Time management for the Mom Entrepreneur

August 11, 9:29 AMMom Entrepreneur ExaminerTori Tait

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If you are a work from home mom, your typical work day...well is not that typical. From juggling your household tasks to caring for your little ones, you might feel as though little time is left for actual work. Small everyday business tasks such as checking email and returning phone calls might begin feeling like time consuming chores whose completion seem near impossible. Many Mom Entrepreneurs regularly feel overwhelmed with "doing it all." The truth is working from home is often much more difficult than going in to an office where time management is less of an issue. Working from home comes with distractions that pull you away from your job at hand. The good news is, with a few conscious time management tricks- you can begin to get everything done and in a much more efficient manner.

1. Set work hours- You might not have to punch a clock and report to work between certain hours, however if you punched a clock at home I bet you would be surprised to see how many hours you are actually working. When working from home, it is so easy to overwork yourself. Getting on the computer for twenty minutes here and ten minutes there can add up to an entire day of working. Rather than trying to "squeeze" it in when you can, consider setting up work hours for yourself. This will help you distinguish work time from family time. If possible, set work hours during the same time your children are in school or even napping. You can always work a couple of hours in the morning and then a couple of hours in the evening. Defining your work time will help you feel less overwhelmed and will also result in you working more efficiently since you will have less distractions.

2. Socialize on your off time- Even though there is tremendous value in building a support system when working from home; do not let it be a time drainer. Save social forums for your "breaks." Do not chat with online friends or participate in social forums during your set work hours. Think of these places like your water cooler breaks if you were in a traditional office and leave them for your downtime.

3. No excessive emails- Checking your inbox every five minutes can be a very bad habit (and a huge time waster). Although you want to appear prompt in responding to emails, there is really no need to check it every five minutes. Try checking your email at the beginning of your work hours and then at the end before you log off. Resist replying or answering any email that are not work related. It might not seem very time consuming, but forwarding every chain letter email really is not necessary.

By consciously separating your work time from your home life and family time, you should begin to feel more balanced and less stressed when working from home. No one said working from home was easy (well those who have done it don't anyway), but it can be done effectively. Making a few minor time management changes can really boost your productivity both in the work realm and the on the home front.