Momentum Monday: Why a Daily Routine is Mandatory for Working at Home – 5 Rules for Work-at-Home Productivity

Somehow working from home is synonymous with overlapping business and personal tasks. Let’s face it – that’s one of the perks of the job!

What other workplace gives you the freedom to play Go Fish with your 4-year-old on your morning coffee break or gather up the laundry during that never-ending conference call?

So why is it that the same freedom we love derails us, and pulls us into a whirling vortex of distraction? The call to the vet about the weird pus coming from the cat, filling out the school forms due Friday, booking dentist appointments, and about 3 million other miscellaneous tasks that go along with the ‘home’ half of working from home.

That is the reason YOU (and I and every other busy working mother) need a daily routine.

5 Rules for Work-at-Home Productivity

#1: Be purposeful about your ‘autopilot’ activities – These are what you default to when you don’t have anything scheduled. If you don’t choose, it gets chosen for you and before you know it, you frittered away an hour.

Create autopilot routines for in-between tasks. For example, your get started routine may include a 5-minute communication check-in, and a quick review of your calendar and task list.

#2: Know your key objectives – Start every day with a clear picture of exactly what you want to accomplish that day. These are your 1 to 3 must-do’s that you WILL finish that day.

Your key objectives isn’t just about creating a list of tasks and must-do’s, it’s about getting results. Consider what you want as outcomes from your activities.

#3: Pay attention to your energy levels – Match your daily work routine to your energy levels and schedule your creative focus time or project work for your peak potential hours.

So for example, if you are a morning person, start your day by tackling your big elephant projects and save your administrative busy work for low energy periods in the afternoon.

#4: Set clear personal boundaries – More important than communicating your boundaries to others is setting personal boundaries for yourself. Think of it as a list of ground rules.

A few suggestions are no personal telephone calls during your office hours, except for emergencies, no television EVER, and no casual chitchatting with friends or colleagues.

#5: Batch administrative tasks – Tackle that 8-mile long laundry list of to-do’s in designated administrative work blocks. Bundle similar or related tasks together to maximize efficiencies.

For example, designate one day a week as your banking day where you handle all tasks related to banking and payments for both your business and personal.

Want to get more done every week? Tune into Momentum Monday bright and early Monday mornings and set the tone for your entire week!