Secret #11: Stay in the Lines

This secret from the book is all about boundaries. All home-based business owners, including virtual assistants, have to figure out what their boundaries are for managing work and family life, and then stick to them. And this can be a major challenge, especially for those of us with children.

I have two kids under the age of two, so I know how hard it can be to separate work from family when you work from home. And then try to find enough time to do everything else! Here are some of my secrets to time management and keeping a work/life balance:

• Prioritize -- As much as we may wish, we just can't do everything. I have learned that the expectations for getting absolutely everything done are self-imposed...everyone else is much more forgiving.

• Be Flexible -- You may have scheduled a specific block of time for work, and then a family emergency throws a wrench in things. Your day, as you planned it, is completely thrown off. Being able to readjust and accept change will help you keep the small things, like a disrupted schedule, in check.

• Stay Focused -- If you have an hour to focus on work, don't get caught up in reading and responding to personal e-mails, tweeting, browsing for those shoes you saw last week, or organizing your photos. Get to work!

• Write It Down -- If you're anything like me, you may have 100 random thoughts about things you need to do, buy or check running through your head at any given time. I have found that I always forget things (usually the most important ones) if I don't write them down immediately. I am regularly e-mailing myself reminders from my BlackBerry throughout the day. They sit in my inbox until the end of the day when I transfer them to my task list.

• Switch Gears Quickly -- Working from home when you have kids may mean playing with Play-Doh one minute and jumping on a conference call the next. Being able to switch gears from family to work at the drop of a hat will make you much more productive and efficient.

• Be Mobile -- With my BlackBerry and laptop, I can be setup and working from anywhere, literally, in a matter of minutes. If your situation does not allow you to be working from one static location for long periods of time, create a mobile office so you can work on the fly.

• Enlist Help -- As your business grows, you will likely need to get some help during the day. Consider hiring a babysitter, a nanny, a mother's helper or even daycare.

Above all, take time to regroup! Even 10 minutes of calm will refresh your outlook...and keep you sane.

Comments

[Laurie/Halo Secretarial]

These are some great suggestions! I definitely find being able to be mobile really helps me stay on task. I have 3 boys and with my oldest in grade one and the youngest only 10 months it's always a juggling act, but so worth it!