocate a time in their weekly schedule to tidy up their office to make sure it gets done.

4. Make Time For You. As work at home mums, most of our time is taken up looking after the house and the family and managing the business. Is there any time left for you? I make sure there is, and I allocate time in advance in my schedule to look after myself and my well-being. Whatever you like doing for yourself (reading, sport, meditation, having a bath, going out, etc), make provision for it in your weekly schedule, and take the time to re-fuel, enjoy yourself and relax.

5. Get Some Help. If possible, ask your partner or other family members to help you with house tasks or minding the kids. Perhaps your partner can make dinner one or two nights per week so that you can do some work early in the evening? Or grandparents can spend a few hours on a regular basis with your children while you work? Of course, if you can afford some paid help (e.g. cleaning, ironing, etc), go for it!

Work at home mums need all the help they can get!

Here is a summary of my 5 tips for work at home mums: make a comprehensive weekly schedule and follow it as much as you can, focus on your work during working hours, keep an organised and tidy office, make time for your well-being, and get help from family members.
About the Author:
Justine Simard is a mum and home business owner. Visit my website to find out about a Home Business Opportunity for Work At Home Mums that allows mums to work from home and look after their children, while providing a high income potential, a better lifestyle and more freedom.

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