Do you find it hard to get everything done that you need to? Some days I do, some days I don’t. Each day I come up with a to do list for the next day. However, I’ve learned the hard way that simply having the to do list is not enough. I actually need to make time for the work.

It’s Easy to Get Distracted

As a work from home professional, I find that it is all too easy to get distracted. Even the most basic things distract me - such as cleaning the kitchen. This is the big reason why I find that having a to do list is not enough.

I do have a household to do list. Mainly I just try to make sure everything is neat. But I’ve gotten in the habit of timing my daily activities with the timer that is on the microwave. I try to work for at least 5 hours total. For housework - I do 60 minutes. This prevents me from spending hours doing something out of pure procrastination such as organize my spice cabinet.

The Timer is My Friend

I mentioned the timer in the last paragraph. I love this tool.  It gets me focused when nothing else will. It also helps me keep tabs on what I am actually accomplishing. I find that when I know the clock is ticking away I tend to work more productively and efficiently.

Don’t Stress

One of the reasons why I work from home so I can avoid stress. Worrying all the time about whether or not I will get to everything on my list is too stressful. I’ve learned to manage my deadlines (or to not take on work that has a deadline). I’ve also learned that I can’t set unrealistic expectations for myself. If my to do list contains twenty items, it’s pretty obvious that achieving all of it would be difficult.

Each item I cross off is a victory. If I didn’t get to something, I just role it over to the next day.

What are your tactics for finding time in your schedule?