Scheduling your day when you work from home is a very serious matter. Some say if you set a schedule, you might as well still be working for someone else. However, nothing could be further from the truth. First off, even though you technically work for yourself, you’re typically completing projects for someone else as a freelancer anyway. Work from home jobs, simply afford you the luxury and comfort of not having to deal with traffic, wardrobe concerns, etc. You still need to schedule time to work, eat and do things that are personal and just for your own pleasure.

I always tell people since our phones are so “smart” now (pun intended), make them work for you. Set the timer on your smart phone for various parts of your day. Need time to wash the dishes or prepare dinner; but it always seem to take way too much time? Maybe you’re taking phone calls or watching TV when you should just be focused on the task at hand. Setting the timer will help you to see just how much time you may be wasting. Or help you complete tasks efficiently, so you can move on to the next.

If you need help, make a small investment in a virtual assistant. An hour or two a day may be all that’s needed to help you keep a calendar and schedule your day. A virtual assistant, can also give you a call to ensure you are ready for important appointments or set up a system that can automate your appointment scheduling.

Lastly, prioritize your assignments. Schedule the most important assignments during the time of the day when you are most alert. This will vary for different people. However, you should also let your client(s) know when you do your best work. They may need work done in the morning and if you’re a night owl, it might not be a good fit. Some clients will work with you on this, but be sure to be transparent, so you can both schedule your work accordingly. If you have additional tips you’d like to share, feel free to leave them in the comments.

This is Shilonda Downing, signing out for Virtual Work Team!