Time management for running a home business
When you run your own business, one of the perks is that you don't have to answer to anyone but yourself, and you can control how you choose to work.
But with no boss breathing targets down your neck, some people find they lose that adrenalin they once had in the workplace, or feel that there is not enough time in the day to manage their home business.
People often ask me how I squeeze running a childcare agency and www.motherwhowork.co.uk with doing the school run while looking after a nine-month-old baby (with no childcare, I might add!).
The answer is usually prioritising, and working on my businesses while my children are sleep. But another secret is good time management.
Unless you devote enough time for our home business you can’t expect to get positive results. Like any business, a home run business will not run on its own – unless that’s the business model of course…but even they need some human intervention at some point.
The first step is to look at the time you have available to work, and see how you are using it. Be honest with yourself, and don't make any excuses - this is for the betterment of your business, remember.
- If there is a will there is a way! If you organise your work in a better way you will be surprised to find that extra time that you very badly needed to devote towards your home based business. If your schedule is really that busy, then cut an hour or two off your sleeping time – you won’t be on your own…I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve sent an email during the twilight hours ready for a response the next day, only to get one right back!
- Lose the time wasters. If you are always being called by a friend or a loved one who just wants to spend time moaning or gossiping, it’s time to cut those ties. If you are really serious about making a success of your home business, then you’ll have to make some harsh decisions…waste time gossiping, or make on income.
- Delegate. Teaching the kids to be self-reliant will make them more independent and will free up some of your time. The older child can be given the responsibility of taking care of the younger ones when you are busy with your home business or other work. And younger children can learn to work on a project such as reading a book, drawing, or something that you know they can keep themselves entertained with for a while. Don’t forget to reward them for their understanding.
- Cut your TV time. Is it essential to spend that much time watching soaps, or X Factor and other programmes? They don’t pay your bills, do they? If you can’t do without your TV fix, get yourself Sky Plus, or record your programmes so you can watch them when doing work or chores like ironing, that don’t need your full attention.
- Do things online or on your phone. I couldn’t run my businesses without my Blackberry – I do just about everything from it, and I tell everyone who wants to start a business that they must invest in one because you can keep your business going from just about anywhere if you can send an email, read Microsoft documents…and of course make phonecalls. Another thing you should do is pay bills by direct debit – if you don’t already! You can also make payments online if you do online banking – no more long queues in the bank. It really is quite safe these days!
In the beginning, this type of adjustments will be little difficult, but soon you will see that it’s worth it. But once your mind is set for finding time to work on your home business, it will gradually become the norm and you will become more efficient.
