7 Sanity Savers for Organizing Your Life as a Work-at-Home Entrepreneur

Do you feel like you are in a constant state of chaos? You can’t have anyone over to your house without first cleaning, which could take you hours. You then realize that you don’t really have a routine for work life similar to your home life. Then, you start to think about all of the laundry and how to generate more hours in a day to get it all done. Have you ever wondered if this could be a problem? Then this article is for you!

Providing organized structure for your business at home is one of the best things you can do to feel successful and get more work done! Whether it is tackling blog posts or needing help around the house, nothing gets the job done faster than a plan!

The tips that I give parents as a parent coach are the ones that most parents tend to struggle with and come up most frequently as a “work-at-home mom.” Organizational problems affect many people, so the following tips are sure to help bring peace to your home and to your business!

1. Provide as much structure to your family life as possible. Home “routines” are the best way to get things done and get you ready to “start work.” List routines by the hour or task, breaking down the steps to manageable pieces. Also, consider Time Blocking as a strategy. While you take a lunch break, pop in a load of laundry!

2. List out your tasks for the day. Whether they are related to your biz, or you are making calls to the insurance company, use a simple check list so you can cross off the items that are complete! It feels great to know how much you got done.

3. Keep distractions to a minimum. I put my puppy outside during the day, check Facebook only at certain times, and turn off alerts or other things that keep me from staying focused. I also have found a safe and natural essential oil that is amazing for concentration and focus. I apply that when I need to write or do my business planning.

4. Color Code or label your family calendar to keep appointments, activities and work projects organized. Another idea is to look into classes or webinars for better organizing. You would be amazed at the ideas on Pinterest alone for getting your home and business organized!

5. Do not over book yourself. One lesson I have learned as a work-at-home mom with two school-aged daughters is that everything goes more smoothly with more time. When I over-plan and cram things in, we all get stressed. Keep it simple and shine!

6. Have a system to elicit help. My kids have very structured routines before and after school as well as before bed. I have asked them to help me more by taking on responsibilities. I pay them for helping me, and this helps them feel empowered and excited. Delegation is one of those tasks that entrepreneurs need to get very good at. If you can delegate it, doing so it will save you a lot of time and energy!

7. Timers set definite boundaries. With a timer, you can give yourself certain amounts of time to get projects done, to cruise Facebook or Pinterest during lunch, or prevent you from being late with clients or calls. If I have ten minutes before I need to leave the house, and I want to check out Facebook, I have learned to set my timer. Otherwise, I’m speeding off to pick up my kiddo from dance, and when she asks why I’m late, I have to admit I was watching a cat video! OOPS! Timers can be your best friend, and every phone comes with one. You just have to remember to set it! J

The most important thing for you to remember as a “work-from-home” entrepreneur is that you have control over your time. What you do with that time is up to you. I found a simple prayer that I printed out and hung in my bathroom. As I am applying my mascara, I can look at it every day. It reminds me to pray for God to use me for His will to help others. For me, I feel confident when I do these things. I do so much more with God’s help!

Paula Tobey is a Healthy Living Coach for Parents, Speaker and Founder of PheMOMenal Life. Paula works with moms who are looking to put balance back into their hectic lives. Her inspiration for living a healthy lifestyle came as a mission from God and she is living proof it can be done one baby step at a time focusing on the five areas of health.  She is a former special ed teacher, mother of two great girls, and a water and nature lover. For more information, visit www.PheMOMenalLife.com​ or www.ParentingSpecialChildren.com.