Time Management For Home Business Owners

As each day passes, and more and more things need to get done with your business, you may find yourself alittle overwhelmed with how much is left to be done. This is nothing new, and a problem that almost every home business owner encounters.

There are too many things to do, and such little time! So how does one get all of these things done without interfering with family and friends time? The answer is simple enough, but not very easy to do. It's called Time Management. Managing your time to make your time spent during "business hours" the most productive it can be.

There are many distractions when running an online business that many people easily become victims of. Some at home examples are things that consist of your everyday. Things like the chores that need tending to, eager kids simply wanting your attention, the television blaring, dogs barking, errands that need to be ran, and on down the line.

Some classic examples of distractions that occur online are not as easy to identify, but can consume many hours if you're not aware of this. A good example includes just "surfing" for something, and you get sidetracked and end up reading something that you weren't even looking for to begin with! Another classic example is how many times you check your email a day, or how much time has passed before you last checked it. How much time do you spend visiting discussion boards or online communities? What about the emails you respond to? How much of your time is consumed by that? These are all examples of distractions that can get in the way of your businesses productivity.

It all boils down to time management. Listed below are some good things to consider when using your time online for business.

1) Make A List

You've probably heard this before and with good reason! Write the things you need to do with your business down on a piece of paper. List in order the things by two factors. One is the importance, and the second is which of the things you least would like to do.

Once you have your list, put them in order of the things most important and are you're least favorite at the very top of the list. This way, the more important things that need to be done will get done first, and you won't procrastinate because it's written down. As you progress with your list, you'll find that the last things you need to do will go by very quickly because you'll enjoy doing it.

2) Set a time Limit

Let's say you spend on average 2 hours browsing forums and discussion boards on a daily basis. Is this really necessary? I mean, there are alot of good resources out the on forums, and you get to interact with like-minded individuals.. but is this helping your business?

The best way to stick to a plan is by giving yourself a specific amount of elotted time for each activity you conduct online. If you normally spend 2 hours in forums, and think this is simply taking too much away from your business, set a limit on how much you do it. Say to yourself, "Ok Jason, I will participate in forums for no more than 45 minutes. From exactly 12:15 to 1:00 today, I will spend this time browsing forums and being an active member." And stick with it!

3) Give Yourself A Break!

This may sound a little contradictory, but it's very true. If you have been working consistently for a few hours online, and find yourself to be slipping into the "dull glare" mode, give yourself a break. Step away from your computer for 30 mintues, and move around. Go to the fridge and grab a nice cold drink, and relax a bit. When you get done, you will feel more fresh and will be more focused on your list that you've already made to complete your daily business tasks.

4) Punish Yourself For Not Sticking With It.

This may seem a little weird, but it will work if you give it a chance to. For example, let's say that you need to get something done by a certain date and you don't. To make things more productive for you, punish yourself for not getting it done! I personally love those Little Debbie "Star Crunch" cakes. I usually have one every day. One time I told myself, I said, "Self, if I can't eat a Star Crunch unless I get these webpages uploaded by 5:20 today!". And when 5:20 came, I didn't have it done. So I punished myself for not completing the task by the time I set. I didn't eat one that day.

Let's say you have a favorite TV show you absolutely love watching. You must complete 3 things on your list before you can watch it. And stick with it! Believe it or not, it actually works! But only if you stick with it.

Having many distractions can make things a bit more difficult with productivity when spending your time online. The first things to do to solve the time management problem is to identify what things are keeping you from being productive in your online business. The next step is to avoid these things at all costs. The hardest part is identifing these distractions. But after you do, more than half the battle is already over! I wish you much success with your businss and all your on and offline goals!

Article written by Jason Gazaway, webmaster and owner of http://www.homebasedbusinessindex.com and publisher of the "HBBI Newsletter".

---

Scheduling Productive Days - Dont Interrupt, Im Pouring Concrete

Almost everyone in business knows the balancing act between the... Read More

How Would You Like to Capture Some Time?

Women's health issues often are focused on goals to reach:... Read More

What is ?Life Balance? and How Can You Attain It?

We all face decisions that involve doing things that affect... Read More

Self Care

What does it mean to practice self care? It's creating... Read More

More Precious Than Gold

In this world there is something more precious than gold.... Read More

Top Ten Motivators

Setting goals is the easy part -- but sticking with... Read More

Time Management is Life Management

Many of the clients I work with in success coaching... Read More

How to Find More Time in Your Day-Balancing Career and Family

Goal Planning-Achieving balance in a person's life requires assessment of... Read More

Peace Of Mind At The Workplace

Work brings together people of different characters and behavior, and... Read More

How to Conquer the Five Major Time Wasters?

* spreading yourself too thinTaking on too many things at... Read More

31 Ways to Get An Extra Hour Out of Each Day

How can you get an extra hour out of each... Read More

Quantum-less Time and Mathemathically Deprived Theory

What would you say to me if I told you... Read More

First Things Last

Years ago clients would tell me they could not identify... Read More

7 Tips for Being Your Best Time Master

It is not enough if you are busy. The question... Read More

Four Simple Ways To Take Control Of Your Time And Your Life

It's been said, "That no one has enough time yet,... Read More

Tips to Manage Your Time

Time and money are both very important in business. Yet,... Read More

Making More Efficient Use of Your Time

You can lose, damage or waste some things in life,... Read More

Put Yourself First

Are you too busy to put yourself first? If a... Read More

Six Foundational Reasons for Managing Your Time

Most of us know how to manage our time. It... Read More

24 Time Management Tips

Where does your time go? We all know we are... Read More

Dont Forget To Take Time Out For You!

As mothers we play so many different roles and most... Read More

Taking Time Off For Your Business

As a business owner, wouldn't it be great if you... Read More

Creating A Not-To-Do List

When I sit down with a client to work on... Read More

3 Ways To Do More With Less Time

We live in a world where more is expected of... Read More

New Adventures - in Four Hours a Day

"Can you find four extra hours in your day?" a... Read More

Take Back Your Time

"You will never find time for anything. You must make... Read More

10 Time Management Tips for Busy Professionals

If you feel like your life moves faster than a... Read More

Prioritize with Two Questions

"Because there will always be something more to do, we... Read More

Time Management

Does it ever feel like there is never enough time... Read More

Realistic Time Budgeting Tips

I'm sure we've all had the experience of having a... Read More

How Can I Get Some Time to Myself?

"I never seem to have any time for myself. What... Read More

21 Questions To Assess Your Readiness For Time Management

How many of us are guilty of "Putting the cart... Read More

How Are You Viewing Your Time?

In working with and coaching people across the country, one... Read More